Alienware 14 screen upgrade? help!

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AESkwhirl

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Jan 17, 2014
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I am thinking about buying an Alienware 14 laptop for 500 bucks. I like all the specs of the machine, except the resolution. It has a 1024x768, and it gets a little "muddy" around the edges of the screen. I looked online, and if you build an Alienware laptop in their website, it looks like you can put on a 1080 screen like an accessory. So it would seem to me that it can just be put on as needed.
So my question: Is it possible to put on a 1920x1080 screen on my Alienware 14? If it is possible , I plan on getting an Alienware 14 screen online and swapping them out myself. I just want to make sure this is possible before I go ordering stuff and what not. Any help would be awesome!
Oh and i saw a few other Alienware "14n" models, but according to the Alienware software, mine is simply the "Alienware 14."
Thanks so much!
 
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Yes, but they went from Alienware M14x to Alienware 14 when they released the new model. The models that were called "Alienware M14x" I am pretty sure all used LVDS, not eDP, for the display connection. You could get a 14" 1600x900 display for this, but not a 14" 1920x1080 display.

edit1754

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May 14, 2012
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I'm assuming this is indeed the LATEST Alienware 14, with the NVIDIA GT 750M/765M GPU.

The 14" 1920x1080 display used in the Alienware 14 is the same panel that's used in the Acer Aspire V7-482PG-6629, T440p, etc. which uses an eDP (Embedded Display Port) connector.

If the 1366x768 display in the base model is also using an eDP connector, you shouldn't run into any issues with nerfed cables preventing you from swapping in a 1920x1080-resolution eDP panel (as sometimes happens with LVDS cables). Heck, you'd probably be able to swap in that 14" 3200x1800 Sharp IGZO panel if you could get ahold of one. (edit three years later: The 3200x1800 display uses a 40-pin connector and the 1920x1080 uses a 30-pin)

Both of these displays *should* work (ignore the title of the page), but unfortuntely they're both currently out of stock.
- https://www.laptopscreen.com/English/model/HP-Compaq/ENVY%2014-K110NR%20TOUCHSMART%20ULTRABOOK/ (edit: Nope, only the 1920x1080 one, and that 3200x1800 one was a pentile panel not the true-resolution IGZO one)

Odds are you'll be able to find the 1920x1080 one elsewhere though. The AUO B140HAN01.1 panel is (the matte version of) the one you'd want.

Again, I can't guarantee that either will work, I'm just pretty sure they will.
 

AESkwhirl

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Jan 17, 2014
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Im also assuming this is the LATEST Alienware 14", the only thing that confuses me, is when I do a Google Search other model nubers pop up such as "x14" or "14 r2". The system info on the laptop simply says "Alienware 14" so that other stuff google returns makes me think this might be a model or 2 behind. But other than that, this is running a 1gig GT 750m, and an i7 4700MQ with 8gig of 1600mhz ram. So those specs seem pretty recent to me.
As far as the eDP connector though, I guess I should pull off the screen and visually check it out? though according to this http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-14-m14x/721583-official-alienware-14-owners-lounge-thread.html it looks like it is indeed eDP.

If it is possible to swap in a better screen, do you think that 750m can push a resolution of 3200x1800? If not, I could always turn that down in game.
Thank for the help though, if I am able to swap the screen out, this should be a solid buy, even if this is simply a backup/mobile gaming device!


**Quick edit** Oh I see, after more looking around i found that Alienware droped the X's and M's and whatnot because it was confusing people. So the Alienware 14 should be same as, say, an M14 r2.
 

edit1754

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Yes, but they went from Alienware M14x to Alienware 14 when they released the new model. The models that were called "Alienware M14x" I am pretty sure all used LVDS, not eDP, for the display connection. You could get a 14" 1600x900 display for this, but not a 14" 1920x1080 display.
 
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