Greetings Everyone!
A few weeks ago I made a post requesting information on upgrading the LCD of the G74Sx Best Buy revision--and received lackluster response (are none of you guys modders?) So I ended up setting out on a search and exploration mission to successfully upgrade my LCD.
Background:
The Best Buy model of the Asus G74Sx comes with a cheaper LCD panel, one that is roughly about half the cost of the stock 1080P panel that comes with these systems. Looking around the internet, the model that I found inside my G74Sx is a Samsung 17" panel that costs roughly around $60-$70 to get a replacement. This panel's native resolution is only 1600x900, which sucks.
Upgrade:
I went to a website for laptop screens (can I even link here what I bought due to spam? I won't unless someone requests it) and looked at the panels they had available for the Asus G73JH. I ended up picking out a Glossy 1920x1080P replacement that they list, total cost including shipping was $140-$150 or so.
Process:
You don't need to take the whole laptop apart to do this upgrade, however if you want more working room feel free to do so--I didn't want to rip out 30 some odd screws from the bottom of the case to disconnect the monitor portion.
1. Remove Screws from beneath rubber feet in front of the monitor.
2. CAREFULLY, AND I DO MEAN CAREFULLY use a flathead screw driver to unclip the front panel plastic of the monitor itself. There are lots of little clips in here that can break very easily, as in, I broke a few (more on this later). You want to be careful with this and try to find each with the flathead to push in JUST ENOUGH to not break the clips.
3. Once the panel is off, you can undo the screws that hold the LCD in place. There are a lot of them.
4. Careful remove the LCD from the housing.
5. On the back of the LCD is a video cable held on with some tape. Undo the tape, and pull down on the cable to free it from the back of the LCD.
6. Remove the side mounting brackets from the LCD.
7. Install on new LCD.
8. Reverse whole process.
9. Completed!
This accomplished having a new, higher viewing angle, higher resolution LCD for my Asus G74Sx--hopefully the same or a similar panel that comes stock on the higher end Asus devices.
Caveats:
So the plastic clips are very very easy to break. I don't think they intend to actually remove these even for LCD replacements. The more likely method they use to replace the LCD is to replace the entire monitor housing at once, only pulling the LCD out if they wish to salvage that for re-use.
Notes:
If Asus would be kind to send me a new plastic housing for my LCD that'd be awesome. I broke a number of the clips on the bottom and lower right side of my monitor housing. This was due to me being overzealous on wanting to get it off, and had I been more careful this wouldn't have happened. Hey, you live and learn!
Pictures will be forthcoming!
And yes, other than the broken clips, which if I can't get replacements, I'll use double sided sticky tape to help resolve, the LCD looks and performs great!
