Official "swapping the XPS 17 L701x screen" thread

Edrunci

I found a site that claims " We ship only the exact part as advertised to ensure quality and compatibility."

They offer the one that is "supposedly" for our Dell

Model: B173HW01 V.4 H/W: 0A

link - http://www.edexdeals.com/StoreFront/do/product/AUO:B173HW01-V4

AU Optronics B173HW01 V.4 0A 17.3in. Full HD 1920x1080 LCD Display Panel

 

They also claim this: * Condition: New Pull (parts pulled from new machines)

Not new in a box.

 

Thought I would give an update on my opinion of the profile Mitchell2.24v created after a couple of days use.
I will have my screen no other way. It continues to look great. to give an example of how much of a difference it's made, I had some Windows upgrades that I was saving for a time that I would allow the computer to restart.And of course when it did restart, it reloaded the original profile that it came with, and right away, the screen just looked wrong. It was like a blue gel cel was placed over the screen.
I no longer even notice the initial "pinkish" hue when I first installed the profile. Believe me people, it does and will make a difference if you will just try it.

and on a side note...

I believe the modded Nvidia driver that Mitchell2.24v was referring to was the 266.44 version from this thread that he is directing readers to visit and read. It is indeed safe to use with screen that came with our L701x, and I and several posters are using this version without any problems. In our initial testing of the driver we noticed the screen has a "snappier" response and has proven to be stable.
The term "modded" can be misleading, but in fact, just means that some of the ".inf" files have been edited to better configure to our graphics card and to bypass the need to depend solely on Dell's downloading site for drivers and their practice to include restrictive commands that can hamper the performance of our graphics card(s) we use (435M/445M).
Food for thought...
Rooster

 

@RoosterRed: Are you swapping out your screen as well?

 

most likely within the next month or so
So, I am reading intently and taking notes...
Rooster

 

is it safe to install the 266.44 drivers on top of my current ones? i tried downloading driver sweeper and tried following the steps but some things didn't make since. i checked off all three boxes ( NVIDIA - Chipset, NVIDIA-Display, NVIDIA -PhysX) then clicked Analyse

got stuck at step 4. ( 4-click the box that looks like * then select all and make sure all the boxes have checks next to them)

i don't see anything in the Driver Sweeper results with " * " so i don't know what to properly delete.

any suggestion much appreciated. Thanks!

 

Does anyone know where AUO datasheets can be found?
There are several models I'd like to compare but the AUO website does not have a specifications page.
The models I am particularly interested in comparing the specs for are:

B173HW01 v4 H/W:0A (this spec has been posted so I already have it)
B173HW01 v4 H/W:1A
B173HW02

Much obliged to anyone who can help.

 

Driver sweeper can and is confusing and until you have read up on it and are comfortable using it, there is this optional way to install this particular driver.
in the case the driver 266.44, DaneGRClose "modded" it to allow you to "copy" over the previous driver, though it really doesn't do this, its just easier to say it that way.Go ahead and copy the zipped driver to your desktop.
Right click and choose to extract. Keep on hand the destination "script" of the file, you will need to it a step from now. Now find that file destination (example C:\roosterred\Desktop\266) and open said file. Look for the .exe file named "setup". Right click and run as administrator. This should begin your install, displaying Nvidia's logo. Follow the instructions and when the program offers a choice of whether to stop or "install anyway", choose "install anyway" . this should install the new driver and clean up the previous driver. Once completed, restart and double check through device manager that the driver version shows 266.44

Do this and you should have a nice graphics driver running the show for you.

Rooster

 

sweet! Thanks for the help Rooster, I got the drivers installed. now my next move will be to swap my LCD with an AUO - just hoping to find a seller in the US and not Taiwan.

 

Your welcome!
not to nitpick, but you said drivers as in plural, and that confuses me?
what other driver(s) did you install? or was it a typo?

and on finding a seller in the US that sells the AUO we've been talking about is like finding a needle in a pile of thumb tacks, every body has something "like it" or "just as good as" from what I have been reading. You will have to really stick to your guns to find and get the AUO we've been discussing on this thread. I am beginning to believe that I will have to settle for the AU Optronics B173HW01 V.0 instead of the V.4 which I guess isn't that bad, the gamut is on about 20% less than that of the V.4 and has the same viewing angles.

Rooster

 

sorry it was a typo. regarding the LCD I think I might settle for the v.0 as well or wait to see how much the new L702x lcd will go for from Dell. I'll be checking this thread daily.

 

/oups, sorry wrong forum.

 

For those who are interested in some detailed information about the AU Optronics B173HW01 V.4 and V.0
AUO B173HW01 V.4 pdf

AUO BI73HW01 V.0 pdf

Rooster

 

Thanks Rooster, great !

I have created a side by side comparison in a table.



The red colored items are the differences between the V0 and V4.
(I did not check the actual color values between V0 and V4).

But what do I see, the V4 is a 1920x1050 screen?
(v0 = 1920x1080)

Is that a typo in the specsheet?

 

Xymox,

1050 is a typo. It's 1080. See page 5 of the spec sheet.

One thing nobody seems to have picked up on is the difference in the power consumption for the 1080p screens vs. the 900p screen.
I looked at the power spec for the AUO B173RW01 (1600 x 900) screen and it is 1.6 watt (max). The B173HW01 (all versions apparently) consumes 2.0 watts (max). That translates to a 25% increase in load on the inverter.
I would very much like to hear from anyone who knows if the XPS inverter can sustain that load for extended periods of time. If the design is marginal it might work for a while and then POOF!

 

Nice Job! looks sweet.

I seriously doubt that it would create any problems. Remember, that this motherboard/Graphic card combo is already up to the task of handling a true FHD screen. It was Dell's poor planning that led to them using the less than planned for screen that we are dealing with now.
Mitchell2.24v has just upgraded to the V.4 screen and as meticulous as he is, I am sure he took everything into consideration.
Rooster

 

I hope you're right. It's a leap of faith, but I still plan to do it. It's only money, right? But if I'm not mistaken, the power to the panel is furnished by the inverter, not the motherboard or the graphics card. Hence the possible "weak link". If it's robust there won't be a problem. But as far as I know, Dell has never published a reason for going cheap on the XPS display.

 

I thought the inverter was built into the LED screens.

And thanks everybody this is all good information

 

FYI...
Looks like the inverter is a separate board.

Taking apart display panel and replacing inverter on Dell Inspiron 8500 and 8600 series laptops >> Inside my laptop

Laptop Repair Help Screen inverter replacement. Fixing laptop backlight problem.

 

Both of these are for screens that use CCFL as backlight and not LED.

 

True...
But it seems I read somewhere in this post (or maybe it was another one) that the factory supplied screen is CCFL.
Does you know for sure which one it is? CCFL or LED?

Mitchell2.24v or TJTremor, if you're still following the thread, can you enlighten us?

 

The screen that is in the XPS L701X has LED backlight and not CCFL

 

Read the first page of this thread.

Confirmed
screen that came with the L701x is indeed LED
Rooster

 

this is a great thread and thanks for all the input from the guys.

for me at the mo in the UK its stale mate, as finding a supplier for the AU optronics screen, is impossible, all the ones i find then state " you may recieve a compatable screen" FFS!

for me thats not good enough , if im going to be pulling apart my XPS i want to fit the best one for the money,

i have emailed a seller on ebay to see if they can supply a B173HW01 V4

still awaiting a reply

 

Like Rooster and other mentioned, the screen on the XPS 17 is a LED screen. A CCFL screen would not fit or work. You cannot mix and match. Also, LED screens do not have a separate invertor.

It is hard and quite annoying isn't it. The only way I found was to get it straight from Taiwan. I could do that again if a few people are interested. We would need to work out some details.

 

just got a reply back from Jue over @ Studio Technology and here is what he said:

Regarding your inquiry, following information for your references:

We have B173HW01 V.4 in stock and it is A grade brand new in original packages.

Price for B173HW01 V.4 one piece is $88. Using FedEx is cost $76 and it takes around 3 days for shipping.

Payment term is T/T in advance and you can use Western Union or other bank for transferring the payment.

Transferred by Western Union:

Total Amount: (B173HW01 V.4 * 1 PCS = $88) + (Shipping charge $76) = $164

Total Amount: (B173HW01 V.4 * 1 PCS = $88) + (Shipping charge $76) + (Bank charge $30) = $194

anyone know how much western union will charge for the transfer? just wondering if i should go with western union or my own bank. $30 bank charge seems steep.

 

I just went to western union website to look up the price and...from where I am sending the money (CA, USA) to Taiwan...in the amount of $164 will cost me $30...So, same thing as bank transfer. You can look up the price yourself but I prefer western union for the fact that it is a lot faster than bank transfer

 

I have tried this one, as the v4 is in the list :
NEW LCD SCREENS BY AUO, CMO, LG AND MORE - GD823

I asked if I could get only one of the v4 display, ordered as a private person.
Here is the answer :

Hello, thank you for your inquiry.

Unfortunately after checking our database, this item is currently
unavailable.
Sorry we could not help...
Please feel free to contact me should you have any questions or concerns
with regards to this or any other requirement that you may have.

So, no v4 here too...

 

I don't like WU, so I used my bank. But WU should probably be fine.

That's probably why the price in Taiwan is going up:

I paid $ 80. Or it could be the exchange rate changing.

 

I got the same reply back from Jue at Studio Technology. I guess I find it hard to swallow that I have to pay their bank $30 to accept my payment! Anyway I sent an email to AUO asking for a supplier list. They have a single, world-wide supplier; Promate Electronic Co., Ltd.- Electronic Components, Display Solution and Embedded System.. Promate won't sell to individuals but the sales rep who replied to me, Tina Wang, said she would send me a list of "Traders" as she put it. She also mentioned that the B173HW01 V.4 is in short supply world-wide and lead time is 6-8 weeks to their customers.
If the Promate rep send a list as she promised, I will post it.

 

yes, the $30 bank/western union fee is what's holding me back right now.I am willing to pay $150 flat right this sec but not $196 - I can't wait to see what Dell's L702X 3D/F HD screen will cost either directly from them or from another supplier once we find out make/model info. I probably would pay up to an extra hundred on a 3D/F HD just to have some of that 3D experience on my laptop since I don't plan on buying a 3D tv for another year or so - once they have perfected the technology and got rid of the glasses.

does anyone else think we should wait for the L702X screen? will the screen itself be more than $300? will the screen even be immediately available to purchase once Dell releases the L702X. I would hate to wait until the release (possibly end of Feb) just to find out it is ridiculously priced and not available to order immediately. not to mention at that point the "B173HW01 V.4 " from Taiwan would become a hot item and the cost might go up and availability might be limited.

 

my opinion, don't expect the display for the L702x to be readably available or be a realistic in cost.
Another thing that some the new readers are doing is keying on AUO V.4 screen. this is a mistake just to consolidate your view of the "perfect" screen being this one. You should take into consideration Mitchell2.24v's advice that this screen is not for everyone. He is a photographer by trade and this screen will improve his ability to use this display for his work. But we are all not photographers and he did suggest that the V.0 is also compatible screen that is good as well. What I am saying is widen your scope and contemplate what you are going to be doing with your laptop. There are 3 or 4 other screens that are good for this platform.
Yes, there are a limited selection of Full High Definition screens out there but take the time to investigate all of them and then choose what is best for you an the use it will be for and what your wallet can realistically can handle.
My opinion
Rooster

 

Amen!

Use our advice, but still think for yourself and come to your own conclusion. Be honest with yourself. Will you really need (or even notice) the difference between the V.0 and the V.4 panel? There is also a matte panel around that might be great if you currently have a problem with the glossy panel.

I / we are providing all this info so you can make an informed decision. Not blindly follow us (you're welcome to do so, but it might cost you more money).

 

Well I just sent off my payment for two AUO B173HW01 V.4 screens form Studio Technology (same place Mitchell2.24v bought his) and can not wait to receive the screens.

 

I really do not understand why products are advertised on websites, giving the assumption they are actually sold by the shop. But when asking further, the products seem never to be sold, they don't have them and the items are not intended to be sold.

I contacted this shop, where it seems they have these screens
b173hw01 LCD notebook = 4 Resultaten: LCDtec.nl

The first reply

So I replied back to give me an loose indication when they will have it on stock approximately, indicating I can wait.

The replay back

Well, what is this?

 

I ran into the same problem. The only place I found that sales the AOU B173HW01 V.4 is the place Mitchell2.24 turned us onto. And I could not see buying only one and paying $75.00 for shipping on one so that is why I ordered two. You also have to keep in mind if there is a problem with the screen it really is not a option to send it back as it will cost almost as much as what the screen cost ($88.00) to send it back.

 

Busby when do you expect to receive your screens? I was going to place my order for one this Friday.. maybe I can go through you and buy the extra screen from you assuming both your screens are in good condition. I can send payment through PayPal that is if your willing to sell.

 

If I decide to sell one I will give you the 1st shot at it jamal33.

 

I am looking to buy a screen as well but this Taiwanese seller charges too high for shipping. So, if anyone attempts to buy this, then please do contact me in advance so I can get one for you as well and we'll split up the shipping cost. I can pay via paypal

 

wlfng2005 when are you planing to order? I am willing to split the shipping cost with you from Taiwan to the states but just thought about something.... just trying to figure out if its worth all the hassle.

rough figures :
per screen I was quoted $88
$78 shipping / 2 = $39

we're looking at about $127 a piece but then how much more will it cost for you to ship it to me in Washington DC

I know i told Busby that i'd buy his second screen but he's not sure about selling it yet and i would like to have my lcd replaced by this time next week. I hear it ships fedex and takes 3days - money transfer should be instant with western union.

 

I found a seller on eBay who had a used B173HW01 V.4 H/W:0A so I went ahead and bought it.
This is the hardware rev (H/W:0A) that the guy at Studio Technology told me was for the Dell machines. This makes sense since the seller claimed the screen was pulled from a Dell Studio machine.
I loaded the modded driver (266.44) the other night just to test it and also in anticipation of needing it since I was planning to buy the B173HW01 screen anyway. I did a clean install after running Driver Sweeper in Safe Mode and had no trouble. It seems to be stable but I, personally, don't notice any difference in performance just by eye. Now I'm curious if the original Dell driver will work with the new screen, not because it's a better driver but because it supports Optimus where the modded driver doesn't (yet). Anyway I'll do a little experimenting after I install it. Unfortunately I'm in Saudi Arabia and won't be home (where my new screen is) until March so I'll have to wait a bit to play!

 

Edit - wrong thread

 

yeah I see the problem.
Its probably best that everyone create a signature that this forum offers because most of the information supplied will be for the i7 processors that cannot use the optimus option due to it not having onboard graphics. Optimus requires the onboard graphics along with a graphics card to work, which is possible with i3 and i5 processors.

Please everyone who doesn't list the components of their laptop IE i7 740QM , 8Gb, Nvidia GeForce GT 445M, etc do so, that way when information is offered, it will be noted if it will work for you.

Help us Help you....
Rooster

 

Update on B173HW01 V.4 availability in the UK

e-mail response from laptop-LCD-screen.co.uk

Hi, The exact part you require is held up at customs at the moment and we are expecting to receive this screen tomorrow at some point. Best Suzanne.

screen showing in stock today for £101.94

Maybe this will help UK screen swappers, let the forum know if you have any success.

TY, siren

 

Interesting find.

Any idea what screen this is? DELL XPS 17 L701 17.3 LAPTOP SCREEN

 

Siren, if it is this one: AU OPTRONICS B173HW01 V.4 17.3 DELL - watch it, it is not LED but CCFL, which is not compatible for the XPS 17.

 

I know its not the B173HW01-V.4 that seems to be the popular choice here on this thread, that has a different product ID number
edit:as RedlanceEQ pointed out this model that I linked to is not compatible with our laptop due to CCFL backlighting
I cannot find the manufacturer of this display other than it says Dell. it does have the correct requirements being led and size but other than that, I have no clue as to the actual manufacturer.
Rooster

 

I sent them a mail to ask. We will see what they answer.

 

An ccfl version of B173HW01 v4 does not exist, according to the datasheet the it is Wled driven, and an difference in backlighting is large enough to warrant an different version number.

Probably an error or some way to attract more sales..

 

Here is their answer:

Again, this is for this screen: DELL XPS 17 L701 17.3 LAPTOP SCREEN