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There are a few ways of ordering an LCD screen: using the laptop model number, the screen model, the manufacturer’s part number, and [not recommended] by following an advice found online on a forum, or elsewhere.

Just as everywhere else, there are good ways and bad ways.

1. Ordering by the laptop model number.

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Most of the time, knowing the laptop model is enough to order the right part. However, some laptop manufacturers produce laptop models that have an option for a higher resolution, or in some cases, even a slightly different size screens – Dell Latitude E5540, or most if not all HP’s CTO (Custom-To-Order) laptops, for example.

Whenever you see an option for a different resolution or a different backlight type screen, it is always a good idea to check the LCD screen model number. The higher/lower resolution screen may not (and most likely will not) work properly, and may even damage your computer if you use a different resolution screen other than your original.

2. Ordering by the laptop screen (LCD) model number.

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Every screen installed in any laptop has a screen model number on the back of the LCD screen. This is without a doubt the best way to order replacement screens. The model number denotes the size, the resolution and the backlight type. The only thing you may need to confirm is the location of the connector (for some 15.6″ and 17.3″ HP laptops), and the mounting tabs positioning for some smaller 10.1″ and 11.6″ netbooks.

3. Ordering by the manufacturer’s part number.

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This is very similar to ordering by the laptop model number. The part number is commonly found in the owners manual, or by checking online by typing the product or the serial number on the manufacturer’s website. Some of our customers have reported that they were able to get the part numbers from the manufacturer.

But if your laptop screen was replaced or upgraded before, the part number on the LCD screen will not be accurate. In addition to that, we have witnessed cases when our customers have reported they have received wrong information about their machines when contacting the manufacturer; especially in cases when the laptop has more than one screen resolution or backlight type option.

4. Ordering by the information found online.

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There are a lot of success stories when our customers were able to get the screen resolution upgraded by just swapping screens; but you have to understand that in order for the LCD screen resolution to be upgraded successfully, more often than not, you need to get a higher capacity cable (a dual-channel vs. a single-channel cable; not always relevant to the amount of pins on the cable); and make sure that the video card will be able to handle the higher resolution. For known working upgrades we provide an Upgrades Options button below a listing.

Whenever you are not sure what screen to order, please create a support ticket. If you create a ticket within our normal business hours, you should receive a response within a matter of minutes. A full laptop model number or an LCD screen model number is required to determine the correct part for you.

LCD models

Truth is, during the production run laptop manufacturers can use more that a few different LCD models for any single laptop model, the screens can even be from different manufacturers. Additionally with time some LCD panels become no longer available and will never become available. So the gist of the matter is in what is available today for a laptop that was made 1, 2, 5 or more years ago.

In today’s world you can show up at an electronics supermarket and take a look at a certain model camera or TV and by the time you come back a week later, that model will be replaced by a different, newer and better device. It’s utmost inconvenient and confusing. In the field of laptop LCD technology  dozens if not hundreds of new models are born every day.

To further exacerbate the problem, each specific model can be produced only in one swift run, never to be repeated again, and the chances of getting the same one in brand new condition even a month later, for some models, are nearly zero.

This definitely poses a problem for a person wishing to replace their screen on an older computer:
if the original model is not available, user is forced to seek alternatives, do massive research, take risks, and generally feel even more lost.

Here at LaptopScreen.com we’ve made it our business to know which LCD screens work with which laptops. When a model of LCD is no longer available from our top level suppliers, we make all efforts to contact lower level suppliers and purchase all of their dwindling stock of the discontinued panel. When even that avenue is no longer available, LaptopScreen.com conducts testing in it’s own facilities, with each specific laptop, to see if the newer panels of identical standard will work, then a mark in the database is made, and the newer panels are released for sale.

Another important principle of LaptopScreen.com to mention is that we don’t focus primarily on the markups or finding quick ways to make a buck; the fact is, most LCD panels are priced remarkably close together, and brands such as Samsung and LG are of comparable supply price to the lesser known ones like ChiMei or AU Optronics; so when the price is not a big concern, the next logical pursuit is the quality. We prefer to sell the best of the bunch, and prioritize our preference to brightness, color gamut and viewing angles.

Therefore, when seeing a different model LCD or even manufacturer, customer can verify the size, mounting points and connector positions, and proceed with the installation. Please follow our tutorials closely and take your time if doing the repair for the first time.