Member Avatar for Slam

I recently bought a 17" LCD flat panel display from Dell. I noticed that there is a cluster of 4-8 pixels on lower right corner of the monitor that are brighter than the rest of the screen. However, these brighter pixels can only be seen when the screen is of a lighter color (the worst being when there is a white background) AND when you look at the pixels at angles greater than 45 degrees (when the contrast starts to degrade). When the background is black OR if you look at the pixels at an angle less than 45 degrees, these "bad" pixels do not stand out and looks to be behaving normally. (ie. If I look a a black background at greater than 45 deg angle, these pixels do not stand out.)

Now, I have read up on LCDs and have a good understanding of how they work. Given my situation above, I don't think I have a true case of "dead pixels" where the pixel remains permanently lit or unlit at any angle of view. I have gone to stores and looked at other LCD monitors and have not found one with this phenomemon.

So, can anybody explain to me what is happening here? Is this considered a defect or is it something normal in the industry that I need to live with? Now that I know the pixels are there, I see them whenever I look at my screen from an angle, which annoys me sometimes. If I look at the screen straight on, again, this cluster of "bad" pixels are NOT apparent.

Thanks for any feedback.
Slam

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Short expert take: the behaviour you describe (a small bright cluster that only shows on light backgrounds and only at steep viewing angles) is not the same as a single “dead” or permanently lit subpixel. It’s far more consistent with a panel/backlight or liquid‑crystal alignment issue (often called mura, backlight clouding/bleed, or simply viewing‑angle artefact) than with an isolated stuck pixel. That distinction matters because the diagnosis and remedy are different.

Quick, safe diagnostic checklist you can follow now:

  • Take a screenshot of the white/gray screen showing the issue and open that screenshot on another device. If the saved image is uniform, the problem is in the monitor hardware; if the image already shows the defect, it’s coming from the GPU/software.
  • Cycle full‑screen solid colors (white, black, red, green, blue). A defect that appears on every bright color points to backlight/polarizer/LC alignment; a defect that appears only on one color suggests a stuck subpixel.
  • Photograph the screen head‑on and at the oblique angle where you normally see it. Photos are useful evidence for support.
  • Try a different input source/cable and display the monitor’s OSD menu: if the spot appears with the OSD visible, it’s a panel/backlight issue (OSD is generated by the monitor, not the PC).
  • Avoid prying the case or aggressive pressure. Gentle, short tests are OK; anything that risks disassembly will likely void warranty.

Next steps: document the behaviour (screenshot + photos/video from the angle), then decide based on warranty and tolerance for the defect. As noted, localized pressure points can cause similar symptoms; as suggested, warranty/return paths are the safest route if the monitor is new. To : panel fixes often mean replacing the panel or repositioning internal supports—those are not trivial and can be costly, so weigh repair cost vs replacement.

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Member Avatar for nizzy1115

I recently bought a 17" LCD flat panel display from Dell. I noticed that there is a cluster of 4-8 pixels on lower right corner of the monitor that are brighter than the rest of the screen. However, these brighter pixels can only be seen when the screen is of a lighter color (the worst being when there is a white background) AND when you look at the pixels at angles greater than 45 degrees (when the contrast starts to degrade). When the background is black OR if you look at the pixels at an angle less than 45 degrees, these "bad" pixels do not stand out and looks to be behaving normally. (ie. If I look a a black background at greater than 45 deg angle, these pixels do not stand out.)

Now, I have read up on LCDs and have a good understanding of how they work. Given my situation above, I don't think I have a true case of "dead pixels" where the pixel remains permanently lit or unlit at any angle of view. I have gone to stores and looked at other LCD monitors and have not found one with this phenomemon.

So, can anybody explain to me what is happening here? Is this considered a defect or is it something normal in the industry that I need to live with? Now that I know the pixels are there, I see them whenever I look at my screen from an angle, which annoys me sometimes. If I look at the screen straight on, again, this cluster of "bad" pixels are NOT apparent.

Thanks for any feedback.
Slam

This sounds a lot like what happened to my dell laptop screen...i had it in my backpack with a lot of other stuff in it and it got pressed against hard...it then grew "light" spots like you are describing in certian areas...i took apart the screen and found that there were a few foam square pieces randomly placed behind the screen for support (inbetween the lcd and the plastic back cover) and this is exactly where the light spots were on the other side...

so in your case...i think that your screen might be damaged and i would try to replace it if you can.

Member Avatar for Coconut Monkey

Consult your warranty guide - there should be information concerning Dell's warranty stance on bright pixels and whether or not you have a valid claim for a replacement.

Member Avatar for torontojack

This sounds a lot like what happened to my dell laptop screen...i had it in my backpack with a lot of other stuff in it and it got pressed against hard...it then grew "light" spots like you are describing in certian areas...i took apart the screen and found that there were a few foam square pieces randomly placed behind the screen for support (inbetween the lcd and the plastic back cover) and this is exactly where the light spots were on the other side...

so in your case...i think that your screen might be damaged and i would try to replace it if you can.

How did you fix your problem, I'm experiencing the same thing.
How difficult a fix is it?
Is the monitor damaged or is it repairable?

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