Replace lcd panel - higher resolution

I have a 17.3 inch Samsung LTN173KT02-701 lcd panel in my laptop. It's an anti-glare type and has a resolution of 1600x900 (HD+). To my eyes it's a low quality panel with narrow viewing angles and washed out colors and contrast.

I would like to replace it with a higher quality, anti-glare, 1920x1080 lcd panel with great viewing angles and better contrast and brightness. AUO springs to mind.

My laptop (Fujitsu Lifebook NH532) is available in several configurations, including a version with a 1920x1080 lcd. So I know for a fact that my model can house and use a Full HD resolution lcd panel. I don't know the panel number and manufacturer of this model and I don't know if it's any better quality than my Samsung.

My problem is that I don't know how to check for compatibility, when searching for replacement panels. What panels can I use? Will they fit physically in my laptop without carving out plastic? Is the difference in resolution a problem when connecting to my laptop - do I need another cable? Will I have to set dip-switches on the motherboard?

Any advice and panel suggestions are much appreciated.

 

You first have to check with the manufacture and see what options that LCD came with to know for sure you can upgrade the LCD. And then you have to take out the LCD and look at the part number and see if someone on eBay or Amazon sells a version that matches your current one or list a upgraded matching yours to fit otherwise your LCD is what it is.

 

Typically it is the cable that stop people from upgrading. 17.3 900p should be drop in upgrade, but there were some machine that used 30pin lvds or w.e it is that cant do 1080.
Check if the model ever come with 1080p. Check the location of the connector, go to laptopscreen.com and see if the auo have the same connector placement.

 

I did a screen replacement on my Thinkpad and went from 768p to 900p with no issues. I checked the website that I bought my screen from and shows that both the 1600x900 and the 1920x1080 screens for that particular Lifebook use the same 40 pin connector and the same LED backlight. I am partial to matte screens, but the price of both glossy and matte screens on the website that I looked at both show as $89.99 which is not terrible at all. Personally, the screen I ordered from them was an AUO screen and has been absolutely fantastic with no dead/bright pixels. I would definitely recommend you to them.

https://www.laptopscreen.com/English/model/Fujitsu/LIFEBOOK~NH532/

 

Laptops are not created equal what fits your will not fit there's unless we have more definite answers to the fit and upgrade.They first need to dissemble their LCD and check the cable and LCD model and then confirm with the manufacture if there was ever a upgrade to a higher LCD resolution. And only then should they try to go a higher LCD otherwise they will be wasting time and money and possibly damaging the original LCD and cable and causing them to spend more money to fix something that didn't have a upgrade.

 

I found the listing for you. Click here to go to the listing

 

Something they might want to keep in mind....when ordering as well...

Buyer Note: Fit WUXGA FHD version only.

See details about international shipping here.

Item location:
Shenzhen, China

So if it doesn't fit remember your going to spend alot on shipping so rather the info should be given to the OP and they must look into it before deciding...

 

Thanks a lot for all your comments and links! And concerns! Your input has helped me investigate some more and I feel more confident about this whole project now.

The following might only be of interest to a few of you, but I feel I owe you a report on what I found out so far.

From this site ( Alle Fujitsu Notebook Ersatzteile in einem Shop mit großem Lager), which to me looks like a proper site to check for Fujitsu parts, I found that my exact laptop model (NH532 with HD+ panel) comes with either of these two panels:

1. LCD PANEL SAM AG, LTN173KT02-701 (HD+) for Lifebook NH 532 / G52
2. LCD PANEL LGD AG, LP173WD1-TLP5 (HD+) for Lifebook NH 532 / G52

Saving me from taking my laptop apart just yet, the utility "HWiNFO64" reports my laptop panel as a:

Samsung LTN173KT027

You don't have to be Sherlock Holmes to conclude with almost certainty, that my panel is the number 1 above (LTN173KT02-701). So far so good.

Now, the NH532 model also comes with a FHD panel. Looking from the outside and looking at every feature of the laptop, this FHD model is exactly the same as my HD+ model. It's the exact same laptop only with a higher resolution panel. The panels in this model are:

3. LCD PANEL CMO AG, N173HGE-L11 (FULLHD) for Lifebook NH 532 / G52
4. LCD PANEL LGD AG, LP173WF1-TLB2 (FULLHD) for Lifebook NH 532 / G52

I then found this site: Global Panel Exchange Center - Panelook.com where I can look up the technical specs on all of the above 4 panels (and more). If the site can be trusted, I don't know, but I'll take the chance. It looks legit and proper. Without going into details, I can conclude with a fair amount of certainty, that all 4 panels are interchangable. They all use LVDS 2 ch. 6 bit cable. They all look similar, also the connector and its placement. And since all are featured in my model of laptop, the physical size and thickness surely must be the same.

Again, using panelook.com, I can now start searching for alternative brands of panels, that have the same specs as the above FHD panels numbered 3. and 4 (in case I don't want a Chi Mei Optoelectronics (CMO) or LG (LGD)). And I do in fact find a couple of panels from AU Optronics with the same specs which are still manufactured.

I feel pretty sure that my investigations are pointing to compatible panels, but I might take my laptop apart after all, to confirm my panel model. Even by doing that, I probably won't be 100% sure to find a compatible panel, but this is as far as I can take it before ordering.

Unless you have more comments to share

 

I was pondering buying a cheapy laptop and swapping the screen to a nice IPS panel. The link you posted should be pretty useful. Thanks!

 

Remember buy cheap and you will get cheap components that might not last long as you think and you will have a expensive paper weight....

 

Can anyone cast some light on this difference in specs from two slightly different panels:

Signal Interface : LVDS (2 ch, 6-bit) (WLED)
Signal Interface : LVDS (2 ch, 10-bit) (RGBLED)

Is that the same physical connector and cable? Like if you have a laptop with a 6-bit type panel, can you swap it with 10-bit type and expect it to fully work and perform?

 

What is the model, lvds cannot do 10 bit iirc.

 

LG display, LP173WF3-SLB1
LG Display LP173WF3-SLB1 Overview - Panelook.com

But I see now on that site that it's apparently a different connector as well. A 50-pin type.

 

I know this was from a while ago, but I also stated that on my THINKPAD it worked, and from the research I had done, they both used the same connector/other internal components.

 

The site that I bought my screen from, and the site that I linked in my first post shows both of the screens for your model as using the same connector.

Sorry for the double post, I didn't see there was a second page.

 

Did you ever make the screen replacement?