120Hz 3D Screen upgrade for Alienware 17 R1

As long as you don't mind a crap keyboard, the new MSI GT72 2QD would work for you. G-SYNC IPS panel and all.

 

frack this waiting! boo!

 

My screen arrived, now just waiting for the cable.

 

so you just called dell for the cable? maybe i should do that too

I just updated the intel management engine firmware (not the drivers, the firmware) and it's now running a newer version.

 

BOO! dell doesn't have the part in stock....will try again in a week or two.

EDIT: I wonder if you can use a stock 60hz panel with a 3D cable plugged into the EDP port so you get 60hz but not optimus?

 

Ok, just installed the screen, it's working fine. Not matte, but not as shiny as past glossy screens I've had. I'll see if I can tolerate the glossy finish after a few weeks of use.

My current problems are two-fold:

1) I'm having trouble replacing the bezel, specifically the bottom part where it connects to the hinges. any tips?

2) Intel XTU is giving me errors related to graphics processor cache (likely due to it not detecting the iGPU). How do I handle this? Re-install XTU?

 

My system doesn't detect the 970M.

Just re-install, or is this another issue?

 

where you in dedicated or optimus mode before installing?

 

Hmm, probably optimus. I guess I should switch back to dedicated huh?

What's the hotkey combo for that again?

 

fn + f5 though i think you might need to reinstall.

 

Re-install what? The OS, or the drivers?

 

drivers sorry.

 

Yeah I already uninstalled them all using DDU. So I'll swtich to dedicated and try re-installing.

EDIT: System is already running in dedicated, Fn+F5 just gives me a message saying it's already running in the optimal setting.

 

oh ok did the drivers install ok?

 

Nope, going to try again, the screen just went black, had to do a hard-reboot.

 

oh. not good.

might need to uninstall the drivers before changing the screen.

 

So I re-started, ran DDU, then re-booted with driver signature disabled.

I can start installing the drivers but a bit of the way through, the screen goes black.

 

oh, so it just sits on a black screen or flashes?

 

The screen just goes black. Like blank, doesn't display an image at all. Requires a hard-reboot.

 

was it in optimus mode before installing the screen?

 

Probably yes

 

plug the 60hz panel back and see if it was. maybe...i'm sure someone has dealt with this.

I know IanC installed it and it works for them.

 

Well now it can detect the 970M, but it obviously doesn't have drivers installed.

Whenever I reboot, I get a blank screen, so I have to do a hard-reboot each time.

I really, relaly don't feel like putting the 60Hz screen back in, then taking it out and putting the 120Hz screen in again. Not worth the hassle.

 

Is this how it's plugged in on the board? this is IanC's pic btw.

 

Yeah

 

give IanC a PM and see if they can help cos it works for them and they have a 980M.

 

hi

first of all to put the bezel back on, fully open the lid as far as it will open. now place the bezel surround into the bottom of the screen and it will drop in place. now apply gentle pressure all the way around the bezel until its clicked into place all the way around.

thats it for that one.., next

what bios are you using?
what win version are you running
what mode are you running windows in?
when booting into bios is the Nvidia gtx gpu visible?

if you have it connected like the picture above then you have already disabled the on board graphics and running in dedicated mode,

im around all night i will help you...

 

did you do 980m first then screen or you had the screen first then just changed the GPU?

 

i did the screen first about 5 months ago, than a last week changed to a 980m..

im going to be selling my aw17 soon, just don't have time to use it, with having two small boys taking up my free time.. great times

 

I'm running Win8.1
UEFI bios, legacy rom disabled, secure boot disabled.
In the BIOS, the GPU is indeed detected.
All cables are connected properly
I re-steated the GPU just to be sure.

The screen works fine, it's when I install the modded drivers (with driver signature enforcement disabled) the screen goes blank after the windows prompt.

Also, the screen brightness controls don't work (I'm guessing due to the lack of drivers).

That being said, it's a beautiful screen. Crisp, very bright.

 

This is what happens after trying to install the driver (which requires me to do a hard-reboot since the screen goes dark).

 

When the driver isn't installed (after using DDU), HWinfo can still see the GPU, even though windows doesn't.

 

i'd still test with the 60hz screen to be sure it's not the card's fault.

 

I just tried it using the 60Hz screen. Card installs flawlessly.

So there's something about the 120Hz panel that is causing an issue. Not sure what it is.

If I just use the display without installing the drivers, all is well ( I used the EXACT same drivers when trying to install on the 60Hz vs 120Hz). But once I try to install the modded drivers (which I know work because they install just fine on the 60Hz) it just gets wonky.

 

try a new install of windows.

 

Didn't help, same issue with the screen going blank after installing the drivers.

There's something about the 120Hz screen that's is messing up the drivers for the GPU. If I don't install the drivers, it works fine.

 

Hi. Couple of things, first have you tried just swapping the display with a working driver installed? You should not need to remove or install a working driver. I've even swapped out the GPU and remained on the existing driver without any problems (except resolution needing setting).

Second, do you have a monitor you can plug in and try the install? I have heard of a problem where the driver switches to a non-existent monitor. You might be able to switch it back with a monitor connected?

Good luck.

 

Not really. When I first installed the screen, I didn't un-install the driver. But I was running in optimus mode on my 60Hz screen, so going into dedicated kinda messed things up anyway.

I thought about this, and it turns out this did indeed happen. I connected via Google Chrome remote desktop, and was able to complete the installation. When the driver started installing, the screen goes blank and it switches to a weird non-existent monitor with a really small resolution, but via remote desktop you can still see.

However, completing the installation this way and re-booting leads to the same result - the GPU is turned off by Windows due to a problem.

 

maybe it's the connection between the panel and the cable on the back of the panel?

 

anyone know what the small white connector is for on the 3D/120hz cable?

 

the white small connector its for the 3D emiter that its absent by default in the non-3D 120Hz panels that we bought

So you'll be able the connect it to the motherboard.. but not to the other side. Only if you buy the 3D-emitter. Anyways is only compatible with up the 880m, not the Maxwell 970/980m.

I've recommend you the take care how you turn the white connector next to the webcam..as being loose I've almost broke it with the front plastic screen cover.

 

oh ok so i don't really need to connect the white plug since it won't work.

 

Exactly

 

I seriously wonder if you can connect a 60hz panel with the 3d cable into the edp port? So ppl get 60hz and no optimus.

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk

 

Success!

Turns out it was just the driver I was using that was messed up. Downloaded 353.06 straight from nvidia, got the modded .info from @thegh0sts (courtesy of j95) and boom - new panel.

Now, how do I "enable" 120Hz? When I turn vsync on, it locks my FPS at 60.

 

see if you can grab find this dialog box:



it should say 120hz.

what games did you try?

 

Fixed thanks. 120Hz now!!

 

finally it works! i knew it LOL

now i just have to wait till my cable comes HAHAHA

i think it might be time to ditch the 60hz panel then

 

Ran a calibration using Sypder4Express

sRGB: 99%
NTSC: 74%
AdobeRGB: 77%

Samsung LTN173HT02-P01

 

Hello Ramzay,

Nice number for a TN panel

Are you experiencing ' dead pixels, bruises or some white back bedding' with these LTN173HT02-P01 panels?

Happy you could sort out the cable and driver installation with your 970m

ps: About the cable on the right lid hinge.. I know what you mean. Just try to press the hinge with the lid being close. If that doesn't help you'll have to open everything up and be careful how you map the cable to not make much pressure around the hinge when you close the lid.