m15 R5, loose screen and other issues

Question

I love my Alienware m15 R5, but there seems to have a small but quite annoying thing to the screen. The screen seems like a bit of loose that results a creaking noise when I open the laptop, or when I touch the bottom bezel. My problem is very similar to this post with a 2016 15 R3 model.

The bottom bezel area seems to have a curvature, and some areas have very small gaps and some are tight to the screen. It makes a tacky sound when pressed too, and when the screen is hot sometimes it makes small sounds too. Is this a manufacture quality problem? Anyone has similar situation? Should I contact the customer service and fix it? can it be fixed?

This is such a minor issue, it does not affect the screen quality and my usage but just kind of annoying.

Yunchi · Accepted Answer

Thank you guys for the replies.

What I found new is that, when turn down the brightness for a bit, the bottom part of the bezel can be a little bit cooler. So I guess the QHD panel can be a little bit hot at full brightness, and turning down a bit can solve this problem. But the creaking sound and the gaps in the bezel parts still exist, so I contact dell support and they offer me a repair to reinstall the LCD and the bezel parts.

Additional information is that I always keep the laptop runs at a cooler temperature after tweaking (around 50-60 idle, 70-80 gaming), and I always fully shut down the laptop before I close it. So this problem is highly likely a built quality thing, it is not likely caused by wrong usage and hot temperature.

Anyway, thanks to all replies, and I hope the repair can fully solve the issue.

Yunchi · Accepted Answer

I like to update to you guys that I have the LCD screen replaced by the Dell support.

The replaced LCD screen is better glued to the bezel and no longer makes small sounds when opening and using. Overall I am satisfied with the replacement. However I can still find a small gap on the left bottom of the replaced screen and the bezel that makes tacky sounds when pressing. I suspect this is a common issue due to the manufacture process of the screen. But since it does not affecting the usage, I think the replacement indeed resolved the issue.

To draw a conclusion, I think the issue I had before is because the screen and bezel are not glued nicely, which leaves small gaps at different places. The screen does not produce heat but the bezel does become a little bit warm during usage, which makes small deformation and small sounds as it was not glued well.

Overall m15 R5 is a great machine, and the LCD panel looks really nice. But small issues like this are really annoying, even though they do not affect performance and daily usage. Quality control should be the foundation of a good product, before any advanced design and innovation. I mean even most 1000 bucks laptops nowadays have good build quality, I am just surprised to found quality control issues from laptops that double the price. I hope Dell and Alienware can pay more attention to the details.

crimsom · Answer

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

Thank you for your Alienware m15 Ryzen Edition R5's opening post. Your LED screen should not be hot. It seems that the lid assembly has a serious flaw. Is there a smell of burning? The general appearance of the screen's plastic border (bezel) is being distorted. Please get Dell to raise a Service Request for you, so that Dell knows there is a problem to fix. Seemingly excess heat from the motherboard is entering the lid assembly.

Please click on @DELL-Cares to send a Private Message requesting assistance.

Please click on Kudos to say thank you for response from user that is not employed by Dell. Please share an update on progress, so that other users derive benefit from your experience. Thank you.

Yunchi · Answer

Thank you for your reply!

It sounds very serious. The place I found hot is not the screen itself, but the bottom plastic bezel of the screen. There is no smell of burning or anything strange. Is this normal?

I will let the DELL service know about this.

Cheers

crimsom · Answer

Hi @Yunchi thank you for sharing update.

The incoming and outgoing airflow remove the CPU & GPU up to 105°C heat created within the base of the laptop. Make sure all vents are not obstructed, use laptop on flat surface, table top or tray. Check that all fans are working.

From your description, there is a manufacturing fault and the hot exhaust is somehow getting into the bottom of the lid, and cooking your lid with temperatures up to 105°C (boiling point of water is 100°C). This is not normal.

A51-06 · Answer

So what if he blocked the vent going to the screen and thus forcing the air through the exhaust? What I think is a good repast and dust cleaning plus new thermal pads with better screwing pressure will probably fix the issue. Also lowering the clock speed or disabling overclocks and setting the speed to 3.5Ghz only will help prevent overheating.

crimsom · Answer

Alienware m15 and m17.  Cold air intake - top & bottom.  Hot air exhaust - side & rear.

Yunchi · Answer

Thanks crimsom for the advice,

But I think we kind of miss the point here, the bezel is somehow hot when using but it is not as hot as 100C, I can still touch it, it is upmost 50C.

I upload a short clip about the problem. Here is the link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFo9kcs6CCQ

As you can see, there is quite a big gap between the bezel and the screen on the left bottom corner. When pushing there's tacky sounds, especially around the letter A. I don't think this is a serious manufacturing fault as it does not cause other problems. But it makes me question the overall built quality somehow.

crimsom · Answer

Hi @Yunchi thank you for sharing update and video.

OK, the other scenario is unintentionally abusing m15 R5 by using it, and then immediately closing the lid + shutdown with no fans, so the exhaust heat rises up, through the top intake vents and onto the bottom plastic bezel of the screen, which is then deformed and the screen is then loose.

A51-06 · Answer

What I think it is, is that the outer area of the bezel wasn’t installed properly. Maybe reinstalling it by removing and putting it back in will fix the issue? Also I would love to give some advice on making the laptop cooler if needed.

crimsom · Answer

Hi @Yunchi  having found that your use of this laptop is the problem, you should not close the laptop lid until the CPU & GPU temperatures have cooled down and returned to ambient temperature.

A51-06 · Answer

Yeah I also know that glossy plastic starts to have bubbles on the inside of it whenever it gets too hot. I think controlling thermals better could really help with all these issues.

crimsom · Answer

Hi @Yunchi thank you for sharing update.

The incoming and outgoing airflow remove the CPU & GPU up to 105°C heat created within the base of the laptop. Make sure all vents are not obstructed, use laptop on flat surface, table top or tray. Check that all fans are working.

From your description, there is a manufacturing fault and the hot exhaust is somehow getting into the bottom of the lid, and cooking your lid with temperatures up to 105°C (boiling point of water is 100°C). This is not normal.

Manolisbouts · Answer

I have encountered the same issue with my m15 r5 alienware laptop. Dell offered to fix the problem, but some days later I recieved a call from Dell telling me that the machine has no problem and that it will be sent back to me. The machine was sent back to me, the problem wasn't fix. Very frustrating situation. Other than that, the machine is nice. Dell is unacceptable thought...

shntat · Answer

I have had my Alienware m15 ryzen edition r5 for less than a month. the screen cracked from too much flex in the display assembly. Also there is cloudy white pressure spots when I watch video with any black bars caused by the same flex in the display assembly. I hope this can be fixed

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m15 R5, loose screen and other issues

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