M4800 Owner's Thread

Hi all. New to the forums here. I'm considering buying a refurbished m4800 on Ebay. Are either the CPU or the GPU replaceable for upgrades, or are they both soldered in, so I'd be stuck with what I got when I bought it?

 

They're both replaceable (socketed), but bear in mind that all the newer chips are soldered, so you can't replace it with anything newer than a Haswell. The GPU is an MXM 3a card (the smaller of the two MXM form factors).

 

Hello Precision experts,

My name is Luke and I recently bought a refurbished M4800 with FHD. I wish to replace / upgrade the screen because the image quality is average and it has a dead pixel. The stock panel is an Innolux N156HGE-L11 with the 40 pin connector (http://www.panelook.com/N156HGE-L11_Innolux_15.6_LCM_parameter_16512.html).

Could someone help me understand what all my options are for finding and buying a compatible replacement? I would like it to have a matte finish and be an upgrade to IPS or high gamut TN. Is there any way to guarantee the replacement I buy has absolutely no defective pixels? Also, what is the deal with screens described as 'compatible' in the aftermarket laptop parts scene?

Any help or insight here would be greatly appreciated.

Regards,
Luke

 

There are many panels that will work — mostly, any TN 1080p panel with a 40-pin connector that is located in a spot where it will physically connect to your mobo. If you search online or eBay you will find many compatible replacements.

The IPS panels in the Precision use a 50-pin connector and in the M4X00 series, your motherboard only has one display connector, so you won't be getting one of those without swapping out your motherboard as well.

(Actually I don't remember if M4800 ever shipped with an IPS display, but I know the M4600 and M4700 did. However, the requirement to swap out your motherboard also applies if you get one of the high-DPI displays now available in the M4800.)

As for guaranteeing no bad pixels, that would have to be specified as an agreement with whatever vendor you purchase the new display from.

 

The newer batch of m4800 had been upgraded to edp and equip with either IPS or AHVA panel. Your refurb come with the lvds version, which mean you are stuck with TN. I have no experience with the stock TN, but i heard they are above standard.

 

I own an M4800 that came with the stock FHD TN panel (made by LG). It was very poor and I'd describe it as sub-standard. There's only one possible replacement that I'm aware of; it's mentioned in my earlier post in this thread:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/m4800-owners-thread.736032/page-145#post-9928276

 

Hi guys and thanks for your respective comments.

I was getting the impression that I would be limited to a FHD TN panel, so thank you for confirming this. skriefal - were you able to source a genuine AUO B156HW01 v.4 with the matte finish and high colour gamut? HIDevolution do not seem to be selling any 15.6" panels at all at the moment. I should mention that I live in Australia. I am thinking my best bet is to get a local company to find me a compatible high colour TN replacement screen and check and guarantee it has perfect pixels. I would be happy to pay them for this.

Cheers,
Luke

 

Yes, I bought a genuine B156HW01 panel from HIDEvolution. It's a significant improvement over the stock LG panel.

Be careful with other panels. The screws or LVDS connector may be located at the wrong spots for use in an M4800.

 

I, too, would like to stress this point: Not just motherboard connector compatibility is in play. The panel has to be the right fit for the lid—with regard to side-mounting screws etc.
If I were to replace the panel, I would get the manufacturer’s specification for my current one, and for the one I would be considering as replacement, and I’d check that every significant outward parameter of these two panels matches. I can’t think of better pre-purchase due diligence than such approach.
Unless, of course, you’re buying a specific model that has already been confirmed as fitting your particular revision and variant of M4x00.

 

Currently the k2100m is the best video card option that the m4800 is sold with. Is it possible -- if one buys it separately -- to upgrade and swap in the higher level quadro video cards such as the k3100m, k4100m or k5100m? Or is the M4800 incompatible with those cards? I know you can get even the k5100m with the m6800 17-inch Precision, but I strongly prefer the 15 inch laptop.