Alienware Mortheboard Display connector damaged workaround

Question

I have an Alienware 17 r4 the display connection on the motherboard was damaged replacing bad fans. I have a graphics amplifier but I don’t have a PCI graphics card. i have an USB 3.1 to DisplayPort dongle (star tech) on the AGA. I notice that when i plug the AGA in the port power on the laptop but i keep the laptop closed it doesn’t give off error code beeps at all but it doesn’t power on the external display. If i open the laptop it shuts down and restarts and starts beeping with the error code (3,2) . I was told by dell support it would only be 200-250 to replace/repair the motherboard on the device... it doesn’t seem expensive but too good to be true...

any thoughts on being able to get the AGA connected screen active?

ejn63 · Answer

The system has to POST completely first, which it won't do if you don't have a recognized display panel. You will need to have the mainboard replaced.

It's highly unlikely that repair quote includes the system board -- Dell does have a flat-rate repair of $200 or so for anything other than a mainboard or screen replacement. Given shipping and taxes, that quote is likely what you received.

The boards for the 17 R4 run upward from about $550 (low end CPU/GPU) and $900 a with faster CPU and GPU aboard. That's the ballpark for a board replacement, plus whatever the service labor charge is.

A lower cost possible alternate route is to find a true repair shop that can solder -- if the board under the connector is not damaged, it may be possible to have a new connector soldered in. It won't be inexpensive (figure on a few hundred dollars) but it won't cost what a replacement board will, either.

C.KingMuzic · Answer

Thanks for the info! Now that you mentioned POST... I Hooked a Lenovo think pad to the usb-c dock to the laptop and it powered on!! I have to leave the laptop cracked but I’m in its been months!

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Alienware Mortheboard Display connector damaged workaround

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