Alienware Notebook Cosmetic Modifications and Custom Builds

Nice, but i bet pictures are only 20% of the beauty it actually is in reality

Good job

 

Personally, I don't like it. It's too much. It's overdone and it starts to look cheap this way.

 

Does that stuff come off without leaving gooey residue? And how the heck did you cut that piece around the mousepad? wowzers.

 

Thanks for the constructive criticism. Actually, it doesn't look as bright and cheap in real life, IMHO, it's more subtle but still very stylish. It's just it's not an alien craft anymore but rather a racing car, lol.

Initially, I only wanted to do it for pics and remove but after seeing the finished work, will keep it for sure.

Yes, it comes out very easily and leaves no traces but the clean surface.
And btw, I didn't remove the lid and palmrest, simply applied as is, cutting precision required

 

It is debatable what can be 'constructive' in aesthetics. Something looks good because it truly does and not because you can talk somebody into believing it does. A very good looking girl dressed all in vivid pink will simply look like she's overdone it. If she asks you if you like her look and you say you don't, she asking for more constructive criticism will just sound funny. But this is of course arbitrary. Some people may love vivid pink, some will hate it. Same about the wrap. This explains the first part of my opinion - "I don't like it. It's overdone.".

Now, for the second part - "it starts to look cheap this way". There are three things that made me think so:

1) What is the idea of carbon fiber-like looking wrap? To make a wrapped object look very much carbon fiber-made. This is the kind of magical balance there. You know it's just wrap, but it's applied so it looks very much like the real thing. Others also know this is wrap, but they like the looks as it does look like the real thing. You wrapped the lid, but there is the red lining of the original paint left on the upper edge of it. It shouldn't be visible. If it is, the whole wrapping magic is gone. It shows this is just wrap and not the real thing. If only the red lining was gone, it would have made all the difference in the world. Clearly visible wrap = cheap. Well done wrap = "oh, it's so realistic! nice!" The very same applies to the red edges left around the alien head on the lid.

2) The palmrest is only partially covered. For every m18x owner it is strikingly obvious that the edges of the palmrest are still rubberized. Again, I'd say this destroys the whole effect again. It's clear this is just a wrap partially covering the palmrest. Note how Speedy Gonzales applied his wrap. He covered the whole palmrest and it looks good = it looks natural = it looks like the real thing.

3) The whole custom 'aikimox' label on the bezel does not look good. Note that the original "ALIENWARE" is very effective. It is sharply backlit, big enough but not too big and quite informative. The original sign make it clear: this is an alienware laptop and it says so in style. The original sign is neither too flashy, nor too small, and it quite neatly blends in into the bezel. It is its integral part. Your custom 'aikimox' label looks unclear, especially when the bezel is wrapped. It's lost its informative function. It says something but one does not really know what. Some sings in the middle, grouped in a unnaturally looking rectangle in the middle of wrap. It is neither clear, nor effective. It does not blend in into the bezel. It stands out and again, the whole magic is gone. It looks like either a cheaply and carelessly done original or amateur attempt to replace the original slick looks.

I hope this helps. Wrapping the whole thing is your choice and its beauty is debatable as we all are entitled to our opinions. But if you want to keep the wrap, you may want to look into the little things. The devil is in the details, isn't it so?

 

Interesting points, thanks again.

Here are my thoughts:

1&2) Bezel - the idea is to hide the reflective super glossy and cheap looking plastic frame and turn it into a matte one without destroying the whole picture.
lid and palmrest - protect from scratches, grease and other cosmetic wear. I probably wouldn't do this on a space black system but nebula red is begging to be carbonated. The red edges create the "wow" effect on the lid and the pamrest according to those who have seen it in real life. The palmrest didn't look very good when covered entirely, BTW. Was too much red.

3) there's no custom "Aikimox" logo, lol it's ALIENWARE just in alien language And this is the most interesting part, it looks very different in real life. Personally, I got sick of the standard logo, it's too bright for dim lighting conditions and very distracting.

Anyways, the beauty is in the eye of the beholder, if you like your machine as it - enjoy.

 

Excuse me, but isn't possible to turn off the light off the logo ? with Alien Fx or something in the BIOS ?

 

Yes you can turn off/on all lights with AlenFX

 

thats all i do, leave the light off for the alienware, only mod i would EVER do is custom name instead of alienware...... all i need is to get rid of alien and add a z.....

 

Lol good one

 

Thank you EtownsFinest, I feel reassured now.

 

Yes, it is possible to turn it off or make it black so the rest of the fireworks are unaffected. But if you turn it off, then why do u need it to begin with?
That's why I changed mine to something more pleasant to my eyes and more sophisticated, huge IMHO.

Good thing about wraps, you can always change it to something else if you don't like it. One thing I would probably try is 2-D wraps with no texture.

 

For sure Aikimox, the first thing that i do if i get a m18x is to turn off the logo light before startup

I have a little question, when you're in the dark, is that the keyboard light reflecting on the screen ? (Using on your legs by example)

 

Yes it is but I removed the Edge-to-Edge glass, so it's not reflecting anymore.

 

Hey Aikimox do you guys sell any memory like the Kingston 1866 pnp memory

 

@Aikomox
Nice job !

 

We do but you better grab it from Newegg directly.

 

Ok thanks buddy

 

AMAZING, than you for the idea will try it becouse my laptop has a broken part that i've restored with fiber but not to pretty ^^

Will tell u when done.

Gratz! KSS.

 

Hi guys
I d like to react on best 18,4'' screen in the world
I have some pics but not that LED one but from LTN184HT01-A02 and LTN184HT03-001 FOR NOW..
I am constantly looking for LTN184HT02-S01
Here are features of these it says about gamut percentage
See below..


Here are PDFs of - LTN184HT01-A02 and LTN184HT03-001 Download Documents.rar from Sendspace.com - send big files the easy way


Here is part number of that LED cable 70 dollars


Edit

Lamps LCDs cables



purchases :
http://www.codemicro.com/store/product/Sony-196635111-Refurbished.php
http://www.com-com.co.uk/Sony/parts/1-966-351-11.ihtml
http://www.powersourceonline.com/buy/CABLE-sony_parts-3-bcj-en.jsa

 

Ok we need Aikimox input on this regard he already attempt to replace the screen on the M18X with the screen on the Sony AW-190 but what is the problem ?

apparently there is no way to do this without having to cut and solder some cables the first problem we face here is that the RGB-LED screen LTN184HT02-S01 has 2 connectors one is 30 pin regular LCD and the other one is like 8 pin if I am not wrong that is for the backlit power or to power the LED's

there is actually adapters on ebay to convert 30 to 20 pin data connectors and the pinouts of 30 pin connectors are all over the web too what we don't know is how much volts this RGB-LED connection needs and the layout or pinout

for what I was reading some backlit LED's use 5.2v but I am not sure there
the screen on the M17X r2 uses one extra conector for the RGB-LED's but I don't have access to one to measure the voltage provided by the mobo.

 

This pdf is short but there are attachments
and there you can see ALL PARTS

here



http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/3268/partlist.jpg

There is another problem
lcd cable connector to connect to motherboard may be different ..

 

Hi guys

Me and GalaxySII have been debating a way to replace our crappy screens for a Sony AW screen on this thread. http://forum.notebookreview.com/har...-any-18-4-quality-screens-11.html#post8452189

I'm glad we are not alone. I did manage to find the exact pin layout of our screens, but we do need the pin layout of the LTN184HT02 to make this work.

If I knew specifically what Sony AW models were equipped with the LTN184HT02 I think I could get my hands on a Sony service manual. I talked to the guy who fixed my Sony TV and he may provide some help, but he does need the pin layout.

An inverter on a laptop that uses LCD. Isn't that a bit odd

 

that picture you post is from a machine with CCFL Lamps and inverter not the one with LED screen + remember we don't need to use the connector to the mobo at some point we need to solder some cables together

 

Yeah, basically, we need to match the wires at the end of the cable that comes from the mobo to the wires of the screen connector.

 

having both machines together would be the easiest way to achieve this because that way you can test the voltages provided to the LED's eBay - New & used electronics, cars, apparel, collectibles, sporting goods & more at low prices

 

I know all aw series WHICH has this LED screen you can even check
I showed it above what you need to do ! You need that service manual
Go on that page with the screen an upper right doublecklick and check LED cable and will show you which AWs are equipped with it ..
I have experience with AW11XU/Q I had it so I know but I never disassembld the screen cos was immaculate ..

J is Japan AM is America EU is europe .. AU is Australia

OMG cutting my LCD cable on my Ethos

 

This will not only Benefit to Acer and M18x owners there is another machine with a chimei screen the Clevo X8100 I am sure they will be interested to see this RGB working on their machines

 

GalaxySII

You don't need to cut the cable to check the voltages.

You lost me there. What page are you refering to?

Speedy,

Do you know the European equivalent of the Sony VAIO VGN-AW190? I'm based in Europe.

Update:
Nevermind, got it. It's the Sony VAIO VGN-AW11M/AW.

 

This is going better than a suspense movie... Wait! I need more popcorn...

 

Yes, you've said it all. We need to convert the 2 connectors on the panel itself into a proprietary connector on the mobo (at least for the M18x). And yes, the 2 problems we have are:

1) getting the exact pinouts for both the M18x and Sony Vaio screens.

2) making sure the voltages are identical. Otherwise, it will be one big sad mess

 

Some interesting reading on the subject of connector matching:

The WXGA to WUXGA LCD cable mod PT1 - seen here first!

 

Permalink 129 there you can see all models

Spoiler

It is the page i showed on picture you cant miss it..
And europe equivalent is VGN-AW11XU/Q or AW21XY/Q Check that picture

OMG At last !! Found the cable!!!
why is was so difficult
As u can see there is no any small 8pin connector for inverter attached
Simply cos LED do not use inverter?

 

Here you go

 

Thing is i have purchased that one and seller turn to me with message that cable is damaged
I was maaad!!
Hey but that one is not for led..

 

hey guys any luck finding the pinouts for the vaio screen ?

 

Correct. Only CCFLs use inverters.

The link to the image is dead. Can you re-upload it?

You are also correct when you say that the 073-0001-5270 is not for LED screens. Double checked and it's for CCFL.

It's impressive the amount of rubish screen replacement sellers say on their websites. Just been in one where the guy claims that a non FHD CCFL 18.4" screen is a replacement for the AW21XY/Q screen. Will these guys stop at nothing in order to sell whatever is at hand?

 

Yeah looking it is no so easy ..
I think samsung keeping this screen specs very secret it is nowhere..

I did upload I think I have deleted wrong one on my imageshack acc.
I think what I need is just adapter from 40 pin to 30
I will connecr 40 pin adapter to mobo and on the top will be converted to 30pin so i will be able to connect 30 pin cable from screen
And that small one is universal i bet so that is led power need pins...

 

I lost hope of finding that Samsung's specs sheet. Can't the guy who sold you the screen provide you a spec sheet? Have you contacted him?

 

they? hah please they think that they sold me ccfl screen so that is why i got it so cheap .. they selling just IT stuff and used too they are very good .. and fast shipping ! http://www.cclonline.com/
I am asking some russian guys ..
???????, ??????, ??? ????????? 18.4", LED, ????????????, CCFL, ????????

 

for the picture looks like only 3 cables are connected on the small connector should be pretty easy finding the voltage no?

 

I think there are 3.3V then earth and third MAY be 5V ?

 

Got it!

30 pin on the left 40 pin on the right the connections are the same they even got the same order and the 10 pin left are the power for the LED's they don't have specific voltage because is the brightness they can go up to 4v we need to know witch is PWM LED control signal on the vaio screen easy all you need is the cable and a soldering gun
http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/4983/pinsy.png

 

u done and think same what i did
http://forum.notebookreview.com/har...-any-18-4-quality-screens-10.html#post8450147

 

OP's I didn't try to copy or nothing I was just checking for pinouts all day lol

but you got it all you need is the cable now

 

it MIGHT arrive tomorrow !
BUT there is 30 pin connector on sony
and on my acer is 40 pin connector so this will be problem

 

well you need to cut both cables the one on your machine and the one for the sony screen and solder the cables in order then find the + for the LED's and - and PWM LED control to control the brightness

 

GalaxySII,

I don't know what is your experience with a soldering gun or if you've done rewiring before, but if you never did, my advise is to get an electrician or someone with experience to do it for you. It is harder than it seems at first sight.

 

am a bit worried this is my current voltage . i can see there is tolerance +-

katabatik this is my bench at work

 

wow nice work area I am sure you can do something there