Question about LCD screens....

Hey everyone, so as many of you know I have posted in a few different places about wanting to upgrade my LCD screen. I have been searching for quite awhile for the LCD ribbon cable that comes with the 3D screens but have come up empty on every avenue.

My question now....if anyone knows, is I see that the 3D panel in a lot of instances is listed off as a 40 pin connector. I also know that there is an aditional connector for the 3D and that it will not work obviously without it. But since I don't really care about the 3D it was just an added bonus, I am more interested in the 120hz panel, can I simply replace the panel and go without 3D until a ribbon cable turns up one day? Or will the screen not work at all with my ribbon cable....

I realise this is probably dependant on someone having tried this...and I may just order the screen and try, worst case scenario I can see is the screen does not work and I put the original back in until I find a ribbon cable.

Any input is appreciated.

 

Are these the cables you are talking about?
Genuine Dell Alienware M17X R3 R4 3D LCD Emitter Cable DC020017100 P N WWKT6 | eBay - 3d emitter cable
NEW Dell Alienware M17X R4 LCD 3D Panel Flex Cable 2JD3N DC02C002S00 | eBay - 3D panel flex cable connector (I'm not sure if the R3 and R4 connectors are the same or not.)

 

sorry i just realized you have the AW17 not an R3 sorry about that.

 

heh no worries

It looks similar to the second one you posted but has a different dell part number so I would be hesitant to drop $50 on something to have it be the wrong one. I have tried every dell spare parts site that I can find as well as Ebay, Amazon and contacted Alienware 3 times now to always be told that they are out of that part number ATM and can't sell me one.

 

I will just add you must get the cable for it to work. The connection to the MB bypasses the iGPU so it is not detectable. The intel cannot pass POST connected to a native 120hz display. The 3D emitter has a separate connector although I've only watched the whole panel assembly being replaced so can't be sure, it may be wired into the alienhead connector?

I would have expected the cable to be the same as earlier 120hz models, but at least with an on-line purchase you can just send it back (as long as you purchase in your country).

Good luck with your search .

 

I would consider selling off the one you have and looking at the outlet if you can for one with a 3D display. Will save you the hassle.

 

Not really much of a hassle...I don't have to have this, if I can find the parts great if not oh well. The LCD on ebay is under $100 so dirt cheap, I just can't find the cable...yet, I am sure at some point they will show up.

 

Seems like a great price for the LCD only, hopefully the cable will appear someday.

 

I am also looking to do this upgrade, and trying to find info. I can currently find the LCD 1080P 120hz for the alienware 17 for $85. I've seen pictures of the motherboard where it connects, and there are 2 different connections, but are the cables actually different? I know the 120hz connection has screws on the sides, and the 60Hz doesn't, but the ports look identical, any idea if that is the case?

 

I always thought they had different connectors. I was helping someone earlier today and he said he had plugged his 60hz monitor cable into the 120hz port while trying to find the cause of a weird issue! Of course the machine 'bricked' but he says it fit fine.

I do recall a long time ago seeing the cables referenced to as a different type - LVDS or something like that for one of them?

Sorry no help, I'll edit in a link when I find it

http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...causing-screen-problems-bsod.html#post9588746

 

http://i.imgur.com/JuYQ3Lb.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/sIe7P31.jpg

Those are the pictures of the ports. You are correct about the connection names, LDVS/EDP, I'm just sure if the cable is different or not. My understanding is when plugged into the 60Hz port, the graphics are switched between the intel HD graphics and the Nvidia graphics, whereas when plugged into the 120Hz port, it only uses the Nvidia card.

The 120Hz monitor cannot operate at 60Hz at all, perhaps the port he pluged it into assumes 120Hz monitor only, and since it was 60Hz monitor, that caused the brick? Just thinking out loud and figuring out the best way to go about it.

 

Yeah, the different port is used to hide the iGPU from the bios. If it sees it it tries to POST it (at 60hz) and fails. If AMD or Intel decide to add 120hz compatibility into their microcode (for driverless vga compatibility) all would be fine.

 

So, for someone looking to upgrade from a 60hz monitor to the 120hz display, couldn't it be as simple as switching those 2 ports after swapping the monitors? The only other part would be the IR emitter for 3D, but that can be handled with a USB emitter, which NVidia sells. The main point I'd be upgrading for is the 120hz

 

In the post you linked, it appeared he was trying to boot from that port with only the iGPU in, and not the NVidia card, but was able to boot to bios, correct? that would imply that the cable is enough correct for him to be able to get into the bios and see that the integrated graphics wasn't detected. That would appear that the cable would work with a 120hz display in that port as long as the dedicated graphics was used.

 

Yes I assume so as well. The cable may fit but you do need the correct one specifically for the 120hz display.

The panel assemblies usually contain the emitter and alienhead LED circuitry (on the three I have seen) so it's a simple case of plugging it in to the correct connectors. As you say though, If you don't get the 3D emitter and it's a bare bones panel an external USB emitter should work just fine (but no guarantee since dell have done some weird stuff with 3D certification of components).

 

It is a bit confusing but everyone I have seen transferring to a 120hz panel has said they needed the correct cable.

As I said in the clashing post, the igpu has to be completely hidden for a 120hz boot and cannot be used. Of course drivers could get around this and do with multi-sync monitors, but it's getting to the point of driver loading after POST that is the biggie.