Area-51m R1, very dim screen (display issues)

Question

Hi Guys,

I'm hoping someone here could help me out on an issue regarding Area-51m R1 screen. My laptop is about a year old now and the screen has been fine till this month. At first the screen just turns very dim (I can still see, but it's like brightness is at 0 percent) at random intervals while playing games (e.g. Monster Hunter World) and I had to restart the laptop for it to go back to normal. When that happens I can see that brightness level is still untouched (e.g. 80%) but adjusting the slider doesn't do anything, in fact adjusting the slider to 0 makes it a bit brighter (still very dim) on the right side of the screen. I first assumed this was something related to my GPU drivers so I reinstalled them but it still happens. Then I did a complete windows reinstall yet the issue still persists. It also seems to have worsened as now the screen only gets to proper brightness for about 2 seconds on boot before it dims again.

I have a hunch this may be related to the screen's hardware and isn't a software issue, maybe the LCD's backlight isn't working? I've searched the forums for similar issues and only found this but I'm not too keep on doing a deeper dive on opening my laptop aside from changing RAM or SSDs yet till I get a better clue on the issue. I've also tried connecting the laptop to an external display to try isolate the issue, and it worked without problems which narrows down the issue to just the screen and not the drivers.

I'm cautiously optimistic it isn't as bad yet as the small 2 second window on boot looked fine, which means the LCD's backlight isn't dead / damaged but maybe it's more on the connectors to the power source?

Here's a photo on how dim it is, it's still serviceable but it's really inconvenient.

Any help is really appreciated.

Regards

dim screen.jpg

Techgee · Accepted Answer

Maybe Alienware Tobii Eye Tracker settings?

It has a "Dim brightness" when it thinks you're not there setting - Default is ON. Dell's User Guide PDF - Settings on page 6.

Someone goes over how to fix it here.

abesgaara · Answer

Hi, i have the very same issue. Please help!

The screen goes dimming without any reason. The brightness dim remains even after pc restarts. what i observed is that sometimes closing and opening my laptop's flap will reset the dim to the percent it was before, but only for like 0.5s then it goes back dim. If i set the brightness to a low leve (ex. 30%), then reopening the laptop flap will indeed reset the brightness right to 30%, but if i go over 30%, it will again go dim. It makes no sense! Please help, i invested tons of money in this laptop. No adaptive brightness is enabled, both chargers are used. My drivers are up to date. This is just crazy!

crimsom · Answer

Hi @Ryouko_Kon welcome to this user to user discussion forum. This is not Dell Support.

Thank you for a very good assessment in the OP. One of my laptops had a screen backlight problem and it took its time to actually fail, but the image was always bright. Consequently, please have a play with keyboard function keys to increase screen brightness to maximum. Using Win10 keyboard keys will increase FN+F5 dim or FN+F6 bright and will include on-screen display of a sliding bar. Win10 expand notifications includes a user controlled sliding bar, etc. There are also other screen brightness settings such as night, that automatically dims the screen. Please check that these Win10 settings, especially enable night, is not the root cause of this problem.

Please click on Kudos to say thank you for response from another user. Please share an update on progress, so that other users derive benefit from your experience. Thank you.

abesgaara · Answer

Thanks, but the problem is not either on screen display, the brightness will instantly dim if i go upper 30% level of brightness. Also no windows night setting or adaptive brightness is enabled. I observed when the laptop is cold (30 degrees, the brightness is able to go up to 80% percent). This has to do most likely with the video card temperature, but the temps stay to about 60-70, so why would it cause brightness falling?

husmo · Answer

I am also facing the same issue since this last month it works when you remove the display adapter driver and reinstall it. however every single time when it happens i have to remove and reinstall driver.

Prm47 · Answer

Hello, you mean you uninstalled the driver by uninstalling the graphic card in your material devices? and then after reboot it reinstalled the driver by itself?  Thanks

Willou · Answer

Hi, Did anyone get a solution that fixes this? Or is it really have to do with hardware issues?

Zeffir · Answer

Hi everyone,It appeared on my laptop now. I'm curious if anyone got it sorted out how to fix this problem.

alver0318 · Answer

This also happens to me but not that worse

Sometimes when I turn on the laptop the brightness since very dim, even if I put it at 100% brightness to fix this I restart my laptop so that the brightness goes to its original state, I did not adjust the brightness same with you all,

I also dont know how to fix this, my onky fix is to restart the device

Today is the 1st time I encountered that while the laptop is turned on the brightness suddenly becomes dim during use.

Device is Alienware x15 r1

I akready did a ton of update but it doesnt fix it I hope this is just software problem

alver0318 · Answer

Did anyone try turning off optimus? It is a possible cause, I have read somewhere it is a possible cause and it makes sense since optimus automatically changes what GPU will be use depending on the workload so it makes sense and a possible cause of display brightness suddenly changing

It might be the culprit

Vasco56 · Answer

Has anybody determined the cause and fix for this problem yet? My Area-51m has been back for repair twice during its lifetime for this fault; the last time they replaced nearly every internal component and the screen. Just over a year on and the problem is back.

MRVanlani · Answer

Still looking for a possible solution to this. Has anyone resolved it yet?

Idreaus · Answer

I can confirm that this also occurs on the Alienware x15 R2. If I simply close the lid and put it away (sleep mode then open the again, the brightness drops almost 0%, and the screen is nearly impossible see. The only way to resolve this is to restart the device. This situation is becoming frustrating.

to top that off, dell hasn't looked into fixing the disabled dynamic (variable) refresh rate on windows, despite the hardware...being compatible.

360hz 1080p display

alver0318 · Answer

@Idreaus​ I have an alienware X15 R1 and this happen to me also, frequently, I always put my laptop in hibernate whenever I turn it on, most of the time I encounter the screen is very dim and the onky solution is to restart it (either hibernate it again or what) as long as the screne turns off and you turn it on again it doesnt matter if its restart or hibernate Still no fix even after searching

Kozzay · Answer

@Techgee pointed out a very good fix.  This was troubling me for a couple days upon purchase and low and behold the eye tracking settings were On by default.

Alienware

Area-51m R1, very dim screen (display issues)

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