A Comprehensive Guide to Upgrading Your Laptop Screen
Upgrading your laptop screen can significantly enhance your computing experience, providing better resolution, colour accuracy, and refresh rates. However, the process requires a thorough understanding of your current laptop's hardware compatibility. Here’s a detailed guide to help you navigate the upgrade process effectively.
Upgrading Resolution
When upgrading your laptop screen resolution, compatibility with your existing cable is crucial, unless you plan to upgrade the cable as well.
Some laptop models use the same cable for low resolution and high resolution screens, and therefore you can simply swap the screen out. Usually when upgrading from HD 1366x768 resolution to FULL HD 1920x1080 resolution the same type of cable will be used.
This isn't always the case with higher resolutions such as QHD 2560x1440 and UHD 3840 x 2160 as these displays often use larger connectors with more pins.
At Laptop-LCD-Screen.co.uk we have a lot of help for determining whether an upgrade maybe possible or not. The first thing you need to check, is whether the upgraded screen you wish to use has the same connector type as your original screen. This is shown on the product pages in the specifications.
The three important things to look at are connector and connector pitch and the physical appearance of the display.
If your original display has the same layout, connector type, EDP or LVDS, the same amount of pins, 30 PIN or 40 PIN for example, and the same connector pitch, 0.5mm or 0.4mm, then the physical installation of the upgraded screen should be possible.
What do we mean by the same layout?
Screen Layout Images: The first screen has no mounting brackets and no electronic board under the screen. The second screen has mounting brackets in the corners and the connector is on an electronic board hanging under the screen. The 3rd screen is the same as the 2nd but has no brackets.
Most often laptop manufacturers will use the same lid assembly across different models of the same series of laptop. For example, if the laptop model series comes with two screens, an HD and a FULL HD screen, most often both of those screens will have the same layout. This means the screens will be the same size, have the connector in the same place and have the same kind of mounting brackets, or no mounting brackets. This makes it easy for the laptop maker to produce different specs of model with the same lid assembly.
However, this is not always the case! Some laptop makers such as DELL will often use a completely different lid assembly meaning that swapping out the screen for an upgrade would also require changing other parts of the lid as well to accommodate the new screen.
This is often the case when upgrading to very high resolution screens or OLED screens. Most often, HD and FULL HD screens have the same layout.
It's important to look carefully at the pictures of the screens on our website to make sure your choice of upgraded screen is going to fit inside your lid assembly. You want to see that the connector is in the same place, the screen looks physically similar in layout and that it has the same mountings or lack of mountings.
But there's still more to it than that!
The Cable
Screen cables come in two main types, which are LVDS and EDP, you've already checked that your upgraded screen has the same connector type, but there's more to look at. The cable fitted by the manufacturer has to also support the upgrade.
Whether it will or not, is not always clear. Sometimes you can just swap out a screen for a better resolution and other times you cannot. It all depends on what type of cable is fitted.
- Single lane/Single Channel Cable: Supports up to 1600x900 resolution.
- Dual lane/Dual Channel Cable: Supports up to 1920x1080 resolution.
- Quad lane/Quad Channel Cable (4 channel cable): Supports QHD and UHD resolutions.
To determine if your cable can handle a higher resolution screen:
- Check your current cable: Disassemble the laptop lid and inspect the screen cable. Note the part number and search online to see if you can see how many lanes or channels it supports.
- Test and Observe: If uncertain, you can try installing the higher resolution screen. If the cable doesn’t support it, the display may either light up white or remain black.
We've usually had a lot of luck when upgrading Lenovo laptops. Often Lenovo will use the same 4 channel cable for all the models they produce, meaning a swap out for a higher resolution would be no problem. But this isn't always the case and sometimes the cable will need changing as well.
Other considerations
The laptop has a video graphics controller inside of it that has different outputs. It will usually output to an external screen and also an internal screen. The output to an external screen is handled differently to the internal LCD screen.
For this reason, there are usually different specifications for the capability of the internal display and the external one.
Sometimes you'll see the laptop advertised as being capable of UHD resolution, for example. This may only be possible via an external screen and not the internal display, so it's important to check the maximum capability of the internal display on the laptop model series you have, before attempting the upgrade.
If a better resolution is possible on other models of your laptop, then you maybe able to upgrade to that better resolution as well, provided you meet the other criteria previously discussed.
Upgrading from a TN to an IPS Screen
Twisted Nematic (TN) screens have a faster refresh rate and so are often preferred by gamers. In-Plane Switching (IPS) screens have better viewing angles. Colours look brighter and blacks are darker. The downside of TN screens is that they bleach out when viewed at an angle. Transitioning from a TN screen to an IPS screen can vastly improve your viewing angles and colour reproduction. This upgrade is straightforward if the resolution remains the same. If not, refer to the information about screen cable type and lanes to ensure compatibility.
Upgrading Refresh Rate
A higher refresh rate provides smoother visuals, especially beneficial for gaming and multimedia editing. If the new screen has the same resolution, upgrading the refresh rate typically poses no issues. For higher resolution screens, ensure your cable supports the required bandwidth and has the same amount of pins and pitch.
Upgrading to Matte or Glossy Finishes
The finish on the glass of the screen, whether matte or glossy, does not impact compatibility. You can swap between these finishes based on your preference for glare reduction (matte) or vibrant colours (glossy).
Upgrading Colour Gamut: 100% sRGB or 72% NTSC
Upgrading to a screen with a higher colour gamut rating, such as 100% sRGB or 72% NTSC, can enhance colour accuracy for tasks like photo editing. This upgrade is compatible with any IPS or TN screen, regardless of other specifications.
Upgrading to an OLED Screen
OLED screens offer superior contrast and colour depth compared to traditional IPS and TN panels. However, there are specific considerations:
- Compatibility: Ensure the OLED screen has the same connector type, pitch, pins, and resolution, otherwise a change of cable maybe needed.
- Physical Fit: OLED screens are often thinner, potentially requiring modifications like thicker mounting tape to fit properly in the laptop’s lid assembly.
- Fragility: OLED panels are delicate and can crack easily. Proceed with caution and only attempt this upgrade if you’re confident in handling sensitive hardware.
- Cable Upgrade: If the OLED screen has a higher resolution, you may need a new cable supporting the higher resolution.
Conclusion
Upgrading your laptop screen can significantly improve your user experience, but it requires careful consideration of hardware compatibility. Ensure you understand your current cable specifications, connector types, and the physical fit of the new screen. With the right preparations, you can enjoy enhanced visuals and performance from your laptop.
Always proceed with caution and, if in doubt, consult with a professional technician to avoid damaging your laptop.
