New monitor sudden dark patch - not sure if dead pixel or not?

[tazzrats]

Hi all,

I just got a Lenovo g27q-20, 1440p IPS display, so far it's been awesome.

About 3 days into use this dark patch appeared:

https://imgur.com/a/2rhQXv6

• Thing is, this is only visible straight on, the second you look at the monitor from the side it goes
• Visible on all colours except blacks that are darker than it
• Looking at the pictures, when zoomed in it doesn't look like the pixels are actually dead?

Does anyone have any idea what this is and if there's a homebrew fix, If not its new and I can replace, just I have no IPS glow / backlight bleed and no stuck pixels, so I really don't want to re-enter the monitor lottery if it can be avoided when this one (up until 3 days in) was perfect!

Thanks in advance

[Jonj1611]

Possibly one of the backlight led's has failed by the looks of it

[tazzrats]

Possibly one of the backlight led's has failed by the looks of it

Oh darn, that sounds like a return job! :')

Thanks for the reply.

[Jonj1611]

Where did you get it from?

[tazzrats]

Lenovo themselves.

It looks to me after some quick scanning that they offer an "advance replacement" if they do I'll do that - I don't want to return it to get a unit with dead pixels!

Gutted though, them 3 days of ne issues were glorious haha

[Jonj1611]

Don't forget you generally have to pay for the advance replacement and they refund you when they get the old one back.

The pixels aren't actually dead funnily enough but the backlight led in that area likely is :/

[tazzrats]

Don't forget you generally have to pay for the advance replacement and they refund you when they get the old one back.

The pixels aren't actually dead funnily enough but the backlight led in that area likely is :/

That sounds fair - I'd like to do it that way for peace of mind so I can at least "reject" the advance - will have a dig into it.

Oh sorry re' my last messages wording being confusing, I got that this unit is just the LED :/ I was more meaning im worried the replacement would have dead pixels.

Kind of hoping when I get home from work this will be magically better but if it's the LED I guess not XD

[Jonj1611]

Always a worry for me when buying monitors is getting home and finding dead pixels.

You could try GENTLY tapping the area, while it has worked in the past its more likely not to do anything but worth a try.

[tazzrats]

Always a worry for me when buying monitors is getting home and finding dead pixels.

You could try GENTLY tapping the area, while it has worked in the past its more likely not to do anything but worth a try.

Tried that last night when I was praying to the gods it was a stuck pixel, no luck. In one last ditch attempt I have left a software fixer running while im at work.

But I agree with you, it does look more like the LED than the pixels. Damnit.

[DanceswithUnix]

I did wonder about backlight LED, but that is a really small area for a monitor which from a quick Google didn't seem to even have local dimming (my Google-fu could be wrong on that ofc).

Smells like a return job to me anyway

[tazzrats]

I did wonder about backlight LED, but that is a really small area for a monitor which from a quick Google didn't seem to even have local dimming (my Google-fu could be wrong on that ofc).

Smells like a return job to me anyway

Oh fair point, I didn't even think about local dimming - no it doesn't have it I'm pretty sure (details are scarce on this monitor ATM)

Saaad that its a return job, I really love it! I hope the next one has no dead pixels!

[DanceswithUnix]

Do please let us know what the returns process is like, it's one of those things that you only hear about when it goes wrong.

Samsung were really helpful with failed monitor, but out of warranty it was cheaper to just buy a new one. Feels so wasteful

Do love a 1440p monitor though. Am using a cheap Iiyama right now and it's still lovely to work with.

[tazzrats]

Do please let us know what the returns process is like, it's one of those things that you only hear about when it goes wrong.

Samsung were really helpful with failed monitor, but out of warranty it was cheaper to just buy a new one. Feels so wasteful

Do love a 1440p monitor though. Am using a cheap Iiyama right now and it's still lovely to work with.

I will do! I hope it is smooth sailing haha.

I just upgraded from a cheapo 1080p so was blown away lol.

As they are lacking I'll also post a review of this monitor including this saga and their customer support once all is done.

As before this I was really blown away for a 1440p 165Hz Gysync IPS at £250! I know you get what you pay for, but this dead pixel / LED mystery is the only issue, so if I can get a unit without it, I'd be very happy.

On a final side note, I do find it weird this came on after 3 days, kind of added to the disappointment haha,

[DanceswithUnix]

On a final side note, I do find it weird this came on after 3 days, kind of added to the disappointment haha,

Such is the way of the bathtub failure curve. Things fail when quite new as well as when old.

£250?!? That's a good price for the monitor. This Iiyama was close enough to that price and only does Freesync to 70Hz. One that's been through Nvidia testing and has twice the top frame rate for the same price... nice find!

[matts-uk]

Does anyone have any idea what this is and if there's a homebrew fix,

Looks remarkably like pressure damage to the LCD. Most commonly caused by people poking the screen but it can also occur due to poor handling in the factory, transit or deboxing. Pressure damage causes a physical deformation to the liquid crystal cells and is generally considered irreparable.

[tazzrats]

Looks remarkably like pressure damage to the LCD. Most commonly caused by people poking the screen but it can also occur due to poor handling in the factory, transit or deboxing. Pressure damage causes a physical deformation to the liquid crystal cells and is generally considered irreparable.

Update to you all! and thanks so much to all of you for helping:


I think you're right @matts-uk. Which is weird, as I don't THINK it was there when I first got the unit, and to say I bubble wrap my tech would be an understatement, there is no way I caused the damage, nothing went near the monitor before it appeared (I know that's what they all say, but truthfully, this is a mystery!). The reason I think you're right re it being pressure damage or something along these lines:


I got home, after leaving it alone for a day running the software pixel fixer thingy (technical term) to discover it is almost invisible. I have to be at a perfect angle and then it is only noticeable if I stare, and it looks like a smudge on the screen at most. So yep, agreed, it looks like something to do with the crystals. Attached a pic below (it's to the left of the cursor, can you see it? This is with monitor brightness and camera contrast as high as possible to make it pop!). https://imgur.com/a/2rhQXv6



Obviously I'm super happy with the outcome! I'll keep an eye on it in case the LCD being damaged means it'll recur, but if nothing happens I'll count myself lucky!


Will also write a proper review of this monitor on here at some point once I'm happy this fault is gone (ish).


UPDATE 1: even brushing the screen brings it back! (I tried wiping it down with a dry microfibre cloth, 0 pressure, bang, thats enough). 100% the LCD crystals. Out of curiosity @Matts-Uk do you think if I left it for long enough that the crystals would re-fill the damaged area?

If I cant even dust the monitor without it happening though sadly will have to be a return.


UPDATE 2 Left it alone for another hour, mark has gone. Going to leave it for a week and see if the liquid / crystals heal as a half-arsed google suggested they might. Will update ya'll then.

UPDATE 3 As of today it has totally disappeared, even the shadow, and doesn't re-appear like it did yesterday. Will still wait a week.