LCD Backlight - CCFL

[VincentVega]

So,

I'm doing dual monitor right now, and I notice by comparison that the whites on my Inspiron 6000 aren't nearly as white as they used to be. This thing used to be blinding, and unless I'm going crazy, she just ain't up to par anymore.

I've had my share of backlight/inverter problems in the past, and I was curious to see what was on eBay

LCD CCFL BACKLIGHT LAMP DELL INSPIRON 6000 15.4" WXGA - eBay (item 230258430172 end time Jul-02-08 06:27:14 PDT)

Can it be? Stuff that cheap from HK is usually knockoff garbage, but I can't help but be tempted with that kind of price. Especially if it truly did work in my machine.

It's coming up on 3 years old, and it's getting some pretty heavy use these days. I read somewhere that compact flourescent bulbs (CCFL) "wear away" as they're used. I can't imagine why. I've had regular FL lights last years. So it's either a different technology, or it's built to have a shelf life to make you buy more.

Anyone have any experience with this, any knowledge? Share your wisdom

[Dopefish]

I don't know about the whole bulb situation, but I do know that all LCDs fade and lose their colors (not just white) over time. Typically a LCD will last about 2 years before the whites start to fade.

I've never tried replacing the light to see if it would make a difference. It might make it like new again. It would be an interesting test.

[VincentVega]

I wasn't reallly aware of this before now. Does this mean if you spend two thousand dollars on an HD LCD that in 24 months the picture quality is a lot shittier than it was? if that's the case, I don't see why people bitch about plasma washout

[panic!]

I've replaced a CCFL before, and it's a pain in the ass. I was sent just the bulb, and had to solder to put it back in. Getting it correct and making it fit is very tedeous. If you can find the bulb with the lcd frame, it's much much easier to replace.

[VincentVega]

how did it help whiteness and such?

[DennyCrane]

Just buy a new notebook, Scrooge McDuck.

[Dopefish]

Quote:

Originally Posted by VincentVega

I wasn't reallly aware of this before now. Does this mean if you spend two thousand dollars on an HD LCD that in 24 months the picture quality is a lot shittier than it was? if that's the case, I don't see why people bitch about plasma washout

I couldn't tell you on that one. PC LCDs are made a lot cheaper, especially if you buy shitty TN+Film panels. So you can expect a cheap $250 PC LCD to have faded whites, and other faded colors, after a couple years.

You never really notice it because it's so gradual, but all you have to do is set your LCD next to a new one and it will make yours look like total shit.

I would expect whatever they use in a $2k LCD to be better, but I don't really know for sure.

[panic!]

Quote:

Originally Posted by VincentVega

how did it help whiteness and such?

Well, before I could barely make out the picture because it was black. It definitely worked, but it's not worth the trouble of trying to solder and get it back in to place.

[VincentVega]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dopefish

I couldn't tell you on that one. PC LCDs are made a lot cheaper, especially if you buy shitty TN+Film panels. So you can expect a cheap $250 PC LCD to have faded whites, and other faded colors, after a couple years.

You never really notice it because it's so gradual, but all you have to do is set your LCD next to a new one and it will make yours look like total shit.

I would expect whatever they use in a $2k LCD to be better, but I don't really know for sure.

Yeah, good point. and @ panic, you too. I guess the bulb is in the bottom of the screen, because my notebooks always get hot as fuck right there. I actually knock down the brightness just to preserve it some. the heat can't help the longevity

[panic!]

I have a spare 15.4in CCFL with frame that will fit a few different Dell laptops if anyone needs it, lol.