Dead Pixels

Discussion in 'General Chat' started by Lefty, Sep 26, 2005.

  1. Lefty

    Lefty

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    I just bought a brand new 19" TFT monitor to free up some much needed desk space, but it seems I have 2 dead pixels :mad: Here it is:

    http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos...738488/sr=8-4/ref=pd_ka_4/202-1342591-6858261

    I had read about dead pixels, but wasn't worried as the reviews on amazon said they didn't experience any.

    One of the dead pixels is just above the centre of the screen and to the right and is bright red, and is visible on black backgrounds and when watching movies etc.

    The other is a dull brown colour and is to the right of the centre of the screen and is visible against white backgrounds.

    Does anyone else have problems with these or was I just particularly unlucky? I'm not massivley stressed about them, and I'm sure I can live with them, but obviously when you pay £184 for something you don't expect this.

    Is there anything I can do about them? A quick look on the internet revealed that some people rckon on massaging the area gently (!), whilst running a video of flashing colours to "wake the pixel up".

    Lefty
     
    Lefty, Sep 26, 2005
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  2. Lefty

    Anex Thermionic

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    afaik if they're dead they're dead- don't know if its still the case but a couple of years ago I read that theres is a tolerance on dead pixels, so you don't necessarily get a perfect screen when you buy new. I think its about 5 pixels or below and the screen is classed as good. I guess that changes when you spend more though. My old NEC 17" had a dead pixel from day one, right in the middle too which was quite annoying.
     
    Anex, Sep 26, 2005
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  3. Lefty

    I-S Good Evening.... Infidel

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    The number allowed depends on the sort of dead pixel (always on particular colour, dead black, etc) and the position on screen (centre, periphery). If you've only got one in centre and one in periphery then it's almost certainly within the allowed limits.
     
    I-S, Sep 26, 2005
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  4. Lefty

    Lefty

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    Thanks for the response guys. It seems that they aren't "dead", they are always on a particular colour. No big deal, guess I'll just have to live with it, or try massaging my monitor :D as described earlier.

    It would be interesting to know if anyone here has any dead pixels. That way I'll know if I have just been particualrly unlucky.

    Lefty
     
    Lefty, Sep 26, 2005
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  5. Lefty

    michaelab desafinado

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    My NEC 1760NX has no dead pixles that I'm aware of. One of the reasons that LCDs are still relatively expensive is the relatively low "yield" rate. ie, for every 100 screens they make they have to throw half of them away because they're no good (no idea what the actual yield rate is these days but it used to be less than 50% :eek: ).

    Michael.
     
    michaelab, Sep 26, 2005
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  6. Lefty

    Philip King Enlightened User

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    nice stat that micheal, although i find that really hard to grasp given todays manufacturing process and factory standards and the competition in the market place, wow.
     
    Philip King, Sep 26, 2005
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  7. Lefty

    garyi Wish I had a Large Member

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    Apparently some pixels get stuck and just need a gentle push on screen to release them. Could be worth a try,
     
    garyi, Sep 26, 2005
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  8. Lefty

    amazingtrade Mad Madchestoh fan

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    In general I think the better known companies tend to have less dead pixels, I have a 17" Benq (Acer) which was about £50 dearer than the cheapest ones at the time, I've had it for more than a year now and it still has no dead pixels.
     
    amazingtrade, Sep 26, 2005
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  9. Lefty

    bloatfish

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    I also have a NEC 1760NX, which while slightly more expensive, has always given a consistent image, with no dead pixels. I used to have an IBM T20 laptop, which had two dead pixels, which looked as though there were two small holes in the screen, with bright light coming through. However, when I updated the installed software for the graphics card, the pixel's vanished and never returned. Wierd.
     
    bloatfish, Sep 26, 2005
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  10. Lefty

    Lefty

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    I tried the gentle push, but to avail. Also, I tried watching a movie earlier to see how annoying the bright red pixel was, and it's quite abvious, especially on dark scenes.

    Akram - I'll have to try updating the graphics card drivers and see where that gets me... heres hoping.

    Lefty
     
    Lefty, Sep 26, 2005
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  11. Lefty

    amazingtrade Mad Madchestoh fan

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    Aria do a service where they check for dead pixels before they despatch. I have a minor grudge against them though.
     
    amazingtrade, Sep 26, 2005
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  12. Lefty

    Phill77

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    As you bought it off the net, can you take advantage of the distance selling regulations. They give you a 7 day cooling off period, in which you can pull out of the contract.
    DTI Site
     
    Phill77, Sep 26, 2005
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  13. Lefty

    Lefty

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    Thanks for that Phil. I am giving thought to trying to return it, but I'm wondering if I should just grin and bear it? It's a lot of hassle to go through, and if I get another one, there are no guarantees that it would be any better. It could conceivably be worse!

    Another thing that has crossed my mind is that when I first hooked it up, it said something along the lines of "frequency too high" or some such. I guessed this was because my CRT monitor settings were too high, and so I plugged the CRT back in, reduced the resolution and then plugget the TFT back in and it worked. (ie displayed an image but the dead pixels were obviously there) COuld the dead pixels have been caused by the CRT settings that were too high when I first plugged the flat panel in?

    I wouldn't mind so much if the dead pixels weren't so near the centre of the screen!

    Lefty
     
    Lefty, Sep 26, 2005
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  14. Lefty

    Robbo

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    Send it back and buy one from here. For an extra £20 they will do a dead pixel check so you can guarantee getting a good screen.
     
    Robbo, Sep 26, 2005
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  15. Lefty

    Lefty

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    Yes, that seems the most likely course of action at the moment. I just hope that amazon don't kick up a fuss about the return.

    Lefty
     
    Lefty, Sep 26, 2005
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  16. Lefty

    lhatkins Dazed and Confused

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    When I got my 17" LCD, it had a "white" pixel, that was really annoying, after a few days though this seem to disappear, don't know how, maybe I was lucky.
    I don't know why, but screem manufacturers are allowed to send defective monitors out. It depends on the "class" of monitor to how many dead pixels are allowed, Class I is for Military, Hospital or other Critical applications, Class II specifies Allowable defect as follow: Allowable missing pixels per million pixels on display.
    Total load of arse if you ask me, if it has dead pixels then its faulty, full stop. I know its a difficult process to produce these monitors, but I don't see why the consumer shoudl have to put up with was I would class as faulty goods.
     
    lhatkins, Sep 26, 2005
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  17. Lefty

    bloatfish

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    Amar - what connection are you using, VGA or DVI? If your computer has both standards, have you tried swapping them around ?
     
    bloatfish, Sep 26, 2005
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  18. Lefty

    Tenson Moderator

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    I have a blue pixel or two. I thought it was one pixel but my GF seems to think its too big to be just one. Anyway I tried the massage trick just now and it didn't help. I got the monitor second hand and although I went to see it, I didnt notice it, the screen was a little dirty anyway.

    Its a Samsung SyncMaster 181T BTW.
     
    Tenson, Sep 26, 2005
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  19. Lefty

    HenryT

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    As someone who's tried a few LCD screens recently :D , I can confirm that I didn't suffer any bad pixel issues, although sadly they were all sent back as I didn't find they compared favourably with the sort of image qualities I'd been use to getting from a Trinitron type CRT.

    Anyway, one thing I'd watch out for if you do decide to return the goods for a refund is whether you get charged a re-stocking fee i.e. do they only refund a certain percentage of the original purchase price or do they only provide 100% refund in the form of a credit note/store vouchers. Luckily, I got refunded what I originally paid minus postage, but worth checking.
     
    HenryT, Sep 26, 2005
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  20. Lefty

    Lefty

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    Thanks for all your replies.

    Akram - I don't believe my graphics card supports a DVI connection as it only has an S-video and a standard output on the back?

    I have decided that I will order a new monitor from Aria now, and return the current one when the new one arrives. (amazon seem to be fine with the return)

    I just gave Aria a call (thanks Robbo) and they confirmed that for £20 they will do a dead pixel check on the monitor before sending it out. They also say that if it does arrive with dead pixels, as long as I let them know within 48 hours, they will replace it free of charge - can't say fairer than that!

    Now, I was wondering if I could solicit the collective wisdom of the forum to help me choose a new monitor, as it seems most people on here know more about these things than I do!

    The brief is:

    • must be a 19" (viewable area) screen
    • Maximum response time of 16ms
    • no more than £280 (including the £20 dead pixel check)

    Any help/suggestions would be greatly appreciated

    Lefty
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 27, 2005
    Lefty, Sep 27, 2005
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