[GUIDE] Swapping Stock M17x-R3 LCD w/ 90% NTSC Color Gamut "B+RGLED" LCD

Got something special for all you M17x-R3 owners to drool over soon. I'm just making this cause I'm excited to get a B+RGLED R3.

I have a LCD arriving, the AUO B173HW01 V.4 to be exact, on Monday and will be doing the mod hopefully sometime early to mid next week. Hopefully I won't have less than 3 dead pixels since the seller only guarantees beyond that point. I've already tried installing the 15.6" B+RGLED in my M15x LCD mod and it works just fine, so I'm excited to see the results.

15.6" test


Got my B+RGLED panel today and did a quick test run. It's a little dim...oddly I can't switch graphics anymore and everything is dimmer, even with my stock 900p...LOL...driver issues most likely.

No Dead Pixels!!!

 

I see much love headed your way Not by me of course, but fellow R3 owners. How does that screen compare to the R2 RGBLED?

PS. I'm stealing your AW Banner for the Benching thread if your cool with that.

 

Bro, go right ahead. I just Googled an AW picture anyway and cropped it...

From what I can gather, the 90%/95% gamut screens are only second to true RGBs from the XPS 16 and the R2. Honestly I thought the RGB from the R2 was too eye straining, beautiful but it hurts lol.

I'm just praying for no dead/stuck pixels, I'd imagine stuff like that would bother me forever.

 

sick!!! looking forward to this, btw how much did the screen cost????

 

Got it from my brother in law in FL. Never knew he distributes LCDs until a day ago lol. Cost I think will be about $120-$145 + shipping. I gotta pay him back...

 

guess i'll be calling you up then once you get everything setup. if you don't mind that is.

 

Just a tiny update.

Next update will be the full guide!

 

looking forward to it... especially if you can get the brightness sorted.

 

Yeah when I first did the test I forgot to plug the LCD cable into the motherboard, had to hard restart. Power drain didn't help so hopefully pulling the CMOS will. If not...reflash BIOS...

 

Following this.

 

Yeah pulling the CMOS for a minute or 2 worked. IGP showed right back up, followed by BSODs LOL cause default SATA config is in RAID...

 

will definitely be following this. Have been looking at screen upgrades for a while and this looks awesome

 

I have it installed already and have fixed the brightness problem. The screen is absolutely beautiful, but I highly recommend people NOT do this mod until a source for spare R3 bezels can be found. Removing the Edge to Edge glass is not an option due to design and so cutting the magnesium backing is the only one I could do. It was tough and destroyed the 900p LCD. More on that later.

 

Cutting what?? The lid itself can be removed. The screen is screwed to??

 

After the lid is separated from the LCD/E-to-E assembly the LCD needs to be cut out. The LCD is held by a magnesium plate "glued" to the E-to-E glass and is very difficult to remove without cutting. Rather than risk cracking the glass, it's better just to sacrifice the 900p.

 

He meant the LCD, which is glued to the edge to edge plexy and held in the back by a magnesium chassis.

 

Would heating the glue slightly on the glass-side with a hairdryer make it easier to remove, do you think?

 

It might...I spent probably an hour looking over the assembly and found no way to remove it other than 1) buying a new LCD bezel/mag chassis set or 2) cutting the LCD out.

 

I would love to do this mod, I just would rather have (like you suggest) a spare bezel.. Going back to university soon and really would love to have a better screen, mine is the standard 900p one, do not like it lol.

 

I see. I saw screws when I opened mine up a while ago and thought it was held together with that.

So some sort of glue. What would the bezel etc cost? If the screen is way better its woth the money. Could you post some quality pics.

 

Aftermarket parts would help... just replace the entire assembly. I would actually want to keep my old screen for warranty issues.

 

The screws you see hold the LCD to the magnesium chassis so it's more secure. Removing the screws will only allow the LCD to be removed, but even then the LCD is also stuck to the E-to-E as well. The magnesium chassis attached to the bezel/E-to-E is the main concern. It's not glue but a very, VERY sticky tape that forms a very tight seal around the E-to-E glass.

I'm currently trying to source a supply of E-to-E bezel/mag chassis because cutting the LCD out severely weakens the assembly and a bit of wiggle can be felt when opening and closing the lid. That and also you run the risk of destroying the stock LCD and hindering warranty stuff. I wouldn't say your warranty is void since most parts can be replaced under warranty without having to change the LCD assembly out, just know you probably can't send the unit back after this mod unless we find spare parts...

 

That "glue" is actually some thin 3M double sided tape, same as the one holding the plastic behind the port holes etc.
You can remove the plexy with a lot of patience, a thin blade, some 90% alcohol but not acetone(it'll ruin the plexy).

 

That's not the only problem. The main problem with removing it using a knife is that the R3 has "feet" attached to the entire left and right side of the E-to-E glass. These two long strips are in the way, people with the R3 will know what I mean. They appear to be mounted to the top and bottom of the assembly and cannot be removed. They cover up areas of the assembly so you can't gain access to certain parts of the left and right side for cutting.

 

Thanks for clarifying that, Villosa, wow they really made it harder for you guys

 

I wish dell had included it as an option. Lots of people would have paid extra.

 

noob question here how come the m17x r3's arent made with rgb led's?

also, is there really that much of a better picture in the r2's rgb led than the r3's led?

 

Difference is like a night and a day to some, for me it's the reason for not to upgrade to M17x r3 or M18x.

 

Is this a 60hz or 120hz panel, this was never specified.

 

The panel I'm using is 60hz.

 

Hey Villosa, any chance you may get to try one of them IPS panels from the Elitebook 8760w?

 

Man if I had the $$ to buy that panel then yes lol. It's definitely something worth looking into though.

 

Hey Villosa, any new progress on getting the screen to fit in the R3?

 

Yeah it fits fine, using it right now. I'll officially update the thread very soon with new pictures and the actual guide lol.

Sorry...been a bit lazy cause of work.

 

Awesome man...I'm excited to try this mod myself...I miss the screen of my R2!

Besides the screen is there any other parts I'll have to order?

 

my eyes hurts as well, the only way is to lower the brightness via FN key to 60%

or get glasses with filter

 

Anywhere I can get a 120hz panel with high gamut? Else not interested, thanks

 

Lookin forward to the update man, this is the one thing I dont like about my machine... the 900p screen.

 

I know it is a bit smaller, but maybe someone should try the 16" RGBLED screen from a Studio XPS

 

If it's 40pin it should work. If it has other connections in addition to the 40 pin then probably not.

Honestly once I calibrated the B+RGLED, I can say I highly favor it over over-saturated/eye straining RGB of the R2 lol.

That's not to say this panel doesn't look good and is less vibrant etc. The B+RGLED is close to prefect imo.

 

How did you calibrate it? Did you use a Spyder thing?

 

Nah I didn't have fancy stuff. I used someone's profile but it made everything very dark so I just went with calibrate display color that Win 7 had. Honestly it was just a bit over saturated and once I adjusted it, it was perfect.

 

Ah nice. For the 120hz screen I just calibrate the gamma to 2.2, turn the contrast down, the brightness down slightly and up the vibrance. I also tweak the hue a bit. All done in the Nvidia Control Panel

 

You ever find a source for the glossy LCD cover?

I'd be interested in a spare to try to modify for a matte screen (cutting out the middle..lol). I hate glossy LCD's.

 

Hey Villosa...do you have a possible ETA for the guide?

 

Within the next 7 days I should have something official up in the OP. Sorry for the wait.

 

Awesome...thanks, yeah...just trying to budget so I can do the mod shortly after you post a guide!

 

I am really looking forward to the guide once you have time to post it. Thanks!

Could you let us know what company your brother works for so we can order the AUO screen too?

 

I can't wait for the guide

why didnt you buy the: AUO159D (B173HW01 V5). I heard that some people get that one standard in their alienware m17xr3. The matte v4 isn't going to change anything because there is the E to E glass right?

 

Hmm, never heard of Dell using that one for the R3 yet, link please?

I went with the V4 cause it was convenient lol (in stock).