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    M17x-R1 - Changing the Screen

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by greatday2882, Aug 10, 2011.

  1. greatday2882

    greatday2882 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hey guys,

    I had a fit of the downs when spec'd my laptop in January of 2010 and I chose the 1440x900 LCD. I called AW and their tech support told me, to purchase the 1920x1200 LCD, it would be ~$850.00. I found this:

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

    Does anyone have experience with changing this? More specifically, if the 1920x1200 requires a different motherboard, or will draw too much power, or even have a different ribbon cable than my current?

    Thank you guys for the help!
     
    greatday2882, Aug 10, 2011
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  2. Malignant

    Malignant Notebook Ninja

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    I can tell you right now you won't be able to just change the lcd itself, not easily anyway. The lcd is epoxied or glued to the frame on the inside. Your best bet is to buy the entire kit, like this one which is compatible with the R1.

    I do believe you can install an RGB LED kit which is A LOT better in terms of brightness and color gamut. The RGB has over 100% color gamut I think. I used to own the R1 but the screen was terrible, this was the 1920x1200 dual CCFL and now own an R2 with the RGB screen and its worlds better. It should work in the R1 because they use the same 1440x900 screen in both the R1 and R2 and I think a few R1 users have installed the RGB kit in their system.
     
    Malignant, Aug 10, 2011
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  3. greatday2882

    greatday2882 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Thank you very much! I will definitely look into that option!
     
    greatday2882, Aug 10, 2011
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  4. DR650SE

    DR650SE The Whiskey Barracuda

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    I believe, if memory serves me well Aikimox had an R1 and R2 at the same time. He was able to get the RGB working on the R1. All he had to do was physically swap them, and pull the CMOS battery out for a few min. in order to reset the system bios. Adding a new screen won't require a motherboard update, but if I were you (OP) I would look to ebay and see if you can score an RGB LED. Like Malignant stated, it's worlds better than the dual CCFL. Your better off (labor wise) just getting the entire RGBLED assembly lid.

    See this link when Aikimox did it.
     
    DR650SE, Aug 10, 2011
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  5. maxtek

    maxtek Notebook Consultant

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    Do post pics of your swap for NBR reference. :)
     
    maxtek, Aug 10, 2011
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  6. orionz

    orionz Notebook Consultant

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    I have done the R2 RGB LED swap to the R1 and it's easy and works well! Just took the entire lid assy off the R2 and plugged it on to my R1. Don't forget to reset the system BIOS by unplugging and replugging the CMOS batt or the system won't acknowledge the new display.
     
    orionz, Aug 13, 2011
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