Alienware x15 R2 and x17 R2 Laptop Screens Tearing at Higher Panel Refresh Rates

Summary: The following article provides information about a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) problem that happens when playing games. This is seen when the panel refresh rates are set to 120 Hz or higher. ...

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Symptoms

LCD panel shows tearing on-screen while playing games

 

Alienware x15 R2 and x17 R2 gaming laptop owners may experience the screen tearing when playing the following types of game:

  • League of Legends (LOL)
  • Defense of the Ancients (DOTA) 2 
Note: The tearing is only seen when the panel refresh rate is set to 120 Hz or higher.

Cause

Tearing like this is only seen when the Frames per Second (FPS) rate is not synchronized with the displays refresh rate.

Resolution

The following instructions take you through enabling the VSync option in games. It eliminates the display tearing.

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Run the game and configure the game options to enable Vsync:

  1. Click ESC on the keyboard to open the games options.

  2. Select Video from the main menu.

  3. Enable the Wait for Vertical Sync option.

  4. Click Okay.

    League of Legends Options Screenshot

Run the game and configure the game options to enable Vsync:

  1. Click Setting in the game.

  2. Select the Video tab from the main menu.

  3. Click the VSync checkbox.

  4. Save and exit the settings back into the game.

    Defence of the Ancients 2 Options Screenshot


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Affected Products

Alienware x15 R2, Alienware x17 R2
Article Properties
Article Number: 000196899
Article Type: Solution
Last Modified: 13 May 2026
Version:  4
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