Make the alienhead on the back of the screen change colors.

So, while checking out the m17xr3 I noticed they were having issues with the alienhead on the back (some have their own leds, some are lcd lit)

It got me thinking, well why cant we make our alienheads light up?

I think I got it figured out. You can buy the m17x led head for about 30 bucks, it comes with a really long cable... why not tap into the wires for the alienware logo on the front of the screen. This will make the alienhead light up with the alienware logo.

I got one on order right now, should know soon if it works

Should be here in a few days.

 

I never really cared for the led on the lid but let us know how your endeavor ends up. I'm sure there are a good amount of people who would be interested.

 

i have some extra leds from my faulty keyboard, but the cable is not really long enough I will give it a try if you are successful.

 

Here is a picture of the part, You can see it has 3 RGB led lights in it, then a diffuser behind it. So, this should just pop onto the backside of the LCD, and then its all set to go.

http://www.upperedgetech.com/product_images/k/094/F848M-1__65268_zoom.JPG

Picture is too big, so just click the link.

This led has a 5 pin plug on it, the "alienware" logo has a 5 pin plug also, so if the cable is long enough, it should be plug and play.

 

I actually advised those who wanted to try, to link them to another AlienFX controlled part of the the laptop (i.e. Alienware writing on the front of the screen) so it can be customized at the same time.

I actually love the way they are on the M17x and M17x R2, nor only the colors are customizable but ut pulses while the system is off.

I'll definitely look into this when my M11x arrives (hopefully tomorrow?!)

 

Keep an eye on this thread then for my results. Parts should be in soon, should only take me about 20 minutes to install it since my m11x has been taken apart enough times that I know every part.

 

i thought it used backlight from the screen on the m11x... if thats the case why not simply use a colored film to cover it from the inside? not customizable but its like 0.10$ solution...

 

Yes it is powered by lcd back light right now, but I want to make mine change color

 

Have you taken your lcd apart before? Its not as simple as it looks. Not simple enough to justify adding the colored film alone.

 

Trust me it's easier on the M11x than on the rest M15x and up..

 

Its not too hard, but I would rather not have to take it apart everytime I want to change the color.

This is only 30 bucks, and it should plug right in and work.

 

More mods ! I really appreciate your creativity ejohnson. I'm Waiting anxiously for the results of this mod !

 

Just got my tracking info on the led, it should be to my house on the 31st, My wife works that day and there are not too many kids in my neighborhood to give candy to. So I hope to be able to spend some time with this on monday.

 

well i would take it apart but i'd hate to get dust in there as i don't have a dust-proof box to work in, and having dust between screen and protective glass, even 1 piece of it really bugs the hell out of me. Do not know why

Anyways, didn't think it would be hard to put one in, but if you want it to change colors this is best mod hopefully it plugs in like magic, fingers crossed.

On the other note, how come m17x comes with that and m11x doesn't. I just assumed every alienware comes with a skull powered by backlight of the LCD and didn't even bother looking it up. Stingy turds, even though i would not use it, its a nice thing to know that you have.

 

All the new models are lit up by the LCD now, alienware stopped doing it on the 14, 17, and 18s.

So you have to buy a m17xr2 or m15x to get a alienhead that can change colors.

 

I only wanted to highlight the fact that is way easier to do on a M11x, As you can see I'm not the type to settle with a piece of plastic, lol.

No, some of the M14x, M17x R3 and M18x do have a separate PCB but only with white SMDs .
That's what I noticed following threads here and arena (guys saying that It's independent from the screen brightness and some stating that theirs is lit while the screen was off) and finally asked here out of pure curiosity thinking that I'll find a pattern for this (specific lcd type/model, manufacture date etc.). Finally one M17x R3 user made a thread for this as we weren't able to find any pattern, it was completely random. Dell seems to be investigating it atm.

 

Mine will change colors eat that m17x/14/18 guys

 

That's the one I'm talking about, read my whole post.
There's no two versions, It's simply missing! Take it out (from one that has it) and voila screen-brightness-controlled alien head.

Dell went cheap this time and not only with build quality it seems..

 

Yeah, I finished reading your post and changed mine

I didnt realize it was missing all together though.

Thats pretty funny

 

well my m11x R3 is lit by the LCD backlight as it changes brightness with the screen... it should be first revision of the R3 motherboard/build as well if that helps as i got it just after they announced it. good thing i held out a few weeks before getting an R2

 

OK, parts came in last night. Looks like Im going to have to do some soldering and wire splicing to make this work. The wires are the same, but the plug in for the alienhead is about double the size of the m11x plug.

I will need to cut the factory m11x plug off and splice it into the alienhead lights wire harness.

It does though fit behind the lcd and should work really well.

 

Good luck ejohnson. Love to see it in action!

 

Going to be testing this all out in my white m11x, the black one is still in warranty, and is actually going out to get some repairs. I may install it in the black one later when my warranty is almost up though. My wife wants the white m11x to replace her old dell 1010.... she doesnt need the flashy lights.

 

OK time to get back at this. My computer is back from the depot and ready to take its new glowing lights. First thing is first, I need to remove everything to get the cable for the "alienware" lights out.

Once that is done I will be taking the 2 led boards to work to do some soldering and wire splicing.

Hoping to get it all ready to go back together this weekend.

 

pictures pls for the curious ones of us - interested in what it looks like exactly.

 

I will bring my camera with me when I do the work to take a few shots.

I will probably only take photos of the actuall light change, and not the whole tear down fo the computer for it.

I am also checking on a upgraded screen too. Its a $500 investment, so I am checking and double checking everything to make the new screen works right.

I will swapping in a macbook air screen, as it seems they are both LG screens, have the same part numbers except for the last digit. They both have 40 pin connections too. Everything on paper looks like it will work. I was going to buy a new desktop pc, but I think the super great screen on my m11x will be just as good

Just waiting for some things I listed on ebay to sell so I can get the screen and not have my wife wonder where 500 bucks went

 

You are a crazy man ejohnson and I love it.

 

She will still wonder.

 

OK, didnt take any pictures because I only got a little bit into it, but The m11x led bar has 6 wires, the alienhead light has 5 wires. Now the color codes all match up just fine with the exception of the single spare wire the m11x, it green (odd cause all the other colors are browns/oranges/reds)

So, I guess its time to figure out what mr green wire does.

 

OK, here is some testing, I have a single color right now. Working on getting the other colors
M11x led alienhead - YouTube

 

Sorry to bring up an old thread, but has there been any more progress in this?

 

Not too much, lots of searching trying to find a good source for led/cable that will work right.... I now have a box full of alienware LEDs and cables though

 

Good stuff! For those who plan to disassemble the computer here are the service manuals for doing it.

m11x
m11x R2
m11x r3

 

@L_Porras

Certainly something that should be corrected on the M11x R4 when you guys release it

 

Thanks for the feedback Yiddo It's always welcome. It's a feature that a lot of people miss.

 

Hello my friend, Did you make any progress on the project? any update?

Thanks for ideas like yours!!

 

A little bit, I have been able to get the lights to change to a few colors, but its very limited.

I think in the end I am going to need to make a custom LED board and cable for this.

 

There's no need to struggle so much about it. Just take a look at the DIY i have written in the thread below. This is exactly what you want. Thank me if you feel like..

http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m14x/712173-alienware-alien-head-led-modification.html