Sager laptop screen

I have a two year old who decided to take a ball point pen to my laptop screen. It is trashed. I need to replace it, however xotic and sager both want to charge me well over $400 to replace it. That said, I can replace the screen myself but I'm just not sure about the replacement screens. Do I need to buy the exact model and manufacturer of screen that was used when mine was built?

Sager gave me a couple of makers and models that they could replace it with but I just want to get some outside perspective.

It's a 17.3"

The two models and makers I was given were:
Chimei N173HGE-L11 and AUO B173HW01

Any thoughts or advice is very welcome.

ETA: it is a NP9170

 

Only a few specifics really matter:

• cable type············LVDS, 2 channel, 6-bit
• connector pin count···40 pin
• connector location····bottom left
• backlight type········WLED

(And out of those four the pin count can be adapted downwards, location can be amended with an extender cable and even a CCFL backlight system can be adapted to support WLED. Note that resolution and size are irrelevant; the cable type and pin count deal with that.)

Errr ... right, sorry; these 11 models will all fit straight off, provided the connector's bottom left. Chances are they're all bottom left, it's the most common type, but check this when buying. Actually, there are about a dozen more that would fit, but I've skipped the really awful ones.

Do be aware that not all screens are created equal and what you're likely buying is "compatible", which means any one of about 20 models. If you just want a new screen; fine. If you care about quality (contrast, colour, blacks et al); do research and order a used model, it's the only way to be certain you get what you ordered.

And $400 is ... well ... let's just say a new screen is $100 max. and it takes ~15 minutes to swap .

 

"Errr ... right, sorry; these 11 models will all fit straight off, provided the connector's bottom left. Chances are they're all bottom left, it's the most common type, but check this when buying. Actually, there are about a dozen more that would fit, but I've skipped the really awful ones."

Thanks for your help, I'll check out the link and likely get lost for a while and then figure it out. I looked for prices on the panels you linked but I didn't see any. I'm assuming I have to contact the poster.

 

If you liked the screen that was already installed you can take it out now and see if there is a model number on the back of it. You'll need to remove it anyway.

 

Or use HWiNFO:



This doesn't work for all laptops though, some system builders choose to replace the manufacturer's number with their own inventory number, which is not terribly helpful. Clevo, thankfully, does not do this (think they buy up leftover stock; cheaper).

These aren't that difficult to find, I'd hope (it's one of the most common types):

1. B173HW01 V0
2. B173HW01 V4
3. B173HW01 V5
4. B173HW02 V0
5. B173HW02 V1
6. LP173WF1-TLA1
7. LP173WF1-TLA2
8. LP173WF1-TLB5
9. LP173WF1-TLC1
10. N173HGE-L11
11. N173HGE-L21

Automated that , looked up a few; saw one for $48.

Unfortunately knowing your current model and actually receiving that same model is practically impossible, unless you buy a used screen.

Thing is, sellers list 'xx" LCD for model_xyz' or specify 'model_xyz or compatible'. This may seem semantic, but it's not; customers remove their broken screen, pen down xyz and proceed to order xyz, yet they'll receiver a compatible, fitting screen but with different part nr. than what they asked for and, naturally, want to return the device. Technically a compatible is fine, and may even be better than what they had, but many models have been discontinued or sold out, so the seller has a point (and the for and or is merely to prevent "item-not-as-specified" returns). But if you do want a specific model (because you've done your homework) rather than compatible (a lottery, really) you'd ask explicitly "xyz only" or buy used. Usually take that last option as it's both cheaper and the only way to be 100% certain it's the model you want.

 

I have seen sellers list compatible just as you have mentioned. But some will also list that it is the exact model you will get. Good advice to specifically ask the seller what they offer before placing the order.

 

Hutsady you actually helped me quite a bit when I bought this said Sager notebook. I had a great experience with Xotic, I wasn't hacking on them earlier, I just know I can replace the screen myself and save $$$.

t456- I don't care whether it's exact or compatible, but I've had my issues with saying something is compatible when it really isn't. Thank you for clarifying and I appreciate the links. I promise I don't normally require this much hand-holding but I haven't had to do this before.

 

The 17.3" AUO v5 is the glossy 90% gamut display which is one of the best 40pin 17.3" panels.

 

I actually prefer the matte finish just for the glare factor, I'm messaging the seller's to see if I can specify.

 

Sellers usually have both glare and matte. It comes down to if they have exact models of the one you want.