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    Not sure now if i should go for Alienware 15 R1 or R2?

    Discussion in '2015+ Alienware 13 / 15 / 17' started by Kontralien, Jan 22, 2016.

  1. Kontralien

    Kontralien Notebook Enthusiast

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    I was ready to buy an Alienware 15 R2 either from the outlet or elsewhere, now after reading all the posts about the screen in the R2 being low quality it's kinda making me change my mind,

    I am wanting to get an i7 with Geforce 970m and FHD screen.

    Here's what i am looking at -

    Get an R1 - older processor etc but good screen.

    Get and R2 - newer processor and thunderbolt port but bad screen.

    I have also read that i can change the screen myself and at a fairly cheap price but wouldn't this void the warranty?

    I would like to hear from others and which option they went for.
     
    Kontralien, Jan 22, 2016
    #1
  2. iunlock

    iunlock 7980XE @ 5.4GHz

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    I would just go ahead with the R2 and change the screen for $40 bucks. It'd be well worth it.
     
    iunlock, Jan 22, 2016
    #2
  3. nickbarbs

    nickbarbs Notebook Deity

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    it takes all of 10 seconds to change the screen. i've done it like 2 times now. its also really cheap.

    No way is it a reason to get the old machine.
     
    nickbarbs, Jan 23, 2016
    #3
  4. iunlock

    iunlock 7980XE @ 5.4GHz

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    +1

    @nickbarbs, would you happen to know if a UHD panel would plug in and play into a FHD AW 15" R2 or 17" R3? Are the pin connectors the same? Would there be any software related updates that would need to be done for the FHD computer to recognize the UHD display?
     
    iunlock, Jan 23, 2016
    #4
  5. nickbarbs

    nickbarbs Notebook Deity

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    from what i've read, the UHD's ship with a different cable that is routed from the motherboard to the display bezel - they ship with a (Motherboard) 40-40 (eDP connector display) pin cable

    from what i understand ( i havent opened my actual laptop just the display bezel part) the FHDs ship with a different cable to the motherboard and its a (Motherboard) 40-30 (eDP connector display) pin cable

    So without opening the pc i'm 90% sure that if you're on FHD and you want a UHD upgrade, you'll need to buy a new display cable as well as the panel.
     
    nickbarbs, Jan 23, 2016
    #5
    iunlock likes this.
  6. rinneh

    rinneh Notebook Prophet

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    Can you give us some more details about it? Iam curious about the procedure.
     
    rinneh, Jan 23, 2016
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  7. Sacred_User

    Sacred_User Notebook Guru

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    I am also curious about how to go about this...I could use a brighter display.
     
    Sacred_User, Jan 25, 2016
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  8. con4n007

    con4n007 Notebook Guru

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    con4n007, Jan 25, 2016
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  9. Kontralien

    Kontralien Notebook Enthusiast

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    Thanks, going to wait for an R2 in the outlet, then either keep it for a year and then change the screen or if i feel like i can change it straight away, current screen i have is 200 nits so if anything the new one should be at 220 nits and slightly brighter.
     
    Kontralien, Jan 29, 2016
    #9