18 R1, screen dim

Question

I just replaced the motherboard, and now the screen is really dim. When I try to adjust the screen brightness to high, it gets darker, and lowest setting is slightly brighter and flickers. It is very dim and can barely see the screen if the room is not dark. I replaced my motherboard because some chip burnt in it and could only use in integrated graphics, because there would be lines all over when using the GPU's. I have yet been able to connect it to an external display because I am at work and there's not an hdmi cord here, but that is how I used my computer before. I've had this issue for 3 years lol. Before I replaced the motherboard, the screen wouldn't turn on with the discrete graphics/ running on the cpu. I was extremely careful in disassembly and reassembly and put everything together exactly how it was. I did find broken solder on the board connector where the screen cable plugs in to, but hopefully -- or maybe not -- this is not the issue, and the broken solder was just there to hold the connector. By the way,  this board came from China, so I'm not about to wait 3 - 6 months for them to get me another. Could it be the little battery, the ram, or inverter? I don't really have any clue how to fix it, and I've seen so many people talk about this with no solutions. Everything is up to date. Display driver is showing generic pnp monitor, so I don't know if that needs a manual driver installation. Anyways,  that's it for now

mattyb3 · Answer

My guess is the LCD backlight is faulty.

Are you able to post a picture of the broken solder? There's a good chance that this is causing your issue

If you plug in an external monitor and it works fine then it's the LCD. It's possible that this broken solder is for the backlight.

Covid19 · Answer

This is both sides of the connector.

mattyb3 · Answer

It's a little hard to tell but usually a broken solder isn't a good thing. Have you been able to test with an external monitor?

laptoptitan · Answer

I have had a lot of experience with this. Chances are you have removed the GPU from the motherboard. You're just running on the integrated graphics so you won't be able to increase or decrease the brightness of the screen. This also happens with the old Apple MacBook Pro, when the GPU is faulty, running only the integrated card will not be able to increase or decrease the brightness of the screen.

AdrianG001 · Answer

Check this:

A51-06 · Answer

He needs a Discrete GPU like a 980 or 970M. He can also try using a 780m.

Covid19 · Answer

@mattyb3

Sorry, I've been away moving

I have not connected to an external monitor yet

Someone noted that it could be the GPU(s) and running on integrated graphics, but that's not it, because I used the laptop for 2 years on integrated graphics, and switched from dedicated to integrated or whatever when connected to an external screen. Both cards have been tested and also worked prior to replacing the motherboard. I'm going to try an external source tomorrow. It probably is the screen, and it looks like the screen power inverter or whatever it is can't just be switched out.

I suppose the next thing to do would be to find a compatible screen to connect. Would this be a specific screen for the alienware 18, or are there other substitutes to check? And can the screen be tested itself?

Oh, and I've also tried pushing down on the connector for contact with the broken solder, but that did nothing, so it's probably just support solder?

Thanks

A51-06 · Answer

Probably. Make sure you get a 18.4 inch 60Hz screen that’s 1080p and make sure it matches the pins on the current one.

Sore finger · Answer

Happened to me, go to your search bar on desktop type in brightness turn it up, worked for me, it's in win 10 settings hope this helps.

Sore finger · Answer

Go to your search bar on desktop type in brightness turn it up the brightness is in win 10 settings

A51-06 · Answer

And also if the gpu itself is faulty then brightness will never increase nor decrease.

Just make sure to put a cheap MXM card inside of it and see if you can adjust the brightness but if not then its maybe a software issue.

Alienware

18 R1, screen dim

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