Official "swapping the XPS 17 L701x screen" thread

I have been trying to find info to find out how to swap screens on the XPS 17. The Dell XPS 17 L701x Thread contains a wealth of data (and I recommend anyone wanting to know more about their XPS 17 or planning to buy one to browse through it) but it can be a bit daunting to go through all 116 pages (at time of this post) to find the data needed.

I plan to do the switch myself at some point but so far have not yet received my machine. I will post data I find here in order to help others who want to upgrade their screen.


Why is dell no offering a FHD screen for the XPS 17?

That is a good question as I think the most logical answer is here:

I've also got from a good source that the XPS 17 R2 (L702x) will come out on February 2011 and will include a FHD screen, but it will be a 3D one and most likely more expensive.


What screen should I buy?
So far four screens have been found as compatible for the L701x and L702x):
Chi Mei N173HHE-L11
AU Optronics B173HW01 V.4
AU Optronics B173HW01 V.5
HANNSTAR HSD173PUW1-A00
LG model (lgd0283) (installed by one user so far (tjtremor) and works)


Where can I find the specs of all these screens?

Thanks Mitchell2.24v for the link: http://www.yslcd.com.tw/Docs.aspx


Where can I buy them?


Good resellers:

http://kuzotronic.com/ (Website put together by member barlow00 especially to help XPS owners to get the exact screen they order and not a "similar or better" screen like some other resellers) HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!
http://www.yslcd.com.tw/Product.aspx?&&ProdCode=B173HW01+V.4 (place used by Mitchell2.24v and several other members and they got the exact screen they ordered) HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!
LAPTOP SCREENS, LCD panels from $49. Dell, HP Compaq, Toshiba, Acer, IBM Lenovo, Sony, Gateway, Apple, Asus replacement screen display panel (place used by tjtremor but got a "compatible" panel - it worked though)
otoptek.com Sells both the AUO V4 and V5. Send a mail to [email protected] and they will get back to you with prices (booogo ordered a V5 and got exactly that).



Unconfirmed resellers:

AU Optronics 17.3 full-hd LCD notebook = 5 Resultaten: LCDtec.nl
HannStar 17.3 full-hd notebook LCD = 1 Results: LCDtec.nl
(Thanks to Xymox for these two links)
Chi Mei N173HHE-L11 LCD Screens, $156 retail price.
AU Optronics B173HW01 V.4 LCD Screens, $156 retail price.


Resellers to avoid:


http://www.laptopscreen.com/English...php?section=products&part_number=B173HW01 V.4 (soup4you2 ordered there and got the AUO screen but the V0 and not the V4. They offer both glossy and matte types of screens) (it came up for another member, madmaxx890, where they sent him an LG with same specs than the standard screen instead of the ordered AUO. They then admitted they do not stock the AUO)
NEW HANNSTAR HSD173PUW1-A00 17.3" FHD SCREEN LED LEFT on eBay (end time 24-Jan-11 18:19:40 GMT) (So far this e-bay seller has to send one screen that is exactly what someone ordered for the XPS 17. Not to mention he is extremely discourteous when challenged on his "LG screen is the best screen" way of thinking. I'd advise avoiding like the plague)


Will this void my warranty?

Ok, I have the screen. How do you swap it?

First refer to your XPS 17 manual (also found online here). You'll find this picture:



And now a full instruction with pictures from Mitchell2.24v:

I changed my screen but the colors look off:

You can change the color profile settings with windows (as a note, Windows tends to use too much blue on its settings)

Mitchell2.24v created a new package with all three profiles (LG, AUO v.4 and AUO v.0) which is very useful.

He also gave a very good procedure on how to add color profiles in Windows:

To get it to work, it is highly recommended to use this little app, which will enable you to change the profiles with a simple click.



That is what I've been able to find so far. Please feel free to comment, share your experience, etc. I'll do my best to keep this post up to date to help everyone on the forum.

Last but not least, thanks to s0lace and his XPS 14 screen replacement thread that inspired me to do this one.

 

Photos of new screens:

tjtremor's new LG screen (picture taken with an iPhone):



Mitchell's new AUO screen:





bomoogo's new screen (AUO V5):

Spoiler

 

Placeholder for when I switch my own screen (I'll take photos, put details and all)

 

I just realized they shipped an LG model (lgd0283) and not the
hanstar ( HSD173PUW1 ) not sure what the difference is but the LG works fine

pic is granny, I had to use HDR on the iphone,
i'll film some hd tv and post on youtube

 

Awesome +1. I hope you have it done and everything posted by the time I get my income tax refund.

 

Thanks tjtremor, I've added the pic to the picture post.

 

WAY TO GO REDLANCEEQ!!!!!!
this will indeed speed the search for a new screen for our L701x's

Rooster

 

Glad I could help and yeah, I've pulled enough of my hair trying to find the data in the past few days. lol!

On another note, anyone know how I can make the forum re-size the picture in the second post?

 

Well this is goin to be the 1st thing I do when I receive my laptop. Well, other than a clean win7 install, SSD & more ram. awesome work compiling all the info!

 

looks good, but this brings up Mitchell2.24v's issue of getting what you ordered.
This thread would be a good place to discuss, if any, differences between the screens for our L701xs. Mitchell2.24v stated
" It has been said before, and some asking around leads to the same conclusion. Be careful when ordering. You will not always get what you think you're ordering. I'm going for the AUO FHD panel, and you might actually get another kind of AUO, or even an LG panel if you don't pay attention."
Is there really a difference in performance? price? reliability?
Rooster

 

take pic to photo editor or something simple like MS paint increase size , goto photobucket or similar site, upload pic and then us pic option in quote..
Rooster

um...yeah you figured it out.

 

I was also wondering how the screen effects the laptops performance, being a higher resolution an such. Does this effect how much effort and heat your video card is using/putting out?

 

Yeah, I guess I'll leave it like that actually, it looks better (although messes up my screen... but I've got a dinky one anyways... lol).

 

I wonder if you need to resize it before you post it. I don't even know how to get the pic in the post instead of as thumbnails.

 

yeah , I edited photo size 748x559px...seems to fit better..
not meaning to step on toes put pic makes my screen wonky...
Rooster

 

Danke Rooster! Updating the second post now.

 

Well, it all depends in why you are getting the new screen, and what you expect. If you just want the higher resolution, it doesn't really matter what they send you, as long as the connector is in the right place and the panel is indeed 17.3".

However, if you're looking for something specific, like a range of viewing angles, a contrast ratio, or a high gamut screen, it will matter. In one of my previous posts in the owners thread, I compared these three properties (angles, contrast & gamut) of the 900P LG, the 1080p Hannstar and the 1080p AUO:

So if you're looking for a specific screen for a reason, then it will matter, otherwise you'll be fine.

 

I honestly don't think it will effect it all, power draw for screen should be the same and Nvidia is cofigured for better screens than the one we have (LGD021D is mine) so shouldn't be any problem at all.

Rooster

 

See, that's why you need the higher res screen

While you're at it, could you add my link to the documentation page:

http://www.yslcd.com.tw/Docs.aspx

 

Well, at full resolution your frame rates might drop a bit, as the video card needs to calculate more pixels (44% more if my math is correct). So you could notice it. I'm not sure if the 445 is powerfull enough for 1080p, but we'll find out soon enough!

 

Well, just on reading experience alone, I would respect your reasons for choice of a screen, just because your are professional photographer and if anyone would know what a screen should be, it would be you.

I know it sounds like I'm coming off as "groupie" but I am a fan of the arts and know when some one has eye for perspective.

Rooster

 

Thanks Mitchell, I'm adding it now.

 

Awesome.
Looking at all the info about these panels, why didn't Dell just include a 1080 panel? The xtra few bucks? Ive had many experiences with Dell but them being cheapskates hasn't been one of them really. They have replaced motherboards, video cards, hdds, keyboards.. On my current laptop never complaining a bit about costs. Dell has spent quite a bit fixing an now replacing my pc, then again maybe that's why..

I can see it now, Dell cuts costs on l701x because of grat3fulh3ads incessant expensive repairs lol.

 

I thought it was just because they couldn't get a decent supply of them right now.

 

I sure hope it is. But if it's not then that would explain why Dell didn't include one as an option or default.

 

I have no idea, but that could also be an explanation and reason why members here have found them tough to track down

 

People are fine with a 1080p screen on the XPS 15 with 435Ms so 445M should be more than fine. Same number of pixels, just bigger pixels on the 17.

 

lol...
hence the coming of the L702x...
main reason was lack of supply...they just didn't have access to the screens...and If Big Brother Dell can't get it....
Rooster

 

Well then, it seems lack of supply is the culprit and of course Dell needed the notebook out for Xmas so.. pooey screen.

I'm gonna be busy when this thing does arrive with all this stuff to do.. New screen, add an SSD, more ram, doing the clean OS install, getting a good video driver.. After all is said and done this thing better kick so much it makes chuck norris jealous.

 

Thought I would repost this on this thread since it's more prevalent...

this is in reference to shopping for a screen, where the name of the Dell Product is listed as LM? I am guessing but I think it's LM1710 and I could hunt the screen that way, but I have gotten incorrection information before, and knowing the LM notation may help someone find it without the hassle of guessing,
So what say ye?

Rooster <!-- / message --><!-- sig -->
_______

 

*****off topic******
sad to say I learned this from "myfacefriendster" days but I use photobucket and ms paint to load pics...simple but it works...
if you want details on how to do so just email me or if demand is high enough I will post on here

Rooster

 

I finally got it. Thanks. Wow such a pain to modify personal web space than I remember. RCN doesn't have any simple interface for it

 

Finally someone came up with this topic...

I am looking at this
http://www.yslcd.com.tw/Product.aspx?&&ProdCode=B173HW01+V.4
Can somebody tell me how good this screen is in term of performance and durability? I am a noob and don't know much about this brand AUO.
Also, I have been looking for screens on ebay but a lot of them have the norm policy that says that their screen has 1-5 dead pixels. Should I be worried about this?

 

nice choice
from the sites I have visited, I see that disclaimer alot. nothing rarely is perfect but my opinion it's there to cover their rear. in replacing screens in general, the topic of dead pixels is small, but it does happen. I see posts stating a "dead pixel search" after replacement.
As to performance, there has only been one user who's posted a change for the L701x and it was a different screen, but Mitchell 2.24v seems the next poster who is "pulling the trigger" on a screen change for the L701x.

Rooster

 

I'm trying to find the specs for the lgd0283 but nothing other then
HP Envy 17 ships with this screen and it's the glossy version.

Their specs for the glossy shows
45% gamut / 300 nits, not sure about the gamut since I don't know how to measure it but the 300 nits might not be true. The display is not very bright(maybe the matte doesn't help), like others are saying 1080p at 17.3" seem to lack brightness unless you try to find a 400+nits lcd which will cost more and nobody has stock.

 

did a quick calibration with the windows 7 tool, sRGB, dropped red / green bars by two notches, now the white is good and colors seem more vibrant / brighter
as for the viewing angles, seems 70/70 left/right and about 45/45 up/down

 

I myself had a heck of a time finding LG phillips, and the only specs I could find had different part#'s but they do match up to what my monitor title is under HWiNFO32 program.( MC13K€173WD1=HD+ )
minus a few squiggles.

at this site LG Display use the screen or download the pda

Rooster

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mitchell2.24v You have inspired me to look a bit further. I found some documents with specifications for panels. The panel I'm currently using (the LG LP173WD1) is a funny one. The spec document states a minimum contrast ratio of 400 and a typical one of 600. I don't think we get there. Net even close actually. The viewing angles according to this document are terrible: 40degrees left and right, 10 degrees up, and 30 degrees down. This completely explains what we're seing. The panel I had in mind for replacing my LG panel, is the AU Optronics B173HW01 V.4 @1080p. This panel has better viewing angles (60/60 and 50/50 min), and it states a higher minimum contrast ratio of 500. That panel also is a 90% NTSC panel, where the LG one is 60%. And finally the Hannstar HSD173PUW1-A, also @1080p has the same contrast rating as the LG one, but the best viewing angles (70/70 and 50/65 min). It is also a 60% panel. According to the reviews, this panel has a very good contrast rating, much better than my LG one. Clearly the specs on paper are not always accurate for every panel delivered, as we have witnessed numerous times with screen replacements. Still, I tend to favour the AUO panel. I have given myself some time to think about this, but I think I will be replacing mine with the AUO panel in about a month. I really like the prospect of better viewing angles, and the 90% NTSC is also very welcome. What the contrast rating does in real life remains to be seen. Any input is welcome. If I feel like it, I will take my screen apart to make sure of what's in there, prior to actually ordering anything. If I do so, I will take pictures and post them here.

originally posted by TRF-Inferno page 46 post#458 http://forum.notebookreview.com/del...-dell-xps-17-l701x-thread-46.html#post6934764

originally posted by Gloomy page 91 post #910 http://forum.notebookreview.com/dell-xps-studio-xps/532182-dell-xps-17-l701x-thread-91.html

I thought that this information would be helpful on this thread.

Rooster

 

originally posted by Gloomy pg 71 post #703
http://forum.notebookreview.com/dell-xps-studio-xps/532182-dell-xps-17-l701x-thread-71.html

more good information, I would listen to what she has to say, I learned alot just from this post

Rooster

 

********deleted for incorrect content**********

 

On that last one Rooster, I doubt that is actually the fact. The LG FHD screen has been successfully swapped into the XPS 17 by tjtremor. I don't know if it is a B+RGB LED screen but it does show that the XPS 17 supports FHD screens.

I think the reason we did not get a FHD screen with the XPS 17 in the first place was due to Dell planning to release a 3D screen for that machine. My bet is that they just did not have enough supply of screens available (as the current XPS 15 shortage shows) and decided to wait for the L702x to release a FHD screen for the machine.

 

This is the screen I'm after. It should be good, but I cannot say anything for certain untill I have it in the XPS 17.

There is an industry standard stating a certain amount of pixels can be dead / bright on delivery. This will usually not be the case, but they will not replace the screen for a single dead pixel, and they're telling you up front.

Yep, I'm going for the AUO screen. It is supposedly B+RG. This is not stated anywhere, not even in the tech specs (as far as I have read them), but it is the only screen I could find with more than 60% color gamut.

The LG is not B+RG, and it has 60% or less Gamut. The type of backlight should not matter to the video card, as the panel handles that all by itself. So nothing should hold us back there.

Once I have my screen, I can tell you for certain if the High Gamut screen works in the XPS (I certainly hope so!)

 

@Mitchell2.24v: can you please do a review on that screen once you replace it? I am curious yet still waiting for someone to pull the trigger LOL. Also, can you give me the link where you will be purchasing it from? I am located in the USA

 

here's the info on the lcd,
the download specs seem different then the one from the website menu,
I'm guessing their pdf might of not been updated

 

for new users...
Rooster

 

B+RG is nothing more than a marketing term for plain WLED...

 

I definately will!

Yeah, I know. But in the end the so called B+RG screen should have a larger gamut. I don't care much for what they call it, as long as it works

 

this is kinda on the same topic, I posted earlier about when you're searching for the make of the laptop (LM????) I know off hand L701x and XPS 17 but there are simular makes LM170,LM1710,LM1730 that are requested @ more than one site, and I honestly lost my post-it note with the correct one. Can you help a feeble minded person out?

Rooster

 

Sorry, I don't quite get the question... Could you rephrase please.

Oh, and happy new year (at least over here it is)!

 

And Happy New Year to you too! 3hrs and 8 mins til ours....

just off the top of my head, an example that I have ran into as below....



but a few other sites also listed them as LM1710 and LM170 and LM1730 etc ..the pic is from the site Dell model Laptop Screens
have you seen these labels before? at one time I had written down the conversion from L701x to LM???? but I lost it.( and I had a computer in front of me the hold time..duh)
anyway does that help?

Rooster