Samsung TV white death problem can be solved for under $200

You’ve settled  down to watch Television when you notice white star-like clusters on the screen. It’s not dust and it’s not the brightness. Those white dots–the white death problem– mean only one thing– a worn out DMD chip.

The solution offered by your manufacturer can be expensive. Fortunately there is a solution for under $200.

This annoying problem seems to crop up with Samsung DLP TVs when they’ve been in used  anywhere from two to five years – usually when the warranty has expired

While not as bad as other brands, Samsung is struggling with the white death problem with some of its DLP TVs.

If you read the various forums offering solutions, you’ll see customers being given quotes of $600 and upwards for solving the white spot syndrome or replacing the DMD DLP chip. Fortunately, there are companies offering the offering the DLP chip for under $200.

Samsung DMD DLP chip

Causes of white death

No matter what the brand, at the heart of any DLP TV the DMD chip invented in 1987 by Dr. Larry Hornbeck of Texas Instruments. This optical semiconductor contains an array of up to 2 million hinge-mounted microscopic mirrors, so small they measure one-fifth the width of a human hair.

As it receives the signal, the small mirrors rotate, either tilting away from the light or towards it to produce those stunning images that have made these TVs a frontrunner for the consumer.  Since they are mounted on a yoke with an axle that literally twists in the middle, these micro mirrors get stuck and can no longer reflect the signal. The result is a white or black dot on the screen. As more and more mirrors become stuck, more white dots appear on screen creating an image that can’t be viewed.

The affordable solution

In order to address the issue, Texas Instrument has created a replacement DMD DLP chip that is affordable and readily available from recognized distributors. While part numbers may vary, the chip remains the same. The following part numbers are interchangeable:

Samsung DMD Chip 4719-001997 
Samsung DMD Chip 4719-001985
Samsung DMD Chip 4719-001999
Samsung DMD Chip W1272-5003
Mitsubishi DMD Chip 276P595010
Board Number DMD Panel IC# 1910-6143W
Board Number DMD Panel IC# 1910-6145W
Board Number DMD Panel IC# 1910-6103W

Avoid an expensive repair bill and let your service center know about the DMD DLP chip for under $200.

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