UPDATE: Got laptop w/ an eng. sample CPU: replacement sent, will review in new thread

[mfenn]

Well that gets to the heart of the matter, innit?

- the XPS 15 line does offer an upgrade to a glorious 1080 RGBLED display: and the Anandtech review was gracious enough to give out the exact model of the display itself.

The Question is, would a layperson like myself (clearly I'm sitting but poor jokes aside) be able to:
- Obtain the display unit (yes)
- Take off the bezel (?)
- Replace the display (?)
- And upgrade the drivers so it'd function normally like a factory installed display?

I'd imagine that it's very doable if you get the right part and take your time. You probably won't need to do anything at the driver level, the display should advertise its modes similarly to the way a desktop monitor does.

 

[fffblackmage]

Does replacing the LCD panel affect the laptop's warranty?

 

[Schadenfreude]

I remember reading a thread a while back regarding dell laptops. This guy got upgraded from a 2 year old non-gaming laptop to an alienware MX15 purely because the machine they needed to replace had a hi res panel and he argued that with a laptop the screen is just about the most important part. Go back to dell and tell them you aren't willing to accept anything with a lower res than what you already have.

Let's recap for a moment here:
- I paid for a laptop with a fantastic display and so-so specs (1st gen Core-i3)
- I got a laptop with upgraded specs (1st gen Core-i5), just happens to be an ES unit
- I call Dell, who's willing to work with me and send me yet another upgraded system (2nd gen Core-i5 w/ upgraded GPU) that just doesn't have the display quality that I wanted.

. . . and you're saying that I should ask - wait, argue - for more?
I think I'm quite ahead of the curve already thanks. Don't want to push it too far.

I'd imagine that it's very doable if you get the right part and take your time. You probably won't need to do anything at the driver level, the display should advertise its modes similarly to the way a desktop monitor does.

AU Optronics B156HW1; I'll prolly have to look at/find out what tools I'd need to take the thing apart, though.

Does replacing the LCD panel affect the laptop's warranty?

I'm guessing yes.

 

[Schadenfreude]

New laptop shipped and is at the apt office: I won't be able to pick it up until tomorrow since I'm still at work and the office is closed; I will post a detailed thread w/ poll asking which one I should keep in a few days.

 

[Vincent]

Why can't Dell just send you a new CPU?

 

[Schadenfreude]

Why can't Dell just send you a new CPU?

You've got to be joking.

 

[mnewsham]

Yea, a new cpu would be retarded, a cpu is not classified as a FRU for technicians for laptops anyway let alone allow a customer to do it.

 

[Vincent]

You've got to be joking.

I wasn't joking, but I didn't realize that laptop techs weren't trained to replace CPUs. It really does appear to me that the best thing for Dell to do is to send a tech out with a replacement CPU for you.