4k Laptop display replacement

[Jedi_king]

As you can probably tell by the title, I made the mistake of buying a 15.6 inch laptop with a 4k display. My only defense is that I bought it through my school and, for the specs it has, it was a really good deal.

Unfortunately the GTX 1060 Max-Q is not exactly optimal for gaming on said 4k display (yes I know that I can, and I do, drop the resolution in-game) but gaming issues aside, this is my main computer that I use for everything. The display scaling issues in programs (blurry text, incorrectly sized buttons, etc) has started giving me headaches.

I have tried every display scaling solution that I could find and have not had any luck so I've moved on to drastic measures; Replacing the 4k display with a FHD display. (and since I'm doing that, might as well get a display with a higher refresh rate too)

So, my questions are thus

1. Does anyone have any experience with display swapping a dell G5 (or G7, from what I understand they are similar in this aspect)

2. The display is currently connected to the integrated intel UHD graphics 630, if I downgrade the resolution of the display, will the intel card detect the lower native resolution or will it try to push 4k and start fires (figuratively speaking)?

I would be immensely grateful for any help because, as an IT student, most of my homework is done on the computer and my laptop giving me headaches like this is just not an option.

Thanks in advance!!

 

Specs

Dell G5 15 5587

16GB Ram

i7-8750H cpu

Monitor Hardware ID: MONITOR\AUO20EB

 

Edit*

Turns out the hardware id is useless. Here is the model number: B156ZAN02.0 

The display uses a 40 pin eDP connector (4 lanes)

[Origami Cactus]

Yeah 4k on my 27inch monitor on 100% scaling is pretty much unusable, so i cant even imagine 15inches.

I cant help you with screen replacement, but most programs scale pretty good on 150% scaling, and the windows "fix blurry apps due to scaling" selected.

[Jedi_king]

37 minutes ago, Origami Cactus said:

Yeah 4k on my 27inch monitor on 100% scaling is pretty much unusable, so i cant even imagine 15inches.

I cant help you with screen replacement, but most programs scale pretty good on 150% scaling, and the windows "fix blurry apps due to scaling" selected.

I tried that, and though it kinda works, it makes everything so small its even worse than the default 250% 

Thank you for the suggestion though.

[FRSHPRNCFBLR]

Switching out the display should be carefully considered, as you will most likely have to disassemble the entire laptop, which can give you troubles if you need to rma it in the future. And the chance of breaking things or software issues of course. I would advise you to check if you can return it.  

[Jedi_king]

12 minutes ago, FRSHPRNCFBLR said:

Switching out the display should be carefully considered, as you will most likely have to disassemble the entire laptop, which can give you troubles if you need to rma it in the future. And the chance of breaking things or software issues of course. I would advise you to check if you can return it.  

Lol I can't return it because not having the laptop means I literally don't have a computer good enough to do most of my homework, which isn't an option. As for disassembly, to just change the display panel on my particular laptop all you gotta do is pop off the display bezel. (IT student, remember ;-)

 

[genexis_x]

14 hours ago, Jedi_king said:

1. Does anyone have any experience with display swapping a dell G5 (or G7, from what I understand they are similar in this aspect)

2. The display is currently connected to the integrated intel UHD graphics 630, if I downgrade the resolution of the display, will the intel card detect the lower native resolution or will it try to push 4k and start fires (figuratively speaking)?

1. Can look into this channel

2. First, keep in mind that Intel iGPU will have issues with UHD resolution. I suggest you to go for 60Hz FHD panel. Software shouldn't be a problem

[Jedi_king]

19 hours ago, GeneXiS_X said:

1. Can look into this channel

2. First, keep in mind that Intel iGPU will have issues with UHD resolution. I suggest you to go for 60Hz FHD panel. Software shouldn't be a problem

Sorry for the late reply

Its actually handled the 4k screen quite well, the iGPU is from their UHD series.

As for FHD 60Hz, I've actually made an interesting discovery, when a laptop ships with a 4k (or FHD 144Hz) display, It has a 4 lane eDP connector, which has 40 pins. But any FHD laptop display panel will only have a 30 pin connector, because FHD only needs 2 displayport lanes. Until you hit 144Hz refresh rate, that is, at which point, you need that extra 2 lanes that the 40 pin variant gives you. So if I'm gonna buy a FHD panel, I would need a minimum of a 144Hz refresh rate, to ensure the replacement panel's connector matches my laptop.

 

(This is all fresh/ongoing research, by the way. If I'm wrong about any of this, please let me know.)

[genexis_x]

7 hours ago, Jedi_king said:

Its actually handled the 4k screen quite well

Really? Many users have reported shuttering/performance issues even in light loads

 

I have no idea on panel compatibility. You can try go to NBR forum, there's a guy who is an expert on this, maybe he can help you

[Jedi_king]

4 hours ago, GeneXiS_X said:

Really? Many users have reported shuttering/performance issues even in light loads

 

I have no idea on panel compatibility. You can try go to NBR forum, there's a guy who is an expert on this, maybe he can help you

Sorry, what I said before wasn't 100% true. There is some lag on boot (specifically when logging in), lag that shouldn't exist, with the specs this system has. So it is possible that he iGPU does start like a cold diesel on a Russian morning.