Epic G51 Display Mod w/ Pics - Not for the faint of heart

I am posting this in reference to my previous post:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=437194

I have a BB G51VX-RX05. I love the machine but wanted a resolution somewhere in between 1366x768 which I think is too low for a 15.6" screen, and 1920x1080 which I think is too high (for my eyes at least). I could not find any displays that were the right dimensions, were 1600x900, had a 40-PIN LVDS connector, and had the connector in the right place. The closest display I found was the LG156WD1 (TL)(D1). This is a 1600x900, 15.6" Matte Display with a 40-PIN connector, but the connector is about 3-4 inches to the right of where the connector is on the original display which is the Chi Mei 1366x768 N156B6-L04 Rev. C1 Glossy. This is where the mod comes in.

I would assume no one will even try this, and probably shouldn't unless you don't need your computer anymore, but I am an idiot and have access to a lot of wire, soldering iron, and capton tape so I said what the hell.

You can see in the picture below that the connector on the new display is no where near where the connector is on the old display. The main goal was to somehow lengthen the LVDS (data) cable on the ASUS to reach the new connector.



Once you get the computer apart, thanks to the guide posted by David at:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=318551
you can remove the existing panel and you will see why the LVDS cable has no slack... it has wires running into it from BOTH hinges, some for data and some for backlight power.



Step 1 is to remove the gray cable shielding so that you have access to the bare wires. You should be careful doing this and use a fingernail or plastic tool to avoid cutting, scraping, or damaging the wires inside. You are looking to release the smaller bundle of 7 wires that come from the right hinge (the left side when looking at the screen from the back). These wires need to be "stretched" in order to make the LVDS connector reach the socket on the new display. You can see in the picture below that I removed the cables in question from the sleeve.



These wires (pink/white/green/black) are the ones that will need to be cut. Since I work in a computer shop, I was able to pull an existing LVDS cable from a dead computer that I would use as the extension wires. Any similar gauge wire should work though - you do not need another LVDS cable from another display. I cut the cable that I pulled to length (about 4 inches - enough so that when they were inserted the connector would reach the new display socket), and proceeded to remove each singular wire from the tape sleeve, strip both ends VERY CAREFULLY (these are the thinnest wires you will see in a computer) and get the ready for insertion. Colors do not matter YET - they all have the same thing inside - bare wire.







Once you have the 7 extension wires cut and ready, you are ready to do the hard and tedious part. This also happens to be the point of no return. If you start to cut existing LVDS cables, you will either need to complete the job, or order a replacement from somewhere.

I cut each of the 7 wires in the existing cable as CLOSE TO THE MIDDLE of the exposed part (the part outside the gray shielding) as possible. The reason for this is that if you screw up stripping the ends of the existing wires to meet the extension wires, you need to have enough cable left to try and strip it again! Also, cut ONE WIRE at a time, insert the extension, twist the ends, then solder both sides. This is when COLORS MATTER! This will prevent mismatching the wires when connecting the extensions. If you connect the the wrong wires together within the LVDS ribbon cable, bad things will happen. In addition the screen will not work. If you cut the pink wire on the original LVDS cable, it doesn't matter what color the extension is, but it has to be reattached to the SAME PINK WIRE on the other end. Remember, one at a time.

After you have all 7 extensions twisted and soldered in, you can place anti-static tape (capton) around each solder point to avoid having it touch something metal and cause a short when you reassemble the computer. The pictures below show the extensions in place and taped. Once the solder points were covered, I proceeded to tape the wires to the back of the display to prevent movement and strain when the display was reassembled and the hinges were moved.







Once I had all the wires connected and taped, i plugged the top case back in temporarily, powered the computer on, and it lit up! 1600x900 matte display - it was a beautiful thing! I carefully put the computer back together and it is working great. For those wondering about the stress on the new wires when moving the screen - there is no stress on those wires. The only cable stress is right at the hinges, and no modification was done there. That area should still be covered by the ASUS supplied gray shielding tape. The modded wires should remain completely in place and unmoved, taped to the back of the new LCD.

I don't want to be responsible for any broken computers, so I wouldn't recommend this. But if anyone has any other questions about it I would be happy to answer. Also, regarding my original thread, if anyone knows of a 1600x900 matte 15.6" LCD wth 40-Pin connector that fits WITHOUT any modification needed, I would be interested to know what model it is. It would also be funny to know that I didn't have to do all this BS if there is another screen the matches properly!

EDIT: Added picture of the finished product



EDIT 2: Added direct link to Flickr set:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/den4ps/sets/72157622812408329/

 

wow dude, that is epic. to tell you the truth, the main reason i didnt get hte best buy was cuz of the low resolution. but even with this mod, im way tooo inefficient with handling computers to do this lol

i bet joker would love this screen, an LG model on G51.

 

This is awesome. I've been looking for someone to try this for a long time--you scored great with the 1600x900. Unfortunately for us G50 owners we're stuck with CCFL backlights--which means the only other compatible screen is full HD (1920x1080). Unless you can somehow convert the system to an LED backlight...

Very awesome.

 

thanks. unfortunately i think it is impossible to convert the backlight type, plus the connector into the actual display is different. 1920x1080 would be kinda sick, but for me on a 15" it's too hard to see and i didn't want to affect my game framerates that drastically.

 

Wow, that's awesome! Congrats on getting it working, I'm jealous!

 

i found LG156WD1 (TL)(D1) at http://lcds4less.com/ it's LP156WD1,

anyone here have information what brand and which model of lcd that G51J and G51VX-A1 using??

 

Man you've got balls.

Glad it worked out!

 

i just found information about G51VX-A1 lcd screen, G51VX-A1 using B156HW01 AU Optronics FHD, correct me if i'm wrong, if i can get the lcd screen than i replace my lcd screen with B156HW01 AU Optronics FHD i will get 1920x1080 screen and without extend the wire right? "plug n PLay"??

 

did you get fcc approval for this mod to make sure it complies with all fcc regulations?

 

I'm sure it behaves as it's told except when there is interference, including unwanted interference that may cause undesired operation.

 

anyone?

 

i don't really know how to answer this because i'm not sure what you are asking. which screen do you plan to use to replace the existing one? i would have to compare them directly. i wouldn't be able to guarantee anything anyway because I would have to see the LCD in the A1 and I don't have one.

 

my laptop is same like yours it's G51VX-RX05 with Chi Mei N156B6-L04 Revision C1 lcd. and G51VX-A1 with FULL HD Display is using different brand they use AUO B156HW01 (a 40-Pin LED-Backlit 1920x1080 FHD).

what do you think? can i get FHD if i replace it to AUO

 

if the AUO is 15.6", has 40pin connector, and is LED, then it should work fine. if it matches the picture you posted, you should not have to do any wire modification because the socket is in the right place. if you decide to do it, just make sure you can return the display if it doesn't work for some reason. according to the pic you posted, if it represents the display you will be getting, it should just be a straight drop-in replacement.

 

thanks for the information and quick reply, i will try it, i get the picture from the seller, hopefully it's working on my G51. thanks alot.

i will post it here if it's working

 

You actually *want* the AUO screen in the G51J? i want to smash it with a baseball bat, it's by far the worst screen i've ever owned and definately one of the worst i've ever seen.

I'm looking to replace it with a better screen.

 

what brand and which model do you have in mind? i think DELL studio XPS used AUO on their laptops, am i right?

can G51VX-RX05 match an 16" and 15.4" lcd??

 

will this samsung lcd fit G51VX-RX05??

 

no lord that is a 16" it won't fit the bracket. the display needs to be 13.6w x 7.6h

 

So far it is slow going, there was an LG screen recommended to me as a replacement by someone from a LCD screen retailer with this part number: LP156WF1(TL)(A1)

I think this screen was used in the Dell Studio 1555 model number PP39L, but i haven't been able to find a review that deals with the screen.

 

Well, topic starter dealt with the screen, maybe he can give us some insight.

Btw, is there no place to get a longer version of the 40-pin wire?

And how much did that panel run you?

 

i don't know of a direct replacement for the HD screen in question. as far as the LVDS cable with the 40 pin connector, it is proprietary to the G51/G60 and has specific connectors on both sides with no way slack in any wires. in fact, assuming that i would screw up, i went and checked the ASUS eStore for a replacement cable in case i had to revert to the old display and couldn't even find that one. i doubt there is cable with the appropriate ends but the LVDS connector moved the to right. then again, i haven't taken apart any other ASUS notebooks so maybe i am wrong.

if someone felt like taking their machine apart and posting a pic of the back of the AUO HD screen (something with detail - not a phone pic), I would see if I could find something. i got my screen from agpartsworldwide.com, but I don't know if they sell to end users or only resellers. the screen should be around $150 + shipping.

 

-Delete-
-Delete-

 

awesome dude! glad it worked out for you. I am assuming the connecter and everything was in the correct spot n that display?

 

-Delete--Delete-

 

where did you find that screen?

 

if you are talking to me, i got the 1600x900 at AGpartsworldwide.com. not sure where LORD got his...

 

LORD-ORI, this is cool! Can you tell us the exact LCD screen model, where you bought it, and for how much? I might try doing something like this on my RX05. Thanks.

 

I would like to know as well.

 

den4ps:

Good job. I am surprised your modification worked with that particular LCD model. The cable and specs must be pin-for-pin compatible with the Chi Mei
N156B6-L04 and stock LVDS cable that comes with the G51VX-RX05.

I have the BB Model and sourced two brand new AUO panels: B156HW01 V4 and the B156HW01 V5 (stock in the G51VX-X1A/FHD/1920x1080)

With all stock RX05 LVDS cabling, both panels light up and display images but have a vertically interlaced picture with a very bright white/gray background. it looks pretty crappy and text is illegible at 1920x1080.

some pictures (this is the V5 panel, the V4 was similar):





Also, since I have a G51VX-X1A right next to me, I pulled the EDID from it's AUO B156HW01 V5 and flashed it to my newly installed V5 AUO just to see it there was some differences, but there weren't any.

Also, the vbios and system bios' looked identical--more to check for on that like a hex comparison. Nibitor 5.4 comparisons for the vbios were visually exact.

I'm thinking the cable is different totally for the AUO model laptops as den4ps and LORD-ORI had success with non-AUO hardware.

Anyone with smilar/conflicting results?

LORD-ORI: way to hijack multiple threads related to this with no usable information whatsoever lol.

 

Try reseating the connections to the screen (turn the lappy off first). I can't think of any other reason it would do that if it's fully compatible.

 

I don't think it is with a BBRX05.

I've re-seated everything multiple times lol. It's a hidden firmware(less likely) or straight hardware issue.

The Chi Mei panel still works fine. I leaning towards am AUO specific LVDS cable, but I could be wrong. My LCD reseller suggested "it's missing the black color signal" whatever that means heh. It's still pretty tough to find exact pinouts for this hardware.

I'm sure answers will turn up sooner or later. Thanks for chiming in.

 

Hm. Interesting-- I hope everything works out! All the best with this.

 

-Delete-
-Delete-

 

interesting. maybe i got two bad panels? heh.

care to post your EDID?

thanks for chiming in.

 

Hi everyone. Did a bit of experimenting before running into this forum.

I have an ASUS G51VX-RX05 (bought it from Best Buy) and I am determined to change the panel to one that supports 1920 X 1080.

So far I have purchased 2 panels from lcdsforless.com which I had to return. They both had the problem listed above - a vertically interlaced picture with a very bright white/gray background!

I tried a panel from the ASUS E store - B156HW01 v.5. Same problem.

Has anyone succeeded in getting this to work?

I suspect I might have to change the LCD cable (G60VX LCDS Cable).

Any suggestions welcome!

 

No more answers here?

 

Hi "evoredy"
I have the exact same problem as you have and I have tried 2 models B156HW01 v.0 v0 which give the white vertical line exactly as yours and LP156WF1 which gave the blue vertical line so I just wonder if you found any solution for that problem yet or if any one can explain to me any thing, by the way I also suspected the LCD cable because I have check both of my screen in another dell studio xps 1640 laptop and both of them display perfectly.

 

Had the same problem as evoredy when I tried to swap my AUO 768x1366screen to an AUO 1600x900 on my N43.

Apparently its to do with the LVDS cable.
LVDS 1 channel which is supposed to support only 720p and LVDS 2 channel which supports anything higher then 720p or so I have been told.

 

I bought a B156HW01 v4 for my g51 rx05, works fine. and my God it looks good. I ordered a g60 cable just in case. But I did not need it.

 

Could you elaborate please? iE resolution, ease of fit, price an where you got it...
Regards,
Dave

 

I HAVE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM, I think We need a FHD LVDS Cable for the mother board tp the screen. I will order the g60 LVDS cable from Asusparts.eu I hope that sight is legit

 

Any word of that g60 cable working in a Asus A52/K52 series laptop, I need ot figure this out, or I am going to forget the whole swap, as this is post poning me form doing my LED backlit Keyboard mod.