m17x r2 upgrading from wxga lcd to wuxga lcd

This has probably been covered in the forums but I'm going to ask again. I have a M17x r2 with a 1440x900 lcd and 2 5870's. What I want to know can I just swap out my screen with the 1920x1200 screen? If I can't, what else do I need to do to swap them out? I would prefer the RGB 1920x1200 but the CCFL panel would work. Please help. Thanks

 

short awnser yes you can swap out the LCD for the WUXGA.

If you can find a RGB LED screen for a good price you can go that route as well, they tpically sell for about $ 1000.00 though.

 

Yep, super easy to replace..... just have to find one for a fair price.

D.

 

I'd like to comment. I'm currently in the process of doing a similar upgrade. I'm just replacing my 1920 by 1200 non rgb screen with another one. It is not easy. Not easy at all. I've done similar upgrade on other laptops (Asus and Clevo) and those were ridiculously easy.

With Alienware, they literally glued the screen in. The only way to remove it is to cut off your plexiglass edge to edge screen cover or to cut off the magnesium backing housing the screen and then rip it out. I did the later because I didn't want to ruin my edge to edge glass. There is no way to get the screen out without destroying it unless you somehow have some adhesive dissolver which is safe to use on electronics.

They glued the stupid screen in. I've never seen this before.

Not to highjack the topic, but could someone with a 1200p Samsung NON-rgb, 2 CCFL screen for their Alienware please tell me the Samsung part number? Not the dell part number . . . the Samsung part number. You can find it on the back of the screen itself. Just remove the back panel and read it off. You don't need to do anything complex.

If someone could do this, that'd be awesome!

 

what is the part number of the screen you got and where did you get it?

 

i don't have a new screen yet. That's why I'm asking, so I can buy the correct version. I'm going to buy it from here once I know the part number.

 

OUCH... for me it was a simple take the laptop apart, remove the magnesium cage so I could remove the 4 screws holding the lcd panel on... remove 2 more tiny screws on the lcd cover...slide off the back plastic piece... unplug 2 cables.. put new one in.. and reverse order.
Took me all of 30min.

Maybe it is because I got the actual lcd screen (minus the plastic/aluminum cover)
Or (after re-reading your post) you might have missed the 2 TINY screws near the hinges which need to be removed so that you can remove the back plastic piece then remove 4 screws there then slide back of the case off.

ALSO, here is the dell part number I requested (from dell) to get the RGB LED sent to me OCWMH ( J2CY8 or K1NFP )

D.

 

You absolutely want to get the entire kit, it makes the job pretty painless as debaucher describes. If you get just the LCD it gets very messy and requires either destroying the glue on the plexiglass or using a dremel to remove the supports in the back. Look for the entire assembly on ebay minus the back cover.

 

@debaucher Thanks for the part numbers! However, do you think you could tell me the manufacturer part numbers - not the dell ones? I'm trying to avoid buying from dell, and their part numbers are useless among other suppliers.

Unfortunately I didn't miss any screws or anything. Spent an hour I looking for hidden screws before I dismantled the thing. The magnesium piece was glued onto the edge to edge plastic/glass and the screen was glued onto both. Maybe in later models dell stopped using the glue.

@Big Tim, I agree completely it would make it a lot easier, however it is also a LOT more expensive than buying just the screen. Just the screen would cost me $170 or so, and the entire back assembly has been going for upwards of $500 on ebay. Also, since I already have the thing taken apart, I might as well just buy the screen and install it since I've come this far anyway.

 

It is possible to get the RBG LED kit, from other besides dell??? because Dell Latin America doesn't sell any parts.

 

you can buy the RGB screen from Samsung or through other dealers on the net. That's why I need the Samsung or other manufacturer's serial number which is on the back of the screen.


By the RGB kit, if you mean the screen plus the casing, then no, you can only get that from dell (or ebay).

 

Samsung LTN170CT08 is the part number for the RGB, IIRC.

 

THANK YOU SOOOOO MUCH!!!! Rep added.

 

Are you gonna try to change only the LCD panel?? if you succesfull do, please make a guide so other like me can do it

By the way, could this work?

17" LCD screen WUXGA LED LENOVO 42T0787 LTN170CT08-L01 - eBay (item 150520987014 end time Feb-14-11 00:51:58 PST)

 

it would work, but it has an LED backlight instead of CCFL. If you already have CCFL, then you probably won't be able to use the LED back light.

I am in the process of changing only the LCD panel. If I have the time/gumption to make a guide then I might, but at this point, my priority is just getting my Alienware back up and running again.

 

question... how well would this work with a r2?

Alienware M17x-R1 Top Panel 1920x1200 Complete LCD Kit - eBay (item 250767266966 end time Mar-03-11 12:19:34 PST)

 

Seems Like that is for an Alienware Area 51 model - not an Alienware M17x R1 or R2. Contact the ebayer to see if they made a mistake. I wouldn't buy it based on the ad alone because it's being advertised as the wrong product.

 

I did send the seller two messages and got no answer!
I would be weary of that ad!

 

Buy an inexpensive r2 with LED RGB display & same cosmetics, swap displays, resell. Removes all the drama. I'll let you know tomorrow how much I paid to do this...but I think it will be between $500 and $700 dollars. LED RGB = MAJOR improvement!

 

aarpcard, tell me how it works out... if it doesnt, I need the rgb led cable... I found a rgb led screen, but one connector is bad, people trying to charge 250 for just a cable... also, it's just a cable, would any led inverter cable work?

 

I'll let you know. I had to jump through some hoops, but the new screen should be here by the end of the week or early next week.

 

Screen came really early! Got from Nevada to NYC in under 2 days! Can't believe it.

I installed the screen and booted up the computer and . . . . NOTHING HAPPENED! *$@%#^!*@&#^*!&^@!#*&)@#(@^&

. . . . . . . . . and then I realized I forgot to plug in the screen data cable in my excitement. I swear, the scare that gave me nearly killed me.

Boots up works fine! I haven't been able to use this thing in over a month!!! It's like turning it on for the first time all over again! I'm ecstatic!

Turns out, not only was the previous screen bad, but so was the data cable. I had to get both. The hoops I had to jump through . . . . ugh if I listed them here, this post would be 1000 lines long. Anyhow, just giving an update. Thanks for all the help guys!