Replacement Screen Compatibility

Would most, if not all, replacement LCD screens be compatible for a particular laptop, assuming they are the same resolution and size as the stock screen in that laptop?

In my case the stock screen is a 15.6'' WXGA 1366x768 AUO40EC screen, in my Acer 5820TG. I'm interested in getting an LG Philips screen (LP156WH3), which another user with an Acer 5553G (identical laptop chassis and specs, just different CPU) has and claims to be free of several annoyances/defects that my screen holds.

 

The backlight is a crucial feature. A LED screen will not be compatible with a laptop, which came with stock CCFL screen, and vice versa. Also, there are dual CCFL screens out there, however I do not know, whether these are compatible with single CCFL screens. Maybe others will know. Other then that, the screen proportions: 16:9 screen will not fit in 16:10 laptop and vice versa.

 

Connectors could also be an issue; they're not always standardized and so moving between model could mean you have different connectors. Someone else on the forums said that all CCFL screens had standard connectors, but he wasn't sure about the LED ones.

 

I see; my laptop's screen right now is LED-backlit. There are two connections, a ribbon connection and an inverter connection, do you guys mean that there might be variations in the inverter?

 

LED backlit screens don't have an inverter. What I'd meant was that there might be variations in the ribbon connector (electrically) but it seems your screen might already have other variations.

 

Wait I assumed that all LED-lit LCDs have inverters, so mine would only have a single ribbon connector?

 

They have something that takes the place of the inverter basically for dimming and voltage regulation. but only sometimes.

So yes, some LED screens do not have the "inverter" connection and thus will be incompatible if you do have an inverter (and vice versa).
The data connection is also nonstandard on different models for no reason.

Only on CCFL can you trust that it will probably be standard. Yes, you can use dual CCFL on a laptop that never was released with it or whatever, you just need 2 inverters or a different dual inverter (in which case you will probably lose dimming control).
Kaltmond has a dual CCFL LCD on the m860tu by using 2 inverters.

 

So there's no way of knowing which panels are compatible?

What about Acer laptops of same size, same generation, and same screen resolution etc as mine? Would screens in those be compatible definitely? I can't see why not.

 

The "best" way is to get a service manual or parts list for your specific notebook. This should list all compatible screens. The problem is, these are not always easy to find. As Acer usually makes its own notebooks, the chances that a screen of the same size, generation, resolution, and type has the same connector is higher, but not assured. The thing is, the panels are pretty much all the same, it's just the connector that's sometimes different, and that's a simple crimp job as far as they're concerned. The problem at our end, of course, is that we don't know how the connector may be wired differently between two different models, and thus for us, putting in a new connector can be difficult. As well, depending on the graphics card used, they may enable or disable certain features, which again, could require different wiring for the screen. Suffice it to say that there isn't a simple answer.

 

I see...what about different versions from the same LCD manufacturer? My screen right now is AUO 40EC, I'm interested in the AUO B156XWS02 V3, which is in a few other 15.6'' current-gen Acers (Travelmate ones) and is significantly better than the AUO 40EC in every aspect. Would all these sum up to it being extremely likely to be compatible?

 

Again, depends on the connector with which the screen is supplied; AUO makes screens for _many_ notebooks; their screens can be found in Asus, Acer, Sager/Clevo, and numerous other brands. If the AUO B156XWS02 V3 is intended for, say, an ASUS notebook with a different connector than your Timeline, then it won't be compatible. I can't seem to find any information on that screen offhand, so I have no idea what notebook it was originally intended for.

 

I read about the B156XWS02V3 here in this notebooks:

Review Acer TravelMate 5740Z Notebook - Notebookcheck.net Reviews
Review Acer TravelMate 5740G-524G50MN Notebook - Notebookcheck.net Reviews

Both are Acer TravelMate's.

 

Hm. Well, you could try asking screen vendors if they'd be willing to tell you what kind of connectors that screen has, and that would at least give you a partial hint as to whether or not it's even possible, but in the end, you're going to have to either do a lot of digging on your own, or just order a screen from someone with a liberal return policy and hope for the best.

 

I actually emailed a screen vendor yesterday about it, all she asked was for me to check if the connector in my current screen is to the left or right (apparently that's the only variation).

 

I think I have found the three applicable compatible models of displays for my laptop, sources:
[FAQ] Acer Aspire TimelineX & TravelMate (3820, 4820, 5820, 8372, 8472, 8572) - Âåðñèÿ äëÿ ïå÷àòè - Êîíôåðåíöèÿ iXBT.com (it's in Russian)


- AUO B156XW04 V0 (15.6 ") Aspire 8ms, 400:1
- LG LP156WH3-TLL1 (15.6 ") Aspire 16ms, 500:1
- Samsung LTN156AT11-A01 (15.6 ") Aspire 16ms, 500:1

It seems my display (AUO40EC) really is the AUO B156XW04 V0. Some people have the AUO33EC, which are the AUO B156XW03 V3 (03, version 3, hence 33).

Now I just need to find out if the LG and/or Samsung displays have inherently better qualities than my current one (very dim, pixelated).