Alienware 17 R1 w/ 8 bit color 120Hz/5ms panel N173HHE-G32 Success!

Hi all! Little story to tell.

Back in late November I decided to make my self an experiment...to try one of those super famous 120Hz/5ms 8bit color matte panels; in our A17 R1.
Well doing some research in other forums (and google )I could find out that the popular panel it self part# is N173HHE-G32 BUT that comes with a eDP connector of only 30pins.
As we all know our laptop has (if we use the 120Hz TrueColor screen) an eDP cable with an ending on a 40pin connector, which lend me to think al these years that was never possible to install... but thanks to my old friend t456 who explained me: "You should try it out, what's important it's not the cable or the eDP revision/version it self, just if they match they should work"
Then I argued: "Nahh I don't think so, my laptop is an almost 6 years old system..."

I was wrong!!! For my surprise the panel does work!!! It's just the 'mountings' are not prepared to hold the panel as they don't match the A17 R1 frame.

Anyways with some creativity and 'inclining' the top of the laptop almost full to the back, I could rest the new panel without being properly install. Then I just turn on the laptop and well.. just have to say that the colors are incredibly amazing. I've used it for almost a week playing all my fav games and movies in such beautiful colors, contrast and a nice matte panel! my gosh still remember those reds!

Then I've contacted the manufacturer, which is Innolux Chimei, to source for information about the panel.

I've sent them an email saying something like this:
" Hi Innolux/Chi Mei team,
Recently I came across the excellent TN screen of your model N173HHE-G32Could you please explain me the differences between the 3 Revisions and their eDP connectors presentations (I know there 30 pin and 40 pin right?) I just want to give a quick update to say the N173HHE-G32 P&P CMN1747 Rev C1 "40 Pin" version, works with Alienware 17 R1 2013 Haswell model. Just the mounting frame does not work. Typing from it already. The 120Hz works and the colors and contrast are awesome, maybe the vertical viewing angles are not the best. Great panel for sure. It has excellent colors and contrast but I could find there are at least three "revisions" of this panel:
N173HHE-G32 Rev. C1
N173HHE-G32 Rev. C2
N173HHE-G32 Rev. C3

Could you explain me the differences in withing those revisions?
Looking forward to hear back from you.
Best,
One of your fans (Nomad) "

Some manager did answer back with some other people in copy, saying something to please give me the information I was asking, but then that employee never came back.

As I didn't have any response, I decided to create a poll to find out and test how is the interest of the community into communicate the manufacturer (Innolux-Chimei) or other laptop brands (e.g: Eurocom, to push this 'official' upgrade) to create a revision, of this beautiful panel, with the proper mounting and placing of the PCB circuity for our beloveds A17 R1

SO GUYS WHAT DO YOU THING OF THE BEAST OF MACHINE THAT WE ALL HAVE NOW!

You can see some pictures here:
https://imgur.com/a/EjS5K

@Ashtrix @MogRules @Mr. Fox @TheReciever @Striker1234 @loafer987 @EepoSaurus @t456

 

Wow thats really sweet. The screen is sexyness.

 

I am really interested in trying this out on my unit as well. It would make for the last item to upgrade I think for my machines future.

 

It'll bump your ranger to a D bust size for real.

 

The screens are about 120 USD the issue becomes finding stock for them in the states but if you extend to ebay you can find some suppliers in iirc the UK.

So really its not a huge expense, just comes down to if you can get it secured in the monitor shell in a clean fashion and seal it all up.

 

I'm in the UK so tempted to pick one of these up - @Nomad I couldn't really tell from your pictures, could the panel be made to fit by cutting off the additional tabs and somehow attaching the original Alienware brackets? Or is it completely different?

Javers

 

Yeah I couldnt quite tell because of the low lighting

 

Exactly! That's the idea I had in mind... just to cut the new "holders' and place the whole panel into an old original frame of a AW17 panel.

Sorry for the low light pics but were taken in early December in north of EU (at 4pm was already dark )

 

100% sure ONE revision is the 3ms panel.
Does the GT73VR version use the 30 pin or 40 pin connector for this panel?

 

In Eurocom (http://www.eurocom.com/ec/upgrade(2,263,0)Alienware_17) there is a 3K option for our Alienware...
I'm not sure of it...

@Eurocom Support could you please confirm if this display works for us? is 3K @120Hz?

 

May someone try this one?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/17-3-3D-LE...ware-M17-R4-QHD-120hz-P-N-JYWWF-/372017154836

 

Probably have a faster response out of woodz

 

I've doubt will work. The key here is to try N173HHE-G32 WITH 40pin connector version NOT the 30pin one.

 

3k 120hz panel doesn't exist.
Unless you mean 2560x1440 @120hz.

What is "3k" anyway?

 

2880x1620 iirc

Either way, not really desired for me personally.

 

3K is known by the resolution 2880 x 1620, some brands sell their laptops this way: