NE180QDM-NM2 MiniLed COLOR problems

[dimadeush]

Hello, Asus

First of all - thanks for the great laptops as Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 (2025) G835LX. 

We've upgraded the previous version Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 (2023) G834JY into the new one mentioned above.

I hope you know that NOT only gamers are using your TOP Premium Laptops like Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 but also NON gamers. It means that some your customers CAN use such laptops under LINUX OS.

While using the latest G835LX we want to pay attention to the ONE HARDWARE problem that we faced after some time of usage. As we can see in the previous version Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 (2023) G834JY we had an IPS panel (NE180QDM-NZ2 ) but NOT MiniLed NE180QDM-NM2 . You can see the specification and the difference here - https://www.panelook.com/modelcompare.php?ids=68694,60286

After comparing the difference, everyone had an assumption that MiniLed should be much better as it has 1.06B colors and much better brightness. BUT, as we can see, the quality of the images is much WORSE and a lot colors are very strange and we can see, in some cases, not a black background but like "washed black" color. By the first time we had an assumption that it is non hardware related but related to the missing Armoury Create software for the linux. So we switched to the Windows 11 (where we have Armoury Create software)  and we found the SAME problem there. Some background images is not black but "washed" and some colors are not clean white as it should be. At the same time we connected to the notebook the next monitor Dell UltraSharp U2718Q (210-AMRZ) and on the same laptop we DON'T have this problem. The same under the linux - while connecting Dell UltraSharp U2718Q (210-AMRZ) we can see proper colors (the same as on NE180QDM-NZ2 ).

It means that the problem inside MiniLed by the fact. We tried to play with Armoury create software and we've FOUND the problem!  When disabling "game visual" effects option - the issue DISAPPEARS! We should disable this option as the situation is quite critical (even for the simple user, not a designer). Changing settings on the tab "game visual" is NOT helping with "washed colors". Only disabling this feature at all solves the problem. Maybe without usage another display we will not faced this problem but it's strange to have such issue. Let's imagine, you need to change background while writing a code as background IS NOT black but washed, and while switching to the another screen (better) you can see another colors.

We have one question and one proposal for solving this really IMPORTANT issue with MiniLed, as we have an assumption that ALL your customers who are using your laptops will have the SAME problems later with MiniLed.

Question: Did you check the difference between NE180QDM-NZ2 and NE180QDM-NM2 before having decision to use it in your laptops? We are agree that the screen is much "lighter" and have much better brightness. BUT, at the same time, while using NE180QDM-NZ2 it's quite enough while having <= 90% of brightness. At the same time we can see that in the modern TOP premium screens from DELL and other manufacturers - MiniLed is not popular and in most cases they still using IPS.

Proposal: As there is no possibility to switch off "game visual" effects under the linux, is it possible to add inside the BIOS option that allow to switch off MiniLed? and, for instance, you can switch on it while installing Armory Create  later under the windows. I mean that all you customers still will be able to use the same good quality with no issues related to the color while using other OS. And Windows customer will be able to switch this option on while using Windows and Armory Create software.

P.S. The funny things that AI saying that: "Mini-LED refers to the backlight technology, while IPS describes the liquid crystal panel type; therefore, a Mini-LED display is often a combination of both, like a Mini-LED backlit IPS panel.". Could you please pay your attention to the all your notebooks later and put there proper naming on your official web-site of the panel that are you using, as currently we don't know if you have IPS+MiniLed or TnFilm+MiniLed....

With hope

Thanks in Advance

[dimadeush]

Hello, Asus

It seems we are close to find the real problem of things above..... We, as open source community, while using Linux, need your help.

If you use google, you can see that problems with ROG panels is not a single issue - https://rog-forum.asus.com/t5/armoury-crate/guide-on-how-to-disable-gamevisual-june-2024/td-p/102313...

And, maybe, most problems related to the MiniLed panel. Yesterday we "played" with the issue above and now we have the next results and assumption.

After installing Redshift system package (Linux) and installing related applet, we are able to achieve better situation:

Adjustment method: randr
Settings:
Temperature: 6950
Brightness: 100%
Gamma: 0.85

Now we have much better colors. So, maybe, your Armoury Create software just changing color temperature and the gamma. Could you please provide more info what is behind disabling "game visual" effects inside the Armoury Create software?

If behind disabling "game visual" effects just changing color temperature and gamma - maybe there is "default" panel calibration, provided by the vendor, that is wrong by the fact. So, having proper vendor's calibration (as default) will not need to install additional software or complaints from the customers about "game visual" effects and wrong colors.

Could you please provide us with the next info:

1)Could you please, somehow, test  NE180QDM-NM2 and inform us if it really has  1.06B colors (as without checking that info somebody can have an assumption that NE180QDM-NZ2 has it but NOT ....NM2)

2)Could you please provide us what is behind disabling "game visual" effects inside Armoury Create software (we need it for compare with "Redshift" functionality)

3)Is it possible to change default vendor's calibration after updating BIOS or similar?

With hope

Thanks in Advance

[Falcon_ASUS]

@dimadeush 
Thank you for choosing the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 18 (G835LX) and taking the time to provide detailed feedback and suggestions.

We would like to clarify that we have not conducted testing or verification for the Linux operating system, so we cannot guarantee the product’s stability or display performance under Linux.

What we can assist with is confirming whether the same color display anomaly occurs in the officially supported Windows 11 environment.

If possible, please provide the BIOS version, operating system version, OS build, and graphics driver version you are using.
Additionally, we kindly ask that you provide photos or videos showing the operation process and test results, if convenient.

Please also refer to the following FAQ to export the log:
https://www.asus.com/support/faq/1043747/
Q4: What is App Diagnostics?

A4: App Diagnostics can collect Armoury Crate current status log. In Armoury Crate "Settings"① and check "About"② page, If clicking App Diagnostics "Record Log"③, the Privacy Policy Statement will pop out. Once user agreed statement, the Armoury Crate will start to collect problem log. After that, please start to duplicate the problem you have, then back to this page to click "Generate log data"③ to generate the log file with encrypted (ASUS log file). After log saved, user can provide it to the repair center or technical supporter for further Armoury Crate problem diagnostics.

After uploading the log to a cloud storage service, please send me the relevant link via message.

Once we receive your test results in the Windows 11 environment, we will forward your feedback and suggestions to the relevant department for further review and evaluation.

Thank you for your support and valuable feedback regarding our products.

[dimadeush]

Hello

Thanks for your response. All info attached and you can download it in the nearest 7 days from fileshare that I sent via private message.

Thanks in Advance

[Falcon_ASUS]

@dimadeush 

Here is an update for you.

1)Could you please, somehow, test  NE180QDM-NM2 and inform us if it really has  1.06B colors (as without checking that info somebody can have an assumption that NE180QDM-NZ2 has it but NOT ....NM2)
>> The specification sheet for this panel confirms support for 1.06 billion colors.

2)Could you please provide us what is behind disabling "game visual" effects inside Armoury Create software (we need it for compare with "Redshift" functionality)
>>When Game Visual is enabled, it loads the factory color calibration file and controls parameters such as screen color gamut and color temperature. Users can see options for color gamut switching and color temperature adjustment at the bottom of the Game Visual page. You can try switching to other color gamuts and adjusting the color temperature to see if this resolves the issue.

3)Is it possible to change default vendor's calibration after updating BIOS or similar?
>> Currently, GameVisual adjustments are only supported within Windows. We have forwarded your feedback and suggestions to the relevant department for further review and evaluation.

Thank you.