I need to replace the 4k display panel in 7710

[ygohome]

Hello,

 

On one of our 7710 4k laptops, the internal display quit working when we plugged it into AC adapter.  The laptop was already on, running on battery, when we plugged it into AC adapter.

 

When we did that, a 2" wide vertical black bar appeared, top to bottom, near the left side of the display.  At first we thought it was just a weird driver issue and so we rebooted.  It was running solely on the M5000M, not integrated at that time.

 

On bootup the display remained black, no DELL logo splash screen.  It was backlit at edges, and flickered and displayed lines in a plaid pattern (not as a test pattern).  Then it went all black again (still backlit).

 

We connected laptop to an external 2560x1440 display using mDP, but no image on the external.  I rebooted again, and although I couldn't see what was happening because no image on internal or external, I assumed it was at the Win10 Login lock screen.

 

I pressed FN+F8 four times:  (Internal -> Duplicate -> Extened -> External Only) and then I could see with Windows Lock screen on the external display.  That tells me the m5000m GPU is probably good, right?  

 

- Solution?  I think I need to replace the 4k display.

 

I havn't found the panel for sale online yet.   Any recommended sellers or parts suppliers you recommend for best panels?  I plan to order this exact same panel, as would be obvious because I don't want to introduce unknown problems.  This is a laptop we use everyday for business and it is fully backed up each night. (full image backups of both NVMe drives).

 

I printed out the Dell Precision 7710 Owners Manual which details (with images) how to Remove and Install all components. 

 

Display Part #s from hwinfo:

DELL P/N: 2RCX9

Monitor Name: AU Optronics B173ZAN01.0

 

 

 

 

 

How hard is it to do a display replacement in a 7710?  It doesn't look terriblly difficult and I'm pretty good at this sort of thing, but I've never replaced a laptop display before (I've replaced heatsinks, display assembly, etc., but never a display panel).

 

Steps I'll follow to Remove Display Assemble:

- Remove battery and back base cover

- Remove keyboard bezel and keyboard

- Remove WIFI card

- Remove cosmetic hinge cap screws and cap

- Remove metal eDP cable bracket shield from mobo

- Remove eDP tape on heatpipe

- Remove eDP

- Remove Hinge Screws

 

- Pry up edges of display assembly bezel

- Remove 4 screws securing the panel to the assembly

- flip over Display and Un-clip the other end of the eDP from Panels back

 

 

Should I watch out for any gotcha' steps or any tips on this replacement?

 

I thought about trying to enable Integrated GPU in BIOS, except I wouldn't be able to navigate the Bios since the internal display is not working.  I have an identical other 7710 that is working, which I might be able to use to help navigate the BIOS blindly on the broken 7710.  But even if that works, it would only be a workaround.

 

 

 

Thanks,

 

Ben

[Aaron44126]

Replacing the display panel is even easier than that.  You just need to pry off the display bezel, undo a few screws to free the panel, and then remove the display cable from the back of the panel (attached with both a clip and some tape).  Despite what the manual says, there is no need to remove the bottom cover and detach anything from the motherboard (other than the battery maybe, just for safety?).  I've done this multiple times with Precision M6700 and Precision 7510, and once with Precision 7530 and Precision 7560.

 

To enable integrated graphics, just pull the coin-cell battery to reset BIOS settings to default and that will do it.  You can also get into the BIOS without a working internal display.  Connect an external display, mouse and keyboard; then, power on the laptop and quickly shut the lid.  It should run the BIOS screens on the external display.

[ygohome]

Thank you Aaron, the steps sound easy.

 

I couldn't find the parts at Dell.com 

 

Found a seller named SCREENARAMA (from Canada) on Amazon sells a replacement for the B173ZAN01.0 for about $180 USD.  

It's sold as a replacement but I've no idea if it's actually an AUO (AU Optronics) or who makes it. 

 

Parts-People.com (good company, located in Texas) sells the actual OEM display for $250 USD, but they are out of stock.  They have the OEM 40pin (4k) eDP & Camera cable bundle (they are loomed together) for about $30, and so I may purchase that from them.   It might just be a cable problem and not display panel.

 

 

The existing display panel is B173ZAN01.0  

When searching online I'm seeing sellers with .0 through .4

 

according to specs:    B173ZAN01.0  uses eDP 1.3   while B173ZAN01.4 is for eDP 1.4a

https://www.panelook.com/modelcompare.php?ids=35517,25358

I'm not sure if an eDP 1.3 system can be used with an eDP 1.4a display panel, so I'm trying to stick with original .0 suffix.

 

 

 

[ygohome]

I'm going for the Amazon "Screenarama" seller.

 

We'll see how this goes :D

[Aaron44126]

Buying panels is tricky, for sure.  This is a seven-year-old system and the panel that it originally shipped with is likely not manufactured anymore.  I remember trying to get a replacement LG 1080p panel for Precision M6700 when that system was 6-7 years old, and it was impossible.  I got an AUO panel from someone that worked as a replacement, but I ended up sending it back because the display quality was poor.

 

A lot of sellers offer "compatible replacements" so as you note it might not be clear what you're actually going to get.  They may work, but with lower quality than the old panel or pixel issues.  (Most sellers won't guarantee zero dead/stuck pixels, and will even complain that is a ridiculous standard to meet when pressed... though Dell does make that guarantee themselves.  It makes me think that they are getting reject panels that weren't sold in laptops because they have a defect.  I'd happily pay a bit extra to guarantee no pixel issues if I needed a new panel.)

[Kitje]

I've bought a panel from Screenarama before and was sent the panel I was looking for. I think it was either luck or they do stock the panels they list on Amazon. The panel in my M4800 is an Innolux N156HHE-GA1 was what I was looking for due to specs, and works fine.

[ygohome]

Hello,

 

We received the replacement panel today.   It is an AUO panel, same part # as the OEM that we are replacing.  That is good because, other than it recently not working, it's been a great display.

 

The display arrived well packaged.  It was triple bagged in three UPS padded bags, and with a foam protector and a removable film protecting the image side of the display.  That was all packaged in a snug cardboard box labeled FRAGILE.

 

 

 

 

 

When I was ordering I was specifically searching for a B173ZAN01.0 and the Amazon page description and specs said this was a replacement for the B173ZAN01.0

 

Our original OEM display is an AU Optronics B173ZAN01.0  <- Display Port 1.3

This replacement display is an AU Optronics B173ZAN01.4 <- Display Port 1.4

 

I learned that DP 1.4 is backward compatible with 1.3 and so this should work great.

 

I'll begin repairs this evening when I'll update how the surgery went.

 

Thank you,

 

Ben

 

 

[ygohome]

I allowed myself 4 hrs to complete this repair.  Just incase I ran into problems.  This took me under 20 minutes.

 

The thin strips of double side adhesive tape that is around the inner perimeter of the bezel and display had me worried.  It was really sticking and not letting go.  Had to get rough with it. :D  no problem.  It all went back together beautifully.

 

The new display looks awesome.

 

Here are a few photos