Thinkpads Forum

Hi all,

Looking for an A31/p screen bezel or screen assembly for a restoration project... I will make the best of my offers if any of you have a spare around.

I was near finishing up my A31p restoration project, and the final snatch is a damaged (missing corners) screen bezel. So I grabbed one off eBay, just to find that both screws retaining the bezel was stripped, and that it was quite scratched up all around... That was a no-go. But anyways, quite frustrated, but still eagerly trying to finish the restoration on this beautiful machine.

If anyone has a FlexView screen in relatively good order I would be willing to purchase one... Mine is a bit dark towards the bottom right corner...

Best Regards,
Mingcong Bai

Please specify if you need a 15" bezel or 14.1". I assume you need 15" as for the flexview display but just to confirm.
And yea I'm trying to find flexview too but it is just simply hard. Don't know the reliability of this but this is the only thing I found:
https://www.impactcomputers.com/05k9967.html
Don't be picky about a simple darker corner because I'm bearing my UXGA IPS panel with pink backlight when starting and unevenly yellowed white. I've put a background that's mostly yellow to hide that!

And why just don't use the SHARP UXGA display?

The one by IDTech is just way better than the Sharp one. It is also known as one of the very first laptop IPS panels, you know. Also unlike many people believe, the first of a kind in terms of LCD is usually a good thing. If you compare the XGA panel in 760XL/770/600 to some XGA panels in T4x, the older ones are better both in terms of build quality (they are still on with no yellowing or pink issue) and display quality. Then for IDTech one, its display quality is simply superb even though it is known for early defects such as yellowing or pink backlight. My IDTech panel (with both of the defects listed above) still displays way better than a AUO FHD panel from T520/T530.

Well sure, but SHARP is a nice bright panel that is available NOS (and like new), while having pretty nice characteristics. I haven't seen anybody willing to sell his IPS panel from A31p in decent condition.

EDIT: Ah, I have found I may be wrong there is one right now on german TP forum. Please PM me for link if needed

kfzhu1229 wrote:Please specify if you need a 15" bezel or 14.1". I assume you need 15" as for the flexview display but just to confirm.
And yea I'm trying to find flexview too but it is just simply hard. Don't know the reliability of this but this is the only thing I found:
https://www.impactcomputers.com/05k9967.html
Don't be picky about a simple darker corner because I'm bearing my UXGA IPS panel with pink backlight when starting and unevenly yellowed white. I've put a background that's mostly yellow to hide that!

Yep, a 15 inch bezel is what I needed for a FlexView A31...

I have attempted several purchases on Impact Computer for some 380 parts, but maybe it was because the sheer age of the thing they had to refund me for lack of stock every time... Not sure about early millennia computers though.

But having said that I've just bought a bezel from thinkpcparts (http://thinkpcparts.com) for a couple of US dollars and it's already on the way (very fast shipping, arriving tomorrow here in Wisconsin... But priority mail are not cheap...). Hoping to receive a working bezel, and that I could actually remove the bezel on my A31p without any cutting... Wish me luck.

Just chatted with a representative, and she said that there are not any of these LCDs left, but it "could be ordered once a customer purchases" and "within 4-6 business days".

Well yea I ordered one of the IDTech panels from inpactcomputers 1.5 weeks ago and I'm waiting. I dont care when it arrives as long as it will arrive

kfzhu1229 wrote:Well yea I ordered one of the IDTech panels from inpactcomputers 1.5 weeks ago and I'm waiting. I dont care when it arrives as long as it will arrive

Nice...

So now I found that my A31p's inverter buzzes whenever the brightness is below 100%... Time to find a new one eh?

jeffbaichina wrote:So now I found that my A31p's inverter buzzes whenever the brightness is below 100%... Time to find a new one eh?

Oh for that, I have a inverter in T23 that does the same thing. Also I have the same problem in one of my A3x (to be more descriptive, I have A30p and A31p and A31p suffers from that problem). So I did some experiments and swapped the inverters between A30p and A31p, what happened instead was A31p was still the one that had the buzzing problem. Then what I did was I hooked up a different panel and the buzzing went away. So I guess the conclusion is the compatibility problem between the CCFL backlight and the inverter, NOT entirely the fault of that inverter!

kfzhu1229 wrote:

jeffbaichina wrote:So now I found that my A31p's inverter buzzes whenever the brightness is below 100%... Time to find a new one eh?

Oh for that, I have a inverter in T23 that does the same thing. Also I have the same problem in one of my A3x (to be more descriptive, I have A30p and A31p and A31p suffers from that problem). So I did some experiments and swapped the inverters between A30p and A31p, what happened instead was A31p was still the one that had the buzzing problem. Then what I did was I hooked up a different panel and the buzzing went away. So I guess the conclusion is the compatibility problem between the CCFL backlight and the inverter, NOT entirely the fault of that inverter!

I see. But for now I will stick with the issue... The prices are too high nowadays...

kfzhu1229 wrote: So I guess the conclusion is the compatibility problem between the CCFL backlight and the inverter, NOT entirely the fault of that inverter!

Condition of the CCFL is quite likely to affect the inverter as well. Weak backlight tube is more likely to "help" inverter produce the buzzing sound.

I have no patience for the buzz, and start swapping parts immediately once I hear it, but to each their own.

Well I am posting this during a site slowdown but here it goes:

jeffbaichina wrote:

kfzhu1229 wrote:Please specify if you need a 15" bezel or 14.1". I assume you need 15" as for the flexview display but just to confirm.
And yea I'm trying to find flexview too but it is just simply hard. Don't know the reliability of this but this is the only thing I found:
https://www.impactcomputers.com/05k9967.html
Don't be picky about a simple darker corner because I'm bearing my UXGA IPS panel with pink backlight when starting and unevenly yellowed white. I've put a background that's mostly yellow to hide that!

I have attempted several purchases on Impact Computer for some 380 parts, but maybe it was because the sheer age of the thing they had to refund me for lack of stock every time... Not sure about early millennia computers though.

Well yea even though they only say order received online, I got the package today. It wasn't what I expected. http://imgur.com/FIo5sPW http://imgur.com/aL3uBYm
Now the goods:
It is definitely original IDTech IAUX14S (PN 05K9967) as they promised
http://imgur.com/OK0wdN3
The color reproduction, contrast and viewing angles are all good.
http://imgur.com/ASc0wg5
http://imgur.com/AfVupmf

Now the cons:
It is not in a good condition:
--> I see dust inside the static-free package on the LCD itself
http://imgur.com/MXEYArA
--> I see some stuck blue pixels (Impression mark)
http://imgur.com/a9fKwm9
--> I see big pieces of dirt inside the LCD
http://imgur.com/WcSBfuh
http://imgur.com/zMrGh6M
http://imgur.com/z5J6Zsa
http://imgur.com/23YsiF2
--> And finally, the famous pink backlight issue
http://imgur.com/ki4mTt6

Not sure if I should go for their warranty or not (I am not entirely sure about their warranty's reliability). Somebody give me a suggestion on that please? Thanks.

I did a write-up on how to replace the CCFL in such an IDTECH: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=88991
That would get rid of the pink.

Apart from that, I'd return it and put in a Sharp LQ150U1LW22 or LQ150U1LW22N, both a.k.a. Dell 9H753.
They are not full-blooded IPS, but very close AND they are cheap.
Search eBay with exactly this: (lq150u1lw22,lq150u1lw22n,9h753)

Ugh warranty process... In the meanwhile do you know what inverter P/N 91P7737 is (IPS or non-IPS)? It came with the display as a perk but it's nowhere inside the HMM.

The FRU seems to be that of a real IBM A3x inverter.
Want a good laugh? http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lenovo-FRU-91P7 ... 2367076560

RealBlackStuff wrote:The FRU seems to be that of a real IBM A3x inverter.
Want a good laugh? http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lenovo-FRU-91P7 ... 2367076560

I saw that too. It was hilarious
But the real question here is: is it IPS inverter? Or do I REALLY have to look at the brightness difference to find out?

RealBlackStuff wrote:I did a write-up on how to replace the CCFL in such an IDTECH: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=88991
That would get rid of the pink.

Okay will try that too. Also I did some research online and they say that while you have the screen disassembled, you can blow out the dust inside the panel by a hair dryer set on cold setting which blows air at room temperature. What is the success rate for that trick?

RealBlackStuff wrote:The FRU seems to be that of a real IBM A3x inverter.
Want a good laugh? http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lenovo-FRU-91P7 ... 2367076560

Thanks for the laugh RBS. I wonder why Renew Computer has them at these prices.
I don't even think ThinkPad-Parts.Com have this for that much!
Their other items are expensive, oh and how I love the 'general info' as a default photo on their listings.
No wonder they are at 97%!