Alienware M17x R4 display problems

Hi Natalia J,

I have connected to an external monitor and the external monitor shows no distortion. The problem is only on Alienware M17X R4 display screen.  Anyway, I have contacted DELL technician and he is coming to take a look at it. At the mean time I will run system diagnostics (ePSA) as adviced by you.  Thanks.

Switching between battery power source and power adapter might the main problem causing the screen to distort.  Anyway, I have requested DELL for a new battery pack. I will check with the new battery if the problem still exist or not.  Will keep you posted on this issue. thanks.

Hi Natalia,

No problem with external monitor. But I think the problem on rises if I am using the battery power when it is fully charge.

The DELL technician came, but I noticed that most of the parts like screen and the motherboard are all refurbished product.  I dont why DELL is giving refurbished product to replace faulty hardware with customer.  I think most customers are not aware of this issue if not customer may not be happy with it.

Today I tried with only the power adaptor (the battery taken out) and the screen distortion happened again.  So I think it is not the battery that cause the screen to distort.

Hi CH LIM,

Did you allow the onsite technician to replace the parts?

Sometimes parts used for repairs are refurbished, it's stated in the warranty. Please check out the following link:

www.dell.com/.../policy_warranties_popup

Hi all, do you have the computer on integrated (Intel HD) or discrete (nvidia or amd) when the problem occours in battery mode.

If you have the nvidia or amd gpu running while in battery mode you may have some problems, those battery dont have enough power to run the high performance gpu's

If it's not that then I think you may have a faulty gpu, it's a bit hard to get good detail from the pix you submitted, but it sought of looks like a few I've had in the past.

Do the little pixelated bits flash white or different colours when it happens?

Does it get worse if you stress the gpu, like running a game or something?

If the answer to these questions is yes, and the pixelated bits are large "ish" and not tiny little flashes across the screen then I think you have a faulty gpu.

Time for a service call.

If your having trouble with tech support just keep trying, Dells a large company and unfortunately sometimes you get some average customer service, if it really does your head in try asking to have the problem escalated to a senior manager, that usually gets the ball rolling

good luck

Hi Andrew,

Thanks for your advice.  I have just changed the power adaptor which I think could be the problem because when I ran the laptop without the battery pack, the display distortion occurred.  My Alienware M17X R4 came with both Intel HD graphics 4000 and Nvidia Ge Force GTX 660M.  The settings for Nvidia is on "AUTO select / balanced between performance and quality" and the Intel HD is set at "balance between maximum performance and battery life".

Anyway, I will try out with the new power adaptor first and see if the problem still persist or not.  I will keep you posted on my progress in solving this issue.

Cheers.

I hope is not the GPU problem.  Currently with the new power adaptor, no sign of the display problem. Anyway, let see after few days.

This is the display distortion with some white lines that I had with my Alienware M17X R4.

After receiving the new power adaptor, I tried using it without the battery pack and the screen distortion still exist! I contacted DELL support and the technical engineer told me that it must be the LED display problem and he will send a replacement for it.  He also asserted that since the extended monitor did not show any screen problem, he confirmed that it is the LED display of my Alienware M17 is giving the problem.

Please post back with the results after the replacement.

Today the DELL technician came over to replace the LCD display.  After the installation of the new LCD display the screen is normal.  Anyway, I will only conclude that the problem is solved until it run for few days.  I will update you again after 2 days.

This happened to my M18x r1, Dell is going to replace the LCD next week,