Official "swapping the XPS 17 L701x screen" thread

Hehe, yes I fixed that one.

Would be nice to create an equal video when the new screen is installed, then a good comparison can be made.

 

I plan to do a before and after video of this type, using the same image on the crappy screen and on the new one. Also I plan to take some pictures of both screens (uncalibrated and calibrated, with the ColorChecker in the frame).

 

I have ordered the AU B173HW01 V.4 from ebay. They shipped it today, hope it gets here soon. And if its not the AU screen I will send it back.
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XPS 17 - i7 840QM, 4Gb RAM, 500Gb HDD, 3Gb GT 445M

 

From which seller did you buy it? Most sellers I talked to, would send the V.0, which is almost the same screen, but has a smaller gamut (so less colour accuracy)

 

I ordered from this seller.
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XPS 17 - i7 840QM, 4Gb RAM, 500Gb HDD, 3Gb GT 445M

 

Then I must disappoint you. I contacted them to ask for this specific panel, and they told me it was not in stock and they would send a compatible one.

Depending on your needs it might still be a very good panel though. Did you get it specifically for the high gamut, or did you just want a higher resolution and better viewing angles?

 

Well I contacted the seller immediately because if that is true he is in violation of ebay terms if I am correct?

I did ordered it higher res, viewing angles and the high gamut.
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XPS 17 - i7 840QM, 4Gb RAM, 500Gb HDD, 3Gb GT 445M

 

So I get all worked up and concerned about the screen and I call the shop where I placed the order to make sure everything is going to go smoothly and this is what he says...

"yes my friend you will receive the panel you ordered, but there are different versions of that same panel, so you may get another which is compatible if they are out of stock."

Great.. He said, "if it's not exactly what you want, no worries, we will try again." Sooo.. I'm not quite sure what's up.. my fingers are crossed that I get the v.4. That being said, I am not quite sure what the differences are between the different versions in real world terms. Is one better for gaming and another for photos? Or one for movies another for web surfing? Like I said I don't know jack about lcd's other than I want the best I can buy to put into my pc..

The whole process is sort of fun and adventurous in a way but also frustrating too.. This is why I went through Dell in the first place over the years so that I didn't have to build my own.. Oh well, let the adventure begin!

 

It all depends a little on how they describe their products, and if they put a disclaimer somewhere...

I don't think any of these panels is specifically better for gaming, as the response times are more or less the same. I also believe the viewing angles on the 1080p panels are better than our crappy 900p panel. Some 1080p panels will be better than others, but reports from other users that have replaced their screen show that it is definately better than the 900p ones.

The high gamut panels are mostly usefull if you can properly calibrate them. You could use a premade profile, but it will never be as good as a properly calibrated panel. And you will mostly benefit from those panels when you're working with colour managed visual material (photo's, video, but within Photoshop / Premiere) as Windows color management is still not very good.

So unless you're working with something like Photoshop and you specifically paid extra for the high gamut panel, you might be fine with the compatible panel. The B173HW01 V.0 which is often used as a replacement is pretty much the same panel with a lower gamut. It also has the proper viewing angles.

 

WHEW! It sounds like either way, with the v.0 or v.4 I will be satisfied. I use my pc for quite a few different purposes but none involve photoshop or video/photo editing. OMG guess who's knocking on my door!!!

 

Hello
I have the seller at stake from ebay this afternoon wrote to whether the panel fits on my XPS 17 and that was the answer:

You cannopt change the resolution in the laptop as this will cause you problems else where in the laptop. You have to put like for like in.

According to the Ebay seller does not fit the pannel?
If I order a 0.4 AU would I also have this

Greetings

 

After using my xps17 for a couple hours now I feel I can better comment on the screen. It is probably the worst display I have ever owned. Hands down. The colors are washed out and dull. The brightness and contrast are completely out of whack and even after trying to calibrate it several times has not improved. The viewing angles.. I don't even know what to say, other than how in the Hell does a manufacturer get away with producing a product, namely an LCD, with these viewing angles? It's so bad I have yet to find a height on my coffee table or desk to set it at where I can see the whole screen clearly. The top is dark, the bottom overly bright.. it's a complete mess. My old Mac monitor from 83' looked better. I CANNOT wait for that display to arrive.. Maybe if I wasn't coming from a true HD display (1920x1280) I wouldn't have minded.. No I would have. I cannot see myself getting used to this.. And the resolution really is fine with me, it's the washed out colors, horrid contrast and viewing angle that make me want to kill a kitten.. Otherwise I am completely satisfied with my new lappy.. Just saying, but if I were a pc manufacturer I would never have sold a pc with this display, no way no how. At least the fix is easy and relatively inexpensive..

 

What is the Hardware ID for your display? Does anyone know how many different 900p displays you can get with a 17? I really don't think mine looks that bad, but maybe because I'm a right brainer and not too good at the arts and literature. I used to have a 1080p on my SXPS 16, so I would have probably noticed if this one was super junky.

 

How do I check that? I'm more than happy to share if you can point me in the right direction. This is my 1st windows7 pc. Well technically I had win7 on my m1730 for 2 days before it died, but yeah.

 

I copied this from a post that Compwiz0620 did on the L701x thread where he answered basically the same quesition.

HWInfo32 will allow the manufacturers id to show as well http://hwinfo32.software.en.softonic.com/download?gclid=CObq14KXoqYCFZNd7AodZEW4dQ




Rooster

 

Like I posted in the other thread, it should not be a problem. But if you want to be sure, wait until I or someone else has put the B173HW01 V.4 in his XPS 17. Then you can see it working, and know for sure.

And on that note, my panel is in the hands of FedEx now. It should arrive on the 10th of January. So almost a week from now, I will install it and do some tests and let everyone know what it is like. I will also update the first post of the Owners thread by then.

Unless Grat3fulH3ad beats me to it

I'm really curious to know if they do indeed have more than one panel in the XPS 17 currently. I hear differing reviews of the current panel. I'm like Grat3fulH3ad and dislike the viewing angles more and more. At first I thought they were just bad, but now I feel they're horrible. The resolution is not as bad as I thought it would be. I do think that it very much depends on what kind of content you're looking at. Somehow for my work in Visual Studio 2010 and SQL Server the screen is fine, and I don't really notice the bad viewing angle. When watching a movie or a show, the thing changes its mind and decides to annoy me during the entire show. When I'm in bed with the lappy on a cutting board on my lap, there is no single angle at which the entire panel is properly visible.

 

Hello
Excuse my bad English, which comes from the google translator.

The following, I got my xps 17 (i5) get in early November and a good 1.5 weeks later because of this "great Hellen LG Display" sent back again.
So now I stand now before the election Xps old 17 + display again, replace or wait ubdate what is the cost then? (1300€...)
Otherwise I was very happy with the XPS 17th
What would you do?

Greetings

 

Do you have any information about your seller in Taiwan?

Seem that the eaby seller shipped an terrible lg screen (LP173WF1)

 

Are you trying to decide between:

a. the current L701x with the 900p panel, and then replace it with an 1080p panel yourself
b. the upcoming L702x with the built-in 1080p panel?

As nobody knows how mucht the L702x will cost it is hard to give advice, but the L702x will be based on the latest technology, and the panel is 3D, so that would be a possible advantage.

Personally, if I would have to choose now, I would wait for the L702x, but that is just because I like to have the latest tech.

Sure, that is no secret. It is Studio Technology Co. Ltd. http://www.yslcd.com.tw/

Be prepared to be patient, and shell out for shipping and banking costs. If you can wait I will let you know on monday if I got the proper panel, and if it works. You might order with more confidence.

Have you tried the LP173WF1? didn't another user here install an LG panel that was Matte? If yours is glossy, it is our current panel in 1080p, and it will have the same problems. The matte one seems to be better. But I haven't seen it myself, so can't be sure.

 

The screen hasn't arrived but according to the specifications they send me its a glossy "LP173WF1(TL)(C1)". The seller even states that the LG screens have better viewing angles then the AU optronics

 

Please refer to this document, see page 15. http://www.yslcd.com.tw/docs/product/LP173WF1-TLC1.pdf

The viewing angles are exactly the same as on our current panel. Unfortunately you will only gain a higher resolution with the new panel.

 

I found the spec's too that's why I found it so funny that they said the lg is better....

 

I just checked the specs again, and you do get a slightly higher gamut screen (72% instead of 60%). That's probably not enough to keep it, but apparently it is not the exact same panel design.

 

I don't think that fore mentioned screen (LP173WF1) is really that bad of a display, I believe the first one to actually install a new screen (tjtremor) installed this screen with the only difference that it was "matte" finish and not not glossy as the one you have mentioned. Screen shots seemed impressive, and yes it's not the popular choice, but as Mitchell2.24v has mentioned unless a higher gamut is specifically what you want, availability and cost should also be kept in mind.

The seller has only one thing in mind, make the money with the least amount work possible, this is not uncommon practice world wide.

Mitchell2.24v,
before this all began, I believe you posted your settings for our original screen and I was wondering if you would post those settings again, Just to see if I can get the best display I can while I wait for the opportunity to replace my screen. And, if you don't mind, would you also post the instructions on how to set the settings once you have reposted the settings.
Thanks!
Rooster

 

Matte screens usually have better viewing angles, and on paper the LG LP173WF1 TL C1 is basically the same as our 900p screen. It is however also a known fact that some screens are better than others, even within the same model. De differing reports on the 900p screen confirm this.

If you keep the protective film on the screen, maybe you can try it before sending it back. I know they will not easily take it back without the protective film. So keep that in mind!

I will do a fresh calibration and post those settings here. I'm not at the office now, so I cannot do the calibration right now. Keep in mind that the calibration is tailored to the lighting in the room and the specific screen. You should see an improvement anyway, but it might not be perfect yet. Also you should give it some time to get used to the new settings. At first they usually seem way off, but once you get used to them they become more natural.

 

I am sorry, no reflection upon you, but your question is a little hard to understand.
But I will try and help you with what I think your asking.
You got your XPS 17 with a i5 processor and it worked well but you were not happy with your screen or the screen went bad?

And you want to or already have sent it back?

And your trying to decide if you should keep the XPS 17 and just replace the screen or wait for the new version of the XPS 17(L702x)?

If this is indeed your quandary, it depends on how tech savvy you are. If you have had experience with minor upgrades such as replacing RAM or a Hard Drive, then I would suggest keeping your XPS 17 because as you have probably already read, the cost for a replacement screen is relatively affordable.
Or even if your wanting to upgrade to a better screen such as a Full High Definition screen, it is still affordable.

I would not suggest waiting on the new L702x just due to the fact, as of today, there is no firm release date. Also, the price for the L702x will definitely be more than the current L701x that you have now.

If you can, supply us with more information of your situation, such as the actual problem of the screen ("great Hellen LG Display" didn't translate well) and what you are planning to do with your laptop such as "just for work", or a "desktop replacement", or for "Multimedia/gaming".

If you respond with more information, I believe we can be of more assistance with your problem(s).

Thanks for reading this thread, and we will try to help you in your decision.

Rooster

 

I'm interested in a calibration too. Could be something useful to add to the first post of the thread.

 

I think it will be usefull. I'll do a calibration today, and post the results. I should also update the first post on the owners thread, that's been a while

 

Hard to believe, but it's only been slightly less than 2 months ago when you started your thread, but think of all the owners you have helped, especially me. Until I got this laptop, I had almost given up one of my favorite interests, due to lack of a challange and boardom. Your thread has been the main spark I needed to get back into the computers.
Just sayin
Thanks again.
Rooster

 

Hi Red Rooster
I have already returned it longer, because of the poor representation of my LG display which "was extremely bright. "
On your question: Technically, I know myself good with computers and their inner life.

Would like to January / February New Order.
Either replace the old L701x + display (about 1000 €
New L702x with illuminated keypad, full hd 3d not what I need ... for (.......... € .
Will the L702x continues with a 1600x900 display?
Greetings

 

You're welcome! I'm glad to share with the rest of the community.

And here we go on the profile:

First, download the zipfile with the profile inside and extract it somewhere. It also contains a PDF file with details on the profile's accuracy. This PDF file mentions an Apple Cinema display, but that is the closest I could select regarding the display type and it seems to works best.

20110106_L701x_ICC_LG900p.zip

Now open the start menu and type Color Management and press enter. The Windows Color Management window should appear:



Click the Add button in the lower left corner. The Associate Color Profile window appears:



Now click Browse and you should get a file browser window.



Browse to the folder where you extracted the profile and select the profile. Click Add.

You will go back to the main Color Management window. Finally select the newly added profile and click Set As Default.



On my machine the profiling software takes care of loading the profile, but to the best of my knowledge this should work on systems without the profiling software present.

I switched to a different profiling software, as the one I used before didn't seem to do its job very well. This profile seems to be more accurate. I will test it over the coming days (until my new panel arrives).

 

the L702x will only have 2 choices for the display, both being Full High Definition (FHD, 1080p).
One will be a touch sensitive display and the other display will be 3D with 3D glasses included

My suggestion is to order the L701x and upgrade the display through the aftermarket which is being discussed here in this thread, the cost will be a lot cheaper and you will have about the same performance as the L702x.

They haven't released a price range for the L702x yet, but I expect it to be more expensive than fully loaded L701x and the L702x still does not have a release date set, though it is rumored to be in late Febuary 2011

As for the lighted keyboard, It isn't offered for the European market.

If you have time, read through http://forum.notebookreview.com/dell-xps-studio-xps/532182-dell-xps-17-l701x-thread.html
the last 30 or so pages mention some good deals for Dell XPS 17 for the European Market.

I hope this helps
Rooster

 

This is the profile you are using?! wow.. it's quite.. uh.. pink! Lol..

 

It shouldn't be! On my machine it is quite neutral, and less blue than the original. Give it a day and see what you think then. Or is it extremely pink?

 

Oh it's extremely pink Wonder why it looks different on my machine than yours? It's probably me screwing something up but your instructions were very easy to follow so... I don't know. But there was very little blue and a lot of red.. If I can get a screen shot to work I will post it.

I can't remember how to take a pic of the screen, like Rooster and you did and I'm not going to go through 140 pages in the XPS17 thread to find Roosters post telling me how.. lol. But yeah it's pink on my screen.

 

You could take an actual photo. A screenshot wouldn't work anyway, as you will be capturing the uncorrected pixels.

There should be another profile at the start of the owners thread (1st post or first few pages). You could try that one.

I might be able to do a new run tomorrow, otherwise it will be over the weekend.

 

I tried your profile and the one on the first page of the owner thread but I do not seem to see any difference between the two, or what I had before (nothing)... I followed your steps as above.

 

Maybe there's something wrong with my instructions. I just tried it on a different copy of Windows 7, and I also noticed no difference...

This has been discussed at the start of the owners thread also, there may be a solution there.

 

Dell officially anounced the updated L702X specifications. For the screens, there will be an optional Full HD (non-touch) screen and a Full HD 3D screen.
More info can be found here: Dell News from CES: Streak 7 Tablet, Venue Smartphone, Enhanced Dell Stage and More - Direct2Dell - Direct2Dell - Dell Community

 

The link to that profile is on pg 10, post #96 http://go.notebookreview.com/?id=52...o-xps/532182-dell-xps-17-l701x-thread-10.html

There was a start of a conversation but no results posted on how to fix it.
I also followed your instructions and and also noticed no visible results from the changes
If you would, will you investigate this when you have the time available?

Thanks
Rooster

 

I most certainly will! I know Windows is a bit difficult when it comes to colour management, but we'll work it out.

I'm expecting my new panel today, so I'll be busy taking photo's / viewin angle video's and not in the least: replacing the actual panel.

Once that's done I'll try and figure out the whole color-profile-without-special-software thing.

 

I'm certainly looking forward to your reviews. Please be as specific as you can.

 

I will (if only I could lay off the typo's )

Now I'm off to a client, so I hope FedEx times their delivery in my favour!

 

Me also !

What would be informative is how to remove the bezel.
I have looked at it but have no clue where and how to start. I have read some about this, but an exact explanation (nice to have photos of how to grab the bezel) would give me more confidence. I'm afraid I'm gonna break the screen in pieces.

 

I'll try and describe that or take a picture if I can. I tried to describe it in my previous post (the one with all the pictures) in this thread. The basic idea is to move the bezel outward, so gently push the bezel towards the edge of the screen.

I'll make a diagram, that might make things easier to understand...

Stay tuned!

 

The Dell Service Manual is available from the Dell Support website. It gives some simple instructions on how to remove the bezel.
Here's the link; Documentation

 

That's right, but I can understand people being a bit cautious. Removing the bezel is not hard or difficult, but you need to somehow get a feel for it. I already have some ideas on how to properly document the removal.

Unfortunately, I missed the FedEx guy yesterday, so I'm hoping he'll be back today. And the next few days are crazy busy, so I'll try, but I'm not sure I can do the swap and / or document it all right now. It may take a few days.

 

Did you ever receive the panel (I might have missed a post)? And if you did, which one was it? Did you install it? What's it like?

Questions, questions, questions...

 

It's here!


(sorry for the crappy photo, I had to do this in a rush as I'm on my way out)

Now I just need to find some time to install it and do all the pictures and tests...

 

awesome!