Best M17x-R2 LCD Screen upgrade

I share your frustration, Alex. It is to the point nowadays that "tech support" is an oxymoron, and you really just have to take all the marketing noise you hear out there with a huge grain of salt. Absolutely, buy high-end tech products, but never expect any real support. You won't get it. Companies have discovered that product support is extremely expensive when the products themselves are so loaded with profit. I guess you can't blame them, in a way. An Alien that we spend $3000 for probably doesn't cost Dell more than a few hundred bucks to pull together, so it's WAY cheaper for them to just throw parts at you and say they fixed you up, even if no one over in their operation knows anything about your problem. Welcome to the unfortunate world of being a high-tech consumer in the 21st century!

 

I have the 1440x900

 

Same! if this works... it would be a nice first step in the upgrade... step 2 would be RGB LED...

 

Im not sure the RGB is any different than the one I ordered. Why are you under the impression that it is?
As far as I know there are only three types of LED backilight techniques; RGB LED, Edge-LEDs, and Full Array LED's. I think that RGB is most common for laptop displays, but I could be wrong. Either way, any are a upgrade over CCFL.

 

Which backlight approach do they use in the RGB of the 1920 Alienware screen? Is it literally a whole panel of tiny LEDs? (I would think something like that would require a lot of power.)

 

good question there...

 

No way is it full led backlighting, that would skyrocket the cost of it to $1000+ per panel. It's an edge lit RGB LED.

 

Uhhhh....it supposedly IS $1000+ per panel lol

 

No its 1000+ when you buy an entire screen from Dell.

 

Maybe I am confused....but I consider a screen a panel......the actual technology that makes the screen functional is going to be %99 of the cost of the screen as a whole

And that is why I said supposedly

 

Ah whatever, I think you get my point. Dell only offers the Kit. Same kit that was being sold here, NEW Dell Alienware 17" m17x WUXGA LED RGB KIT 0CWMH - eBay (item 150485700222 end time Nov-28-10 15:54:24 PST)

You say tomato I say tomahto

 

The rest is garnish compared to the screen as far as costs go (maybe $100 for all the other stuff)

 

Well than Dell is just raping people now arnt they

 

Not if the screen really is worth the $1000 price......

 

There is no 17" LED screen anywhere worth $1000 (RGB, EDGE, or full array).

 

Well, worth implies value which is subjective. Bad choice of words on my part, meant cost

 

More like list price imo. But we are both assuming, so lets stop!

 

There is one. HP DC screen for the Elitebook 8740w. It is IPS with RGB backlit. Similar to the well known HP "DreamColor" LP2480ZX monitor.

 

I mean $1000+ when you configure a new system, not as a separate overpriced kit.

 

Did you receive the screen?

 

I just received a new M17x for my brother. Order page shows K1NFP, but when I checked hwinfo32 it shows J2CY8. Same with mine which was received in early Nov.

 

there is also this:

M17x-R1 screen

http://ztronics.com/en/laptop-parts-by-model-number/alienware-area-51-m5700-series/alienware-1920x1200-17-lcd-gloss/flypage.tpl.html

 

ETA looks to be within the next week. Coming to the states form over seas.

 

Just saw this thread. Anyone interested in the whole rgb kit, not including back cover? It was in the middle of a mod so isn't in pristine condition. The screen itself is perfectly fine but the alienware logo does not illuminate reds but does other colors. It is probably an easy fix if you feel like replacing the logo or do some soldering. Plus there is a minor scratch from the inside on the E2E and part of the fixture holding the screen in has been dremeled. There was an attempt to replace the panel with a different one but it was never finished. If anyone is interested pm me and I'll take some pictures too. It was pulled from an R2 and has the webcam, screen, wifi antennas etc..

It is the 1920x1200 RGB which has the K1NFP part number and is from another R2 not mine.

 

You got yourself a pm

 

I've been going around the alienware forums of NBR, and a lot of R2 RBG LED users are saying there are 2 versions of the 1920*1200 RGB LED screen:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m17x/480947-compare-m17x-rgb-led-1200p-studio-xps-16-rgb-led.html

- one is samsung and is not so good
- one is LG and is much better (whites mostly) and the part number is LP171WU5 (same as M6400 laptop i believe)

According to Malignant,

can anyone confirm this?

I can get a LG LP171WU5 (TL)(A2) for 80 $, is it worth trying or has it been done before?

looks liks he tried, but don't know if it's an exact LP171WU5 (he just says its a TLA2) and if he has M17x R1 or R2...
http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware/414368-m17x-panel-dismanteling.html

 

Well, Got the screen in today. Unfortunately/fortunately its the LG LP171WU5 so I think ill be sending it back..? This one has the TL A2 connector. Does anyone know if this will work? I remember reading the TL B will not, but not sure about the A2.

I've found so much saying the connectors wont match the R2, but no one really seams certain. Any help would be appreciated.

 

Here are some pictures of the connectors, the first close up is of the left side, next is the right side.

 

Well I believe the best you can do is just try it out...

Don't forget to clear CMOS for 30 sec before trying to poweron with the new screen...

 

I had A1 model but it didn't seem to work. The screen would light up black but there was no picture. However,I was upgrading from a 1440x900 screen and I think my LCD cable is different from the M17x LEDs. From what I can tell, mine doesn't have the second cable attachment like the one circled in red here (it's a m6400 cable.) I eventually found a regular LCD WUXGA and I'm content with it.

Do M17x LED owners have that second cable attachment?

Anyway, it wouldn't hurt to try it out I suppose as long as you're really careful and have the time.

 

They're two different cables that come out of the panel. They look different than that.

 

I ended up just buying the K1NFP RGB off of Malignant. Im still going to try and get the LG A1 to work. If it does ill update here before listing it on ebay.

 

Did you clear the CMOS

 

For anyone trying to use the LG RGB (LP171WU5 I believe) screen they use in the M6400 in their M17x, it won't work. The cable/inverter will physically fit but the connection is not compatible so you will get a blank screen and may even fry your motherboard.

 

Haha thanks for saving my mobo then! I think ill just post it on ebay.

 

It won't fry it,in worst case the protection will fail which you can resolder.

 

The RGB was delivered today. I just got done installing it and all I can say is wow, What a difference in quality! I cant understand why Dell even offers the CCFL? Thank you Malignant for the great price, and for not screwing me over with something that didnt work!

 

Guess I lost that screen to you... He was selling it to me but being in France and shipping problems.... it ended up with you...

And you saying that it is crazy nice RGB! arghhhhhhhhhhhh!

i just need to find a screen now!

so no news on any other potential screens that would work?

 

I too am still eager to hear about the results. Does the m6400 screen really work in the m17x r2?

 

Like malignant said, it looks like M6400 screen won't work.

how about à M6500 RGB screen? anyone tested this?
i'm inclined to think that same thing as with the M6400 might happen...

Dell Precision M6500 WUXGA LED Screen LTN170CT13 C751R | eBay

 

Nice update on screen compatibilities done in this topic, with wB` 's help:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/want-buy-price-check-forum/559090-pc-m17x-r2-rgb-led.html

 

Sorry for bumping this thread. My new arrival M17xR2 has the R610K€170CT even though I ordered RGB LED. So I called Alienware Support this morning and have them replace the LCD for me, but when I verify the dispatch information, the LCD Assembly has the part number 0CWMH but the LCD panel has the part number J6JG5, not K1NFP or J2CY8. Do anyone know about this LCD panel? I googled and found this New Dell Alienware M17x 17" WUXGA LED LCD Panel J6JG5. Thank you in advance.

EDIT: Update - It turned out that the LCD Panel was J2CY8 .

 

Hi, I just bought an R2. I ordered it with RGB 1200p display, but it came with 900p CCFL (SEC 5442)
Because of my current location, a return is not likely, so I wanna ask, is it possible to change it with RGB 1200p? And if yes, where can I buy the display from?

 

it seems the alienware screen has a special connector to it, and it is very hard to find another after market lcd screen that fits.

If you ordered a RGB Led screen, then it is Dellienware who has to get your laptop back at their charge, and replace it for you.

If anyone else has had any luck at replacing the original M17X-R2 screen with an after market one, please let us know.

 

Can you give us the part number that came on the LED you got before assembly? (not the Hwinfo32 or Everest part number)

 

The problem is that I'm in Europe and the laptop is bought in USA. Dell is refusing to help and they only say that I should return the laptop from where I bought it (i.e. USA). But the shipping costs (import tax afterwards) I have to pay it, so...I'm gonna be better of buying a whole new laptop.

So I look to change the display myself and found for Precision M6400 on a nice price, but everywhere I get mixed feedback about the connector, back lit and stuff like this

 

Exactly.
There is a lot of jumble about what works and what doesn't...

You might as well try it out yourself and see what works.
Id it doesn't you can probably send back the screen (during the 30 day delay after sale) or sell back on this forum.

 

it seems accordng to this thread

http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m17x/552234-m17x-r2-upgrading-wxga-lcd-wuxga-lcd.html

That the actual screen part is Samsung LTN170CT08

which can be found on ebay and here:

Samsung LTN170CT08 LCD 17.0" WUXGA

Any luck with people who have done this switch with the LTN170CT08?

considering its price on aftermarket, it really would be worth the try...

 

Have you tried the one on e.bay @tomX?

 

according to this:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/want-buy-price-check-forum/559090-pc-m17x-r2-rgb-led.html

It cannot be done unless you have the HP693 part...

which means getting a complete screen with backcover on the net or dell... which is expensive...