HP 9470m Ultrabook Upgrade LCD

Hello All:

Our organization purchased several of these laptops from HP and I wanted to share the LCD screen technical specs with you:

This machine is fantastic in every way; except the screen is horrible. It is a 1366*768 low end Chi Mei TN LCD Panel. The exact manufacturer LCD panel is the Chi Mei N140BGE-LA2, which has only a 45 degree viewing angle from LR and only 20 degree for up and down. With the screen only being 3mm in depth, finding a better quality aftermarket LCD is challenging. HP is shipping a 1600x900 version of this laptop in mid March 2013, but it also appears to have another horrible screen. Chi Mei makes a few 1600x900 LCDs, which all have bad specs.

My assumption is the new model will have a 1600x900 N140FGE-EA2 panel. This uses the same 40pin connector and has the same physical location on the back of the laptop screen as the 1366x768 model. This has higher resolution, but also terrible viewing angles. LG and Samsung also make 14" 1600x900 panels, but their physical dimensions and depth don't fit this laptop's frame.

What I love about the folio is it is an upgradable ultrabook. You can even have an mSATA SSD as your boot drive and also use the 500GB drive it comes with for data, or add a standard SATA SSD for more internal storage. But this screen sucks.

I wanted to start this thread to see if anyone could come up with screen upgrade ideas that might fit this machine. Because HP sure isn't listening.

 

Are there any ultrabooks that have a good matte screen at this lower resolution? I wear glasses and can see fine with them, but no way would I be comfortable with 1600x900 on a 14" screen. Sure I'll take 4k on a 12" ... if the OS could scale it nicely. Windows does not.

 

@lakorai do you have an update to share with us? I have the same problem... Thanks

 

I have this display currently, and while going from a 17" dreamcolor on my old HP Elitebook Mobile Workstation to this is a real step back, the mobility and everything else is to die for. The 1600x900 display is okay, granted I am always adjusting the screen for a better viewing angle. I still really like the 16x9 hundred pixel density, it all works and looks great.

 

I'm also interested in an update...or at least a source/part number for the proper 1600x900 screen.

I had an Asus UX31A from Best Buy and had warranty issues. Today, Best Buy offered to replace the machine with a newer UX31A. But the newer UX31A has Windows 8, which I don't want. I also was put-off by the build quality of the Asus and wasn't too keen on getting another.

Best Buy offered to order a Elitebook Folio for me and I accepted. It comes with Win 7 and I like the expandability. But while I was in the store, I didn't realize it has a low-res 1366 x 768 screen. I'd buy a 1600x900 screen on my own if I knew what to get.

Any help is appreciated.

TIA.

Tipsy

 

I also bought the low res version and looking at several upgrades:
1. 16GB memory
2. Replace 180GB SSD with 1TB 5400rpm Data Disk. These are 9.5mm whereas the SSD is 7mm. Not sure this will fit....
3. mSata 256GB SSD OD disk
4. Screen..... the most important upgrade.

For HD+ aka 1600x900 screens these seems te be the options:
- N140FGE-EA2 panel (see above) from Chi-mei: specs
- Here AUO B140RW02 is mentioned which seems a better option.

But I am interested in a 1080p screen upgrade. Same site mentions AUO B140HAN01.
This seems like the only 14"Full HD screen in production since Q1 2013. But I cannot find a seller yet... and spec...

 

ok, bad news.

Original the poster mentioned, N140BGE-LA2, has 40-pin LVDS Bottom Right Connector, 3.05mm thick.

The suggested original 1600x900 N140FGE-EA2 does NOT seems to be the right one. The spec states 30-pin Edp connector...
Or perhaps HP has another cable for this version...

The 2 AUO screens :
1600x900: B140RW02: Seems possible: 3.6mm think, lvds 40 pin Bottom Right, diag 354.95, active 309.6x174.15. Its bit thicker... but if it fits it might just work
1080p: B140HAN01 3mm thick but EDP connector.... bah...

So, if eDP (30-pins) is not compatible with LVDS (40-pin), the AUO seems best at the moment.

Comments?

 

My only comment is I hope someone smarter than me figures this out

Tipsy

 

This is the replacement 1600x900 screen from Laptopscreen.com.

I believe it's equivalent to the factory 1600x900, which I haven't seen in person, but it will be a plug and play replacement.

Tipsy

 

Indeed. I saw that too. I emailed them for an 1080p replacement. See what they say

 

ok, here is the feedback.

To my question concerning a 1080p screen, the reply was:

"It is not possible to install screen with 1080p in this laptop since screens with 1080p does not exist in this shape"

next question: The 1600x900 screen from HP has some very bad feedback on the internet and seems to be from Chimei.
Do you have a better alternative?

reply: "We send compatible screens for this model (AUO in glossy and LG in MAtte versions (not CMO). If you prefer exact substitute, leave a message on checkout in notes for us."

So they work with a glossy AUO and matte LG screen. I am going to order the LG version.
I am guessing its a LP140WD2-TLE1 or LP140WD2-TLE2.
These are 250 bright, 400 contrast, 3.4mm thick.
The LP140WD2-TLG1 has beter specs but is a glossy version it seems.

When I have a screen and its working, I will share it here.

 

Great! Thanks very much!

Tipsy

 

hmm, i got an email from them:

"We have received your order and have noted that you are attempting to upgrade your current laptop's screen resolution.
We do not recommend upgrading or downgrading screen resolution, as it can cause issues with the video card or pin connector cable assembly.

Different resolutions require different signals from the video card, if you change resolutions the signal will not come throught the pin connector correctly and the image will appear pixelated or will have vertical lines throughout.
There is also the possibility that the video card will burn out due to the constant output of a higher resolution signal.
Please speak with your manufacturer regarding upgrading your screen as it is likely there are other parts that will need to be upgraded as well.

Your order is on hold until you respond to this support ticket.
We wish to make it clear that if the higher resolution screen you have received does not display correctly and you wish to exchange or refund the screen at that time, you will be responsible for return shipping (as well as the shipping back to Netherlands in the event you wish to exchange the item).."

not sure what to do next....

The video adapter should be able to handle the resolution, because the same one is used in the HP's with 1600x900. Its the intel built in the cpu. The remaining question is whether
the connection between the video adapter and the screen is capable if transmitting the signal without damage... and if i will need another display cable perhaps...

Has anyone heard of someone upgrading his elitebook with a higher resolution display?

 

The elitebook 8460p also seems to need another display cable. HP has 2 parts, one for the HD screen, one for the HD+.
See here.

So in that support manual (part 6b) you can clearly see HP picturing the display cable and listing 6 possible cable kits for that laptop.

Now, for the folio, here and here you can see the parts.

Am i blind or is this laptop missing a display cable????

One page 1 thay state "Supports low voltage differential signalling (LVDS)" in general. So it appears... no special part is needed,

on the other hand its strange the display cable is not mentioned.

 

see here, i posted a question regarding the lvds cable part on HP's forum.

It turn out a screen update will be difficult if not impossible.

Screens up till 1366 resolution can function with a 1-channel. But higher resolutions will need 2 channel lvds connection.
In most cases, a laptop with up-till a 1366 720p screen will be sold with a 1ch diplay cable and a 1 channel screen.
If you upgrade your screen to HD+, it will be a 2 channel.

In order to function, you minimally will also need a 2-channel cable which uses all 40 pins. A 1 channel cable can be 30 pins but also 40 pins of which not all are used.

In our case, the Folio is supplied with a 40 pin cable of which 10 pins are used for the webcam.
So i cable connects to our laptop (40 pins) and on the other end it has 2 endings. 1 is for the webcam, and another 40 pins connector for the screen.

I cannot imagine a way to make a 2 channel screen work here. Also, HP does not list a HD+ compatible cable.
I think that the HD+ version of this laptop has a distinct webcam cable....

 

Since HP has the option for the HD+ and as the service guide does not specify a specific cable, I guess it works. I might give it a try when I'm back from vacation.

 

Well I took a shot at it and bought the LG LP140WD2TLG1 (The glossy 1440x900 LCD) and it worked..... with vertical black lines running north and south on the display. Windows did recognize it for the correct resolution and the motherboard definitely has a dual channel output... it's just that the LCD cable going to the LCD screen is not a 2 channel cable.

When I get back to work Monday I'm going to test the screen on one of our stock 1440x900 Folios. I'll see if I can come up with a part number for the cable. It appears it is one part that also has the webcam cable.

The LCD screen quality (on the LG) is far superior to that garbage that HP ships it with..... HP always manages to screw something up with their machines as a result of cheap upper level management that is interested in nothing but cost cutting. The problem is that you take a great laptop like the Folio and tarnish it with a junk display; and the display is on of the most important parts of the machine and then people go out and buy a Mac or a high end Lenovo.

If a Chinese 7" HiSense $150 Android tablet can have a 720p IPS display then at least HP can start shipping their laptops with at least good quality TN panels with better viewing angles (I'[m talking over 100 degrees, not this 45 degree nonsense). They can make them; their LA2405X 24" business LCD is a very good TN panel and their ZR2440W is a fantastic IPS monitor....

Now we just need to find that HP part number...

 

Any progress ? I am interested - I have the 1600x900 screen, but the HP screen is still very bad

 

Works great. I installed it in the HD+ version of a 9470m that was going to go to an employee and it works awesome. The color clarity is much, much better. The glare is a big high though, but I knew that going into this proposition. The pin cable connection on the motherboard is identical on the HD and HD+ versions of these machines; the only difference is they didn't include the 2 channel cable.

I am working with our HP representative to get the part number for the HD+ screen. I'll keep you posted.

 

Hi, i'm interested, any feedback please ?

 

Looks like HP finally responded to the correct part number. It appears, at least according to HP, that the part is included as part of the antenna kit:

HP part for HD+ Display cable kit not available for Eliteboo... - HP Support Forum - 2613959

From amazon this appears to be about $30.

There is also a whole kit with the back panel, hinges, cables etc.

702842-001

Amazon.com : HP 702842-001 Display panel support kit - Includes WLAN antenna cables with transceivers, : Electronics

I'm going to give the cable kit a shot and will post pictures when it arrives. If this indeed the correct part number I am going to inform our HP rep that they need to correct their part page to reflect that the cables.

 

Well I got some bad news folks....

I took the machine apart and examined the cables that came with the antenna kit. It appears that the Folio 9470m models with the HD+ (1600x900) screens use a different motherboard than the models with the 1366x768 displays. The LVDS connector on the webcam portion and the LCD portion are identical, but the part that connects to the motherboard is indeed different..... The connector for the model with the HD+ display is longer and has many more pins.

I am returning the cable kit today to HP for a refund and I will be selling the LCD panel I purchased. It was worth a shot, though I am out a little bit of money on this one.

Now I see why it took HP so long to come out with the HD+ version of this laptop; they poorly engineered the 1366x768 model to use a different connector for the LVDS/Webcam cable, thus requring them to completely re-eingneer the motherboard for the 1600x900 model.....

HP needs to get some better engineers and better upper level management

 

Thanks for doing all that research and experimenting lakorai. Too bad those systems can't be upgraded.

Do you think a newer 9470m with the HD+ (1600x900) display would be upgradable to a Full HD (1920x1080) resolution? What display manufacturers / part numbers may work? I might want to try some experimenting with my HD+ system.

 

that's really Bad for us...
It' s a great notebook but that ldc screen looks like a really cheap one.
is there any screen that is compatible (same resolution i mean) but high end lcd ?

 

hi 9470m guys,

I might pick up a used 9480m at a great price. Just curious if any of you here had FAN NOISE issues with the 9470m and found a fix for it?

Did HP warranty service swap out any hardware to fix the awful fan noise?

thanks guys!

 

Hi,

I tried to upgrade a 9480m that was delivered with the HD screen to an HD+ panel. According to the maintenence guide and part list the 9480m does not have different cables for the screen, so I thought it is likely to work. The original screen was a N140BGE-LA3 Rev. C1 and the replacement is a N140FGE-LA2 Rev. C2

Unfortunately the HD+ screen does not work. The backlight is on, but it does not show anything. Do you have any ideas where the problem could be?

best regards, Jörg