120Hz 3D Screen upgrade for Alienware 17 R1

Again, in safe mode the card is forced into VGA compatibility mode and does not even use the NV driver - hence no gaming in safe mode.

No sure way to tell for sure on a 120hz model unless you have access to another card to test, it's not doing anything that fails logic for a card failure.

 

Sadness and sorrow.

 

is it just me or is full brightness too bright?

 

Is the 980M working with 3D yet? If not, what is the best card that will support 3D? Thanks.

 

it will never work because it is not an officially licensed configuration.

 

OK, so is the best card available for 3D the 880M?

 

if you don't mind the horrible temps....but if you're temperature conscious then 780M.

 

OK, I think I mind the horrible temps. I have the 770M. At $349, is an upgrade to the 780M worth it? I have every other piece maxed out, but I don't intend to overclock.

 

overclocking might give it a bit more life but it is showing its age.

 

One last dumb question, can I do two 780M SLI and retain 3D?

 

No

 

because last i checked the AW 17 is a single GPU config.

 

Guys I thought we could add some small tutorial in this thread (or in the 1st post?) in how to install a new video card when you have the 120Hz panel already installed.

Specially taking about the 970m/980m video cards.

Just because this is a popular thread and it's close related to the subject?

 

Hi, looking to upgrade my screen. May I ask is there a difference between these three screens?
http://www.laptopscreen.com/English/model/Dell/ALIENWARE~17/

Screen 1: Item number 949982
Screen 2: Item number 178515 (COMPATIBLE with 3D LAPTOPS ONLY)
Screen 3: http://www.laptopscreen.com/English/model/Dell/GN36T/?set_currency=GBP

I'm looking to just upgrade my screen to full HD. Are these panels all 120hz? I do not need the 3D capability, and I already have the N392W cable. Slightly confused as the screen numbers don't match up with the first post.

Thanks in advance.

 

if it's labelled as 3D laptops only it means it's 120hz.

 

go for screen 2 (178515) as theghOsts mentioned. That's the one you need for 120hz 1080p

Ian

 

Thanks for your replies @thegh0sts & @IanC !

Can I just ask, is there no matte version available for the 3D 120hz Full HD?

 

just glossy panels unfortunately. maybe you can find an anti-glossy filter but honestly it isn't that bad for indoors.

 

i have the glossy version 120hz panel and ive not experienced any issues with it, the colours seem to pop a bit more than they would on a matte screen.

 

yup, the colours seems to be much nicer than on a matte....the matte looks like crap anyway.

 

My GPU died on me day before yesterday. Since it's time for the upgrade

Had a chat with dell,
Delta 330W PSU was priced at $159.99 too much should I go for it or get it from HID EVO at 100$ ?
GTX 780M was not available (I'm broke on this 780M or 980M Win7 + no full UEFI is dragging me to the 780M but the future seems bleak with that kepler card) sorry for the OTs

LCD 3D 120Hz Truelife display kit (3FVH7 17.3 FHD WLED TLF 3D with eDP cable (GN36T,N392W)) was at whopping $269.99 - that N392W was for 9.99$ so placed an order for that and a HDD ODD caddy for 5.99$.

We need that N392W eDP cable right for the upgrade ?
For the GN36T laptopscreens has it for a better price- 93 USD.
Will do the upgrade soon enough (Optimus was boring & less performing, It was long back since I used that) !!

EDIT 2 : Well the agent placed 2 n0s of the cable I cancelled it before the billing but now the cable is out of stock, thank you dell.

 

do it!

get a 980M and a 120hz panel - it's all good!

 

Couple months ago i upgraded my R4 with the 980M, now i feel like going a step further and replace the stock 1080p 60hz screen with an 120hz one. I've been looking around the forum and i think i found everything needed for the upgrade, would just like someone with more knowledge here to confirm that i got it right. I do not care about 3d so i only searched for screen and cable.

- screen: https://www.laptopscreen.com/English/model/Dell/ALIENWARE~M17X~R4/ .. last one in the list, id 890560
- cable: http://tinyurl.com/grnqwh8

 

even if you wanted 3d you can't get it since 3d only works on valid/licensed configurations. as soon as you put in the 980M it's no longer is a valid configuration.

 

Thanks for the reply, is it the right stuff for the upgrade tho?

 

i don't know since I don't have your model.

 

Any chance you can do a tutorial or provide the part list? Looks great.

Also, if you or someone else could comment, will upgrading to 120hz work (if OP's instructions are followed exactly) on Alienware 17 R5 models (not just R1 models, as OP states) as long as the OS can support UEFI?

And how about models other than R1 or R5?

Thanks.

 

you're getting the revisions confused: the R5 is the R1....you're mixing the M17X R5 with the AW17 R1. the M17X R5 is the unofficial name for the AW17 R1.

Also, the OP has a tutorial and parts list....you just don't need the 3d IR emitter!

 

Thanks gh0sts! With your explanation and a wiki article on the revision lists, I've been set straight.

I skimmed through this thread today and found that someone with a revision other than the R1 successfully got 120hz working. Maybe that was the R5 which I now know is the same thing.

Is 120hz not working on any other revisions? I am interested in getting the fastest laptop possible with a 120hz screen. I do not care for the 3D Vision feature.

Thanks!!

 

the M17X R4 can do 120Hz and that's about it AFAIK. getting the parts for 120Hz is quite difficult....the display cable is the most difficult bit to get.

 

Getting the parts is that difficult? I found links to the display ($100 USD) and cable ($45 USD) and it seems those are the only requirements.

@IanC

You posted a while back in this thread that you may be selling your 120hz laptop due to your kids. I was wondering if you have not sold it yet and are still looking to sell.

Thanks all.

 

good luck if they're aliexpress listings!

 

Ah. I may just try to see if I can get a used one that is already 120hz-ready, then!

 

well good luck! even getting the stuff late last year was a challenge.

 

I just saw one sell on eBay for $1000. Not bad.

 

mate, i live in china, and that is very expensive for that cable, i picked up mine online for under 8 dollars, and have been using it for over a year now, still working.

 

i followed the instructions and managed to do it quiet easily,
and have done it on a few of my mates pc's too, if you need help, just hit me up id be more then happy to help you out,

P.s, i have some pictures and stuff lying around from my own upgrades, so i could share with you if needed.

good luck

 

feel free to ship some if people request them

 

Thanks for the info. And ask thanks for the good luck wishes. I have to get a compatible Alienware laptop first though!

Apparently the R4 can do 120hz too?

And which "instructions" are you referring to? Does the cable come with installation instructions?

Thanks again!

 

Actually I was referring to the dual monitor setup. Not the 120hz replacement. Sorry for the confusion!

 

which do you have? the M17X R4 or the AW17 R1?

 

Me? Neither. Deciding which one to get (if I can).

 

don't bother: get a clevo!

 

Really? Why should I get a Clevo?

Do they make new laptops with 120hz displays (or new laptops that are 120hz-upgradable?) Does anyone?

 

because they're already using CPUs that are 2 generations old but mostly the hardware is locked down more than clevo.

 

for the 120hz upgrade, you just need a 120hz LCD, i dont know about the r4, I had the 2014 17 r1, so i used GN36T *LTN173HT02-D02 screen, and since 120hz needs to bypass the iGPU and run off the nvidia gpu, it has to be connected via a separate eDP connector on the motherboard and not the standard LVDS, hence you need to get the edp wire, the part number for the wire was N392W, i think its the same for the r4, but dont take my word for it. i am not a 100 percent sure.

if you want to do the 3D mod aswell, you would also need the IR emitter (dell part number XX7CM)

P.S, the 120hz screen (LTN173HT02-D02) to be specfic is sooooo much better then the standard screen, and i dont mean just the refresh rate, it has brighter whites, darker blacks, (much superior contrast ratio)
even compared to the m18xr2 screen that have, id say id much rather game on the 17 even though its smaller, and i dont use 3d anymore, the screen is still just better, id would highly recommend the upgrade,

PS PS,
i live in china so getting a hold of the parts was easy and dirt cheap, the whole upgrade including the glasses cost me under 90 dollars

 

oh sorry my bad, as for the dual screen, i am on vacations at the moment, ill be going back to collage in a few weeks, ill let you know the exact parts and tools i used to get the job done, i dont remember all the little details on top of my head.

remind me if i forget

 

In the end i picked one up from ebay for like 12$. Funny enough, the shipping from US to Europe was more expensive than the cable itself, but still way more cheaper than the chinese website one.

 

the screen is the same but the cable is different. but really i wouldn't buy an M17X R4 or an AW17R1 now because they're kind outdated and they're more locked down than ever.

 

The most graphics-intensive game I play is CS:GO at 1920x1080 at lowest settings. All that is important to me is the 120hz screen (as long as the input lag is not bad). I will occasionally play other FPS games like quake, which even slow computers can run.