120Hz 3D Screen upgrade for Alienware 17 R1

I will just wait till I see proof the 980m can run 120hz and 3d on our machines, then maybe do a nice upgrade. I did overclock my 780m and got a bit of a boost... nothing near what a 980m can do though.

 

Not sure why you would say that...It may not stay at over 60 all the time but I frequently get over 60fps on BF4 on Ultra. Either way , I don't see the FPS drops so I really don't care. 60 is a number that does not really mean much unless you can see the difference. The worst part of BF4 for these cards is the smoke, or debris in the air when the towers come down, that eats the FPS and cuts it down by as much as 50% in a lot of maps...the coding is absolutely terrible.

 

I am pretty sure 3D is NOT coming on any of the new 980m machines , I don't think it is compatible yet.

 

Hi Mate

To be honest i haven't checked my fps for over 6 months... i just like the fluidity of the 120hz screen and it looks great, for most of my play i dont even know what the fps is. theres no stutter and its silky smooth and looks good and thats all im looking for.

 

NVidia don't even list 3D Vision as a feature the card supports

I'd still love a 120hz option but unless they get a LOT of requests I think we may all have to go aftermarket for a new model...

 

It really makes we wonder if they are going to axe support for it completely. I would be curious to see how many 3D packages are being sold in comparison to the number of laptops that could have the option.

Personally I don't use it for anything beyond movies any more but I am sure lots of people still use it for gaming.

 

Looks like IR board will be in next week, still looking for a cheap set of glasses though.

 

I got mine on eBay for about $25. The demo was very cool. The games I have tried (shadow warrior, one or two others), not so cool. I do like the clarity of the screen. My glasses don't seem to hold a charge very long.

 

That's odd...were they new ? Mine are still running on my original charge....granted I don't use them much but they are supposed to last 40 hours.

Every game is different with the 3DVision....Some games are really good ( Ex:BF3 and 4) and others are not (Ex: FF13 and League Of Legends). Movies are the really high point, especially animated stuff.

 

I'm not too sure.. Meaker confirmed that 120Hz 3D was working on the P570WM3.. Not sure about AW but 120Hz should defo work.. Whether 3D works or not I don't know...

 

Hello people!

How it is the availability of purchasing the cable + the proper screen for the A17 with a 880M from factory?

It is still possible or are still conflicts with the screen bios or revisions?

 

You'll have to call dell spare parts and ask them to sell to you.. It depends on whether they have stock...

 

And what about the screen?

Is curious that in the main post there is a Dell part number but not the proper model of the screen it self.

I found a retailer that has access to these screens:

You searched our screen site for : LTN173HT02

They are all "LTN173HT02" but different revisions..

LTN173HT02 C01

LTN173HT02 D01

LTN173HT02 D02

LTN173HT02 P01

Would be so cool if someone that has bought the 120Hz upgrade directly from Alienware and could point out the proper model and revision that DELL/Alienware is using in the A17 from 2014.

That would be to replace the screen in the A17 that came with the 860M and 880M video cards.

 

IR board is now in! one step closer

 

The Dell part number comes on all the aftermarket screens as well, it isn't put on there by Dell.

 

Are you saying that you are able to play 3D movies in 3D? I have not been able to find a player that will show them in 3D, so if you know of one, please share.

 

I just use Power DVD 13 I think is the version I have. It has 3D support for the disks as well as the files. I turn on my 3D , open Power DVD and tell it that I am watching a side by side file ( not needed if it is the proper disk ) and away I go. Works like a charm.

I heard heard others online claim that VLC will do it as well but I couldn't get it working in there.

 

Ok. I was talking about 3D Blu-Ray. I will try a DVD.

 

Powerdvd is just the name of the software, It plays blurays also. But, keep in mind power dvd is expensive, and last time I checked, you had to pay for the updates (each new version plays the newest blurays)

 

OK, having looked at the Cyberlink site, it says it will play Blu-Ray 3D. To be clear, I found a few products that would play, just not with 3D. From the description, it sounds like PowerDVD will play with 3D. I'm not sure I want to pay $60 plus update fees for a capability I will only use a few times a year (at most). I expect that at some point, the devs will figure out a way to do it with VLC. Thanks for the feedback.

 

Yeah I didn't pay for it...I obtained it by *cough* other means *cough* .....

If your wanting to own it legitimately then I think it is a nice piece of software, but it isn't a piece of software where they hand out updates, it is very much pay for a new one every year for a new version type thing,which I don't agree with.

 

Yeah, I never used it but both my R3 and R4 came with it as bundled software. AW used to put it on 3D models IIRC. A much better starting point, if it suits your needs, for paying for upgrades.

 

My m14xr2 came with powerdvd since I ordered it with a bluray drive... but I dont think I have ever actually used it. I always rip my blurays to a format I can watch on any of my computers.
I am more than willing to buy software, but powerdvd is a rip off in my eyes.

 

Just to close out the PowerDVD discussion, you can see here that you have to buy the Ultra version to get BD 3D (List: $224, Sale: $60). For that price, you are not entitled to upgrades. To get upgrades you pay $5/mo --- forever. To upgrade from one of the last two versions, you pay $40. What a bargain. FWIW, you can save a few bucks buying Ultra from eBay. There are probably more ridiculously priced apps out there, but this one is certainly a contender for the top spot.

 

I have a mid-13 Alienware 17. It came with the matte 1920x1080 screen that I don't think looks so good. I changed it out with a glossy 1920x1080 screen. The top half looks great and the bottom half is too bright. Overall I think it's now worse and will probably put back in the matte screen.
My question is this: I don't want 3D at all. I just want a screen that looks good. Can I buy the 3D 120Hz screen and just hook it up without the special cable that's so hard to find and use it like a regular screen? If not, is there another option (like maybe an IPS screen) that would work?
I should also mention I have the 3D compatible nVidia 860m w/2GB.

 

No probably not. The reason the other cable is needed is because it runs off of a different port in order to disable the Intel iGPU and if you don't disable that then the machine bricks when you attempt to power it up with the iGPU enabled and a 120hz screen because the iGPU isn't capable of 120hz. It may work IF you were to disable the iGPU and never enable it but I don't know and I wouldn't want to try it and find out it bricks your system. It sounds like the screen you got is defective TBH if half of it is brighter then the other half, have you thought of returning it and buying a different one? Just keep your eyes out for a cable OR if your in the USA phone up Alienware, lots of people have luck buying it from them for $9.99

 

Ok, thanks. Yeah, displaying an all black image there is really bad light bleed that covers the entire bottom half of the screen. I'm going to send it back and try again. The top half looks really good to me.

 

If I had to guess I would say you got a faulty LCD by all means if you can exchange it I would try again.

 

Anyone want to sell off thier old 60hz screens? I need 2 more for a project.

 

Hi I'm actually dealing with the upgrade after that I'll have a 60Hz spare screen for you..

 

I am holding onto mine just in case bad things happen one day to my current one

 

I just ordered the screen from Laptopscreen.com. I ended up using the part number LTN173HT02-D02. Hopefully it all works out.

 

Hope all goes well You will love the difference.

 

I just installed it and everything worked perfect. Man the screen is awesome compared to the original.

For those ordering the screen from LaptopScreen.com just used the PN#LTN173HT02-D02. They ended up sending me the new revision LTN173HT02-T02 instead and it worked perfect.

 

Glad to know it is up and running and glad you are seeing the improvement

I couldn't believe how much nicer that screen is compared to the stock 60hz. I mean the stock isn't bad by any means but this 120hz just destroys it.

 

Yeah, I'm wondering if I will be able to stand the downgrade on a new R2? I ordered the touch as it's glossy and Trulife so some of the quality improvements over the stock matte 60hz might be there.
I'll also try output from the AW R2 mini-DP to my R4 HDMI-in. Don't know what that will prove but fun to try .

 

I imagine the 120hz is gone with the new models then? I presume they have switchable graphics and unless Intel has overcome their iGPU short coming with not accepting the 120hz signal then the 120hz would never be an option

 

Story i keep seeing is that the panel makers are the deciding factor. If they had made a multi-sync 120hz all those problems could have been avoided.

ATM the demand for a 120hz panel is said to be low.

I like to hope the MB has the connections to use a 120hz panel but dell will want to save the 'new super duper' 120hz for the next generation? - and hopefully 1440 by then, hedging their bets maybe?

Since I'm probably going to have to do a full tear down it may be some time before I look. I might even try my R4 panel, but I'm not keen on cannibalising my baby .

 

I think some of reason maybe that like I discovered when I bought the benq 144hz monitor. It looks amazing and I don't think I have used the internal screen much recently. Best £280 I spent in a while and it 24"

I sort of got a little disappointed with my 120hz internal panel as I've still not managed to find one to exchange it for mine that had a number of stuck pixels



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Hi what was the full number on the back of the screen you took out?

Thanks

Ian


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Do you want the original 60hz model number Ian? I can pull mine out of the closet and look at it....

 

I didn't see it mentioned in the first post (and I hate the new naming system) does the new Alienware 17 with the 980 work with this 3d screen swap?

 

I don't think so, I don't think the 980m is 3D capable

Were not sure on the 120hz screen working without 3D support until someone tries...and being that this type of experimenting could potentially brick a system I don't know if we will find out any time soon. When you upgraded the screen in the R1 you had to change the LCD port but on the R2 they didn't make it 3D capable so that port presumably does not exist and if the Intel GPU is still a problem as it does not support 120hz then there would be no way to bypass that and the system could brick again

 

As mogrules says, not likely but it could work. A strip down to see if it has two video ports would be the decider. They may have put it in the circuit board design simply so it was an option for them to use?

When (IF) mine arrives one of my tests will be going DP-miniport to HDMI in on my R4. If it runs at 120hz (as I expect it to) then it's even more a possibility.

The latest iGPU may even be able to support a native 120hz display? it's all down to someone investing time and money

 

My original was a 60hz matte 1080p. AU Optronics B173HW02 V.1 (Dell p/n 0P9JNK).

 

980m should work just fine like a 970m. How I know? Because mine is set up that way right now . Not sure with windows 7 but in windows 8 with UEFI and Legacy disabled it's a mere plug n play. Instuctions was given me by someone who made it worked on their R4. Hope that helps.

Edit: Just re-read and if you want 3D actually and not just 120hz the only way is to an external monitor. Don't have an answer why just not yet that I have read.

 

Hi, congrats on the smooth upgrade.

You're correct about the 3D needing an external display, as well as the USB emitter, even though a 120hz model or full upgrade has one internally.

The bios has something titled '3D Certification' inside, a list of GPU's that are supported. If the GPU is not on this list the driver does not 'see' the emitter (even though it's in device manager') so no 3D or 3D TVPlay (but you can buy this as an addon ( http://www.nvidia.com/object/3dtv-play-14day-trial.html). You don't even get the 'discover' option to use a 60hz display and two colour glasses. A bios mod was asked about but it never materialised. I believe it's something to do with licensing. Dell have to pay NV to use the technology so they limit it to only GPU's they sell for a particular model.

The 980m does not list 3D Vision as a feature on the NV site if you look up the specs (unless they have changed it). I have seen two NV reps say this is an error and it (980m) does support 3D vision, so a 3D kit and 120hz external display should work - not seen anyone try it though.

HTH.

 

My 120hz screen developed a dead pixel for the second time, really thinking about just going back to a 60hz screen to be able to upgrade to the 980m. Shouldn't have a problem getting it exchanged through laptopscreens, any thoughts about giving up the 120hz to be able to upgrade the gpu?

 

I see you've upgraded your Alienware 17 R5 -i7 4710QM | GTX 970m | 512 SSD | 120hz Screen with gtx970m. How installed you gtx970m ? Did you do a few tricks to get the upgrade ? I have also the Alienware 17 R5 with 120hz 3d screen and want to upgrade to either gtx970 or gtx980m. Can you explain how you did the upgrade?

 

Finally got a perfect 120hz screen with no stuck pixels.....

laptopscreens.com now has an outlet in the UK... so i ordered one from there installed it yesterday and its perfect.. They have now allowed me to return the faulty screen i bought from the US to the UK facility for a refund...

cant say fairer than that, the screen did come with a 3yr warranty...

happy camper now...