Alienware Area 51m 4k 120hz display Upgrade!!

Its been while... I've been researching since i bought my A51m to upgrade my screen to 4k and high refresh rate. Today its done! So Happy!!

So the display i bought is AUO B173ZAN03. 3 its an excellent display, way better color production from original A51m. I would not recommend anyone to try this at home unless you know what you're doing. This needs display disassembly and display cable mod which is very precise and flimsy job. Unless you know what you are doing please don't try!

Here is the link where you can buy the display

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000465841183.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.25524c4d6wXdNa

So far this is the only place i could find this display. Any questions feel free to ask.

 

Nice! If only you could teach Dell engineers how to install those panels

 

Very nice - since a panel is available why isn't Dell offering it I wonder....

 

I am intrested in doing this mod in the Future.. What Mod do you have to do the Display cable?

 

Yes , Please do share what was done.

 

Still waiting to hear about the cable...

 

Money. Probably too expensive to add to the already hefty price of the 51m

 

also for 17" 4k isnt a wise option, but the mod is sick non the less, considering it for RTX 3080

 

Depends on your needs.

I need lots of CPU, and then pixels for my work.

9900K fills the CPU needs for mobile, but I'm constantly scrolling with 1080 pixels, which slows down my flow. I usually connect to external monitors, but not all sites I goto have them available.

I need more info on the cable, and this will be done.

 

I am ready to buy the screen from aliexpress! Could you please tell me if there are any drawbacks with this upgrade? like g-sync not working or brightness control etc.

 

Have you considered zooming out of your content to reduce scrolling? Readability will be about the same on such a tiny screen. 4K readability at 100% scaling is about right on my 43" monitor.

 

From the sound of his post the B173ZAN03.3 may use a 0.4mm pin pitch eDP connector. So the 0.5mm connector is electrically compatible but not physically. Given that we have no photos or explanation, that is my best guess. If this can be confirmed, then you would probably want to try purchasing the 4k 120hz cable from that aliexpress vendor, then splice it together with a spare 51m display cable.

Alternatively if you do not need 120hz you could try the B173ZAN01.0 (4k) or B173QTN01.4 (3k) panels which should not need a cable mod.

 

Some of us aren't going to buy one of these machines until they deliver one with a 4K screen. Once you've gotten used to documents with small character fonts on a high dpi screen there really is no going back. And given the $$ already in these machines the minor cost increase for 4k is a drop in the bucket. People spend more to get the 9900 than to get a 4K screen and you could easily argue that the 9900 is less necessary. But that option, just like 4k, serves as a "if you want it we've got it as an option" for customers. Probably Dell will come around sooner or later. Or Razer which has been using the AUO 120Hz 4k on its 17.3 pro for months, got the exclusive with AUO.

 

Owner of thread is holding out .. lol. Us tinkerers are waiting impatiently wanting to do this diy upgrade.

 

Application doesn't allow it. Its a commissioning-based network tool.

Hi and thanks for your thoughts.

I do also want the 120 fps, as I sometimes game in my spare time.

I was a holdout, until a bad flash bricked my AW18. So I had to 'swallow' my 1080 hatred and purchase.

Oh, and Dell have just pinged me to let me know my years warranty is up.

So I reponded with details of the screen mod I intend to perform, and asked if I could get it in writing, that my screen mod won't invalidate my warranty.

Though I know what the likely answer is going to be for that...

 

Actually B173QTN01.4 does support 120hz. Its a TN panel so vertical viewing angles are less than on an IPS panel. Either way that panel would probably be a relatively easy swap. The Dell part number is JYWWF, same used on the Alienware 17 R5 and m17 R1. I do not know if it would support GSync, but it did originally on the 17 R5 so there may be a chance. I actually really like 2560x1440 in the 17 inch form factor display, it is easy to use at 100% scaling and handy to have as a programmer while I am mobile.

 

He had this posted on Reddit stating that he had to cut and splice all the wires within the cable to lengthen it as the display panel connector is in a different place.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but not of these panels would work as they are older generation design that are slightly thicker and wider in the outer dimension with upper and lower mounting brackets versus the latest generation that are thinner and are near borderless for smaller bezels on newer laptops like the Alienware Area-51m.

EDIT: Besides B173ZAN03.3 that OP made work due to the slimmer profile

 

I was unaware of this website, but I've had my B173ZAN03.3 installed in my Dark side of the Moon Area 51m for about 5 months now and its amazing. Not sure what cable some where talking about, but my 40 pin eDP plugged right in and was even in the stock location of my 1080p 144hz. Make sure you don't have the1080p 60hz, THE SCREEN CABLE IS DIFFERENT! This is DEFIANTLY NOT easy or for jut anyone to do. What makes me mad is how easy from a company point this screen option was to change. Dell is just holding out on doing it for unknown reasons. the source i got my screen from has thousands. More then enough for Dell to put up a 4k option. If anyone has question one wanting to do this my PM is open.


EDIT: I can't figure out how to post pictures but just buy one and it will fit as long as its a real AU Optronics.

 

Isn't the B173ZAN03.3 connector almost dead center in the back instead having it 2-3 inches towards to the right? The original cable was long enough to reach without modification? You have it full functioning 4k, 120hz, full brightness control, etc.? Thanks ahead for sharing.

 

Sorry guys I'm not very regular here!

Also I am not very good with tutorials, but let me try. First you have to disassembly the display. the display bezel is strait forward, no screws just use any pry tools. after that there's two very strong double sided tape holding the display. there is pull tabs but have to be very very careful and slow when you pull it. use something strong so you can do it slowly and carefully. after you disassemble the display, remove the display cable and whole display assembly so you can work on the display cable. the difference between two display is that the new display have the connection in the middle and the old one is in the left corner. after you disassembly the cable you will realize that the cable is routed in a square way, you have to cut the tape that holding all the cables together. So that you can strait up the cable and reach the connection. have to be very careful so you don't rip any cable in the process. I heard there's cable you can buy, which you don't have to mod. But i couldn't find anything, and old cable worked fine for me so never needed it. Also when you tape the modded cable back together, you have to make sure that the cable is not too thick, otherwise the thick cable will put pressure from the back of the new display and you will get very bad light bleed.

 

Brightness works 100%, Everything but gsync works 100%

Sorry I am not regular here, I posted ans to some questions today, if you have any more question let me know.

Brightness works 100%, Everything but gsync works 100%

Sorry man, I really didn't thought so many people would be interested. I tried to ans everyone, if you have anymore question let me know.

B173ZAN01.0 (4k) or B173QTN01.4 (3k) None of the model will support A51m. You need narrow bezel display for this computer. I didn't understand anything that you said about the display connector, 40pin connector that comes with A51m 1080p 144hz display will support B173ZAN03.3. But if you have 1080p 60hz, that comes with 30pin connector, which will not work.

Do not Buy B173QTN01.4 it will not support A51m. You need 17.3 narrow bezel display. There's very few display meets the criteria, so do your research before buying anything.

My next target is the AUO 17.3" Mini LED Display. There's not much information available ATM but i think this display is much more thicker then B173ZAN03.3. So my finger crossed!!

 

Is it possible that you can share us photos on how it looks like with the bezel off and how the cable was slightly modified? It would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

Honestly the picture is not gonna help that much but here you go.

https://imgur.com/a/qxy4ivu

If I do any more disassembly i'm gonna damage the cable. Also if you guys afraid of damaging the cable when modifying it, you can buy a replacement just in case!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/For-DELL-A...392623835066?_trksid=p2385738.m4383.l4275.c10

 

Awesome! Really appreciate for sharing. This will help many of us as I'm interested doing it to mine too. Still debating whether I should wait for the new AUO mini-led version..

 

Thanks for the info i will upgrade to 4k for sure would like to know if a proper cable is available with out modding it

 

My friend trikolpona if u find anything about the miniled display inform the forum , i find a laptop from msi and he have miniled but i cant found any informations even on auo website only a video on youtube bcs im interested as well

 

I think first gen AUO mini led is not gonna be that much better then B173ZAN03.3 also only 240 zone local dimming will create a lot of ghosting in dark background. In comparison $4000 asus mini led monitor have over 1000 (apple pro display have over 1200) zone local dimming, and its a thick boy!! Its not fair i know to compare $4000 professional grade monitor. MSI just released Creator 17 with mini led display. I'm waiting for the reviews to see how it looks.

Unfortunately no! Because Alienware officially don't support this model yet. But I'm sure they will come up with 4K model (maybe not 120hz) soon. Most likely with nvidia 2080 super gpu!

Absurdity I will!! I love doing this projects, specially when i succeed! Been modding my Alienware since Alienware M17x.

 

I’ll be installing one of the first 15” mini led displays (B156ZAN05.1) in my asus in the next couple days and soon will find out what the hype is all about. Regardless, I’m excited for its 4k 120hz.

 

Wow this is great! Please let me know how does it goes. if this fits in you asus laptop i think 17.3 will also fit in A51m. Now I'm hyped!!

 

I am highly interested in 4k 120 Hz. The cable I would need for that would be too short to go through the hinge though

8 ms grey to grey is not very good, but still much better than other 4k panels.

 

This seems like the perfect upgrade for the 51m but this display doesn't have g-sync. Do you have stuttering/tearing issues in gaming? Also, does it works at 120hz on 2560x1440?

 

I think nvidia release the gsync for test on monitors but i dont know if its going to work on this display ( https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...FjABegQIEhAH&usg=AOvVaw05aayLrMCwf3tekZIVSR9F ) testing utility > https://www.nvidia.com/coolstuff/demos#!/g-sync

 

No gsync is a problem but its not as noticeable as 60hz specially if the fps is high. 120hz works with any resolution, i just checked.

This same screen on razer blade 17 have gsync so i am not sure why its not working in this one. had gsync on 144hz monitor. may be if i do a clean windows install it will work, tried DDU to do a fresh driver install, that didnt work.

 

https://www.notebookcheck.net/Razer...Display-With-Almost-No-Ghosting.440555.0.html
here in this review, they say that Razer Blade 17 doesn't have g-sync.

 

You are right, I dont know where i saw that this display have gsync. May be i was hoping that this one have gsync!!

 

Guys we can always open vsync on games so its ok and i have 1 more question can the display be overclock on higher refresh rate? And from that i see the display is gsync capable but it doesnt have it cause the display is connected to intergraded gpu and after to nvidia gpu , for gsync to work the display is needed to be connected directly to nvidia gpu like area 51m do

 

I can overclock to 131hz but its not much so i just kept it to 120hz.

 

I have seen here some guys who downgraded to the 1.5.0 bios, they had the new AUO FHD screen and they lost the g-sync. I have the LG Philips 173WFG, I downgraded the bios but g-sync still works. When the 1.5.0 was released there was no support for this new AUO FHD screen. So if it is confirmed that this 4K display has g-sync then the problem is on our bios. Maybe a flash with a custom EDID will solve this problem?

I finally ordered the screen from the seller here https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000465841183.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.1aa04c4dVugRNX for $190 and after the payment processed the seller sent me a message asking to cancel the order saying that the LCD test has not passed and when he will have another good one he will message me back but after I cancelled the order I checked his listing again and now he is selling the screen for $250. LOL

 

I'm sorry man, when i bought the screen i knew they would sell a lot of this screen because they are the only one who have it. I even left them a positive feedback and told them to stock up.

 

OEM 40 pin eDP from my 1080p 144hz g sync fit perfect. Zero cable mod on my area 51m.

My options where i7 9700 non k, upgraded to 9900ks.
RTX 2080 with 200 watt bios, I checked. I have the under hear sync and all proper pads
1080p 144hz g sync.
Also my g sync doesn't show up no matter what bios I use.

 

Any chance you can post some photos? I would like to know how did you route the cable without modding. I tried many ways but failed. Hows your light bleed? If possible may be add some photos of that. Thanks in advance

 

You know I've tried posting pictures but I guess I can't figure it out, I didn't do anything different then unplug the screen from where it was from factory and just plugged it into the 4k screen and it fit right where my 1080p 144hz eDP was

 

AUO 4k 120hz screen have the connection point in different pace from the 144hz 1080p model. That's why the cable mod was required fro me. I don't think you have the same screen.

 

Please tell me what options you have. Everything. I seriously did zero cable mod and had 1080p 144hz g sync. I'll look here in a about 20 minutes on trying to figure out how to get pictures posted

 

You can just upload photos in imgur.com and put a link here. here's my photos
https://imgur.com/a/qxy4ivu

 

Your display cable is way different then mine. Yours is straight but mine has a upside down U.

https://imgur.com/a/CilPTTz

https://imgur.com/a/fgrvzqv

EDIT: Looked at your pictures again. Your screen is different.
EDIT: Don't know why it made another post. I can't read your screen version. Mines a AUO 3.3 and hardware info shows up as that.

 

This is weird! Looks like AUO made 2 ver of the same screen. I had the same cable as you. I had to mod it because the connection in the middle won’t reach with u shape. Good to know there’s two ver. You can see I have the same model number as yours in the last photo. Thanks for sharing.

 

Where did you buy your screen?

 

Guys they release area 51m r2 with 4k option and 10 gen cpu so just wait before do anything link ( )

 

Hae do u think https://www.ebay.com/itm/223811105270

240HZ 17.3" FHD IPS LAPTOP LCD SCREEN B173HAN05.0 AUO509D 40Pin Narrow border will work in place of 144 hz one?

And i hav i7 9700k nd 2080 so lack of gsync makes any difference in tis panel?