How hard to replace laptop screen?

[Blue_Max]

I have the option to straight-trade my perfectly working HP workstation for an MSI Ghost gs60 with better processor and vastly faster 970M gaming video... but the display is broken or won't turn on or something.

How difficult is the repair job for this one? I've been a desktop tinkerer for >25 years, so I might be able to do the job myself if it's not ridiculously complicated. This also assumes the problem is only the screen, not the motherboard connector?

I'd be gaining ~5x the video performance making gaming awesome... IF I can repair it without breaking the bank.


What'cha think? Easy repair? Hard? Good/bad idea?
Thanks, gang.

 

[JWade]

not hard at all, replaced dozens of screens, usually less than a dozen screws total involved

 

[fralexandr]

most of the difficulty is having the tools to disassemble the laptop, and knowing where the clips are.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2ZicdFEn9o
a review on replacing the hdd. He takes apart most of it, so it should give you an idea of what's needed to replace the display.

 

[Ketchup]

Same model, different size. Screen replacement:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnobCJi1wLs

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Replacing the screen is pretty straight forward. The part that gets tricky is if you have to replace the back light.

 

[Ketchup]

Blue_Max, just make sure you test the laptop with an external display before you buy.

 

[Blue_Max]

Same model, different size. Screen replacement:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnobCJi1wLs

Yeek! That and the full disassembly guide were pretty nasty. Not impossible, but since the problem could be the screen, whole top half, or the motherboard connector, it's a pretty bad gamble.

Blue_Max, just make sure you test the laptop with an external display before you buy.

The trader didn't seem to keen on that either so I'm pretty much against the deal now. Pity... that 970M would be a dream during the downtime at my posting!

Thanks for your advice, everyone.

 

[Ketchup]

Good for you. I mean, sorry it couldn't work out, but a laptop with a busted screen and can't test other functionality? sheesh.

 

[Blue_Max]

Heh... the guy doesn't seem to be having any luck selling it so he's now willing to do a straight trade. If he comes to my place and I can test it on an HDMI display I think I'll go for it. The 970M, even if I can't repair the screen, will make a great portable gamer for my posting and at home - better than the Alienware Alpha's 860M by a long shot.

Best of all, I can dump my 10-15 pound monster laptop and get something small and light. New Intel IGP's are getting so much better - the Iris Pro 6200 is very close to the Quadro 3000M I'm using now!

 

[Ketchup]

Yeah, if it tests well, go for it! If nothing else it's a very portable computer with several connection options.