Why Alienware used LVDS instead of eDP?

I've just noticed that my m15x has a standby eDP connection when tearing it down. Just wonder why they didn't use it and ended up using LVDS
https://1drv.ms/i/s!Ar7JYD8GKrrP-mhggHswRBE_G5Xe
p.s: How much will it cost replacing the full hd LCD? Mine was died yesterday while playing game

 

Yeah, it would have been nice because the newer cards are now using edp instead of lvds. Looks like they may have planned to use edp during the design stage but scrapped the idea for production, maybe because the panels they went with were lvds.

Are you sure your display died while gaming? I would guess that the graphics card may be dead and the display may be fine. Do you have another graphics card to test with?

Anyway, you can probably get a new complete assembly for around 100 dollars nowadays. Just ask the seller to confirm that it is indeed the 1080p panel. There's a sticker on the back of the panel that will say either "FHD" which is 1920x1080 or "HD+" which is 1600x900. Make sure the seller sells you the FHD by confirming the label is correct because I ordered an FHD panel once and was sent the HD+ panel instead.

 

I'm sure that's a monitor related problem since it still able to boot into Windows and I still able to use the projector through D-SUB cable. Not to mention that before that happen, the screen was already in the stage like this (but not that much, just some slightly gray bars)

update: I've noticed that when I turn on the machine and boot into Windows, the OS drive always loading (as seen on the power button led) Is that a sign of faulty GPU or something else?

 

You could try another LVDS cable or inspect the cable to make sure it is secured on both ends. There may be a cut in one or more of the wires inside the cable assembly. This usually happens at the hinge area. That pic above looks like an issue with the backlight.

Not sure about the hard drive loading. It could be several things like processes running in the background such as updates, virus scans, etc. If you want to check the health of the hard drive, you can download the free version of HDTune or pretty much any software that reads S.M.A.R.T info from a hard drive.

 

I don't think that are background processes since I use SSD, there wasn't any time that it acts like that, until now.
Besides, it only happened after the BSOD screen after I installed EVGA PrecisionX. Co-incident?

 

Bad news: I can't find any Full HD screen available on ebay, could you please help me on finding one? I'm very desperated now

 

I'm a bit late to the party, but here's a link to some compatible screens. https://www.laptopscreen.com/English/model/Dell/ALIENWARE 15 R3/ . Keep in mind that you are limited to 1080p screens because your board is using an LVDS connector. Alienware/Dell likely cheaped out and put LVDS connections in there for 1080p laptops and only installed an eDP connector on 4K 15R3's. Saves them a few cents to manufacture it and they can swim in the sweet sweet profit margins because you have to pay $500 more for a 4K version of the laptop instead of just buying a 1080p version and installing a $100 4K panel of your choice.

 

Someday somebody will try to solder eDP connector to M15x's motherboard.... ^_^

 

Wrong forum.

 

Nein, just explaining why that eDP connector spot is unpopulated.

 

Those screens you linked will not work in an M15X. Keep in mind that this forum is for the older M15X which was sold around 2009-2011. The Alienware 15 is an entirely different laptop.

 

Not likely. Even though the socket traces seem present there is no guarantee that they lead anywhere once a connector has been soldered. A far more certain fact is the DP port. It "might" be possible for some whizz kid to retro fit it to eDP but this is beyond most users capability.

Then there is my idea see other thread

 

Any idea if it does work, and someone were to solder the right port; that the HD5830m would support edp? (or 6870m)
I've got the skills to solder the port, but I'd need to find an edp screen or adapter.

 

Yeah even a 240M would output eDP. No one knows for sure so you would be the first to find out. Fairly certain however that it may not be connected to anything so the port could be effectively dead even if soldered correctly. A safer bet is to try my ideas and mod DP to LVDS conversion. This is guaranteed to work technically and if you have the skills you can probably creatively get around the issues of placement for the conversion board and perhaps even tap into a more accessible power source.

Then of course post a guide on here

 

Thanks; I'll see if I can scout out the right socket to solder

 

If you are somewhere local I am happy to contribute a M15x board to practice on. The one condition would be that I can have it back if it is a success

Local meaning Europe? I really hope you can make this work. If there is any laptop that is worth upgrading it is the M15x. It is like the classic mercedes of laptops. Built like a tank and tough as old boots.