replacing XGA screen with SXGA+ on T42 with 32mb radeon 7500

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frgtn · #1 Post by **frgtn** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 8:45 am

Broke the screen on my T42 the other day. So since it needs replacing anyway i thought i might as well upgrade to SXGA+.

Did a bit of googling and found that it is possible, some people have done it and so on, i know i'll most likely have to replace the inverter as well, and maybe the cable bundle.

Though i've read some seller comments on ebay that radeon 7500 sometimes produces artifacts.

Has anyone tried replacing 14.1" XGA screen on T42 with 32meg Radeon 7500 vga with SXGA+? Maybe have some usefull links / advice?

thanks in advance

ajkula66 · #2 Post by **ajkula66** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 10:02 am

You'll need a different cable and possibly inverter. Apart from that you'll be fine. This has been done already quite a few times, so you're in the clear.

Good luck.

SteveS · #3 Post by **SteveS** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 2:37 pm

If you have not bought any of the parts yet, consider buying the entire lid assembly from any T4x with SXGA+. They sell for about the same as the used LCD display only on e-bay, and the cable/inverter already in place. You just plug it in and exchange the clearplates if required. See the T42 hardware maintenance manual from the Lenovo web site for detailed instructions.

frgtn · #4 Post by **frgtn** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 8:14 pm

thanks for the advice and reassurence.

I've checked eBay for complete screen assemblies and found a few similar to this one:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0199314078

Funny thing is it says:

For some reason Radeon 7500 motherboards don't always work with high-resolution screens like this - produces a lot of digital noise. If your ThinkPad, that has Radeon 7500 video didn't come with high resolution screen, upgrade on your own risk

Normally i would pay little attention for such a warnings but well.. $300 is quite a sum of money to waste. Has anyone encountered / heard of these "digital noise" artifacts after upgrading?

And maybe somebody knows trustworthy screen screen vendors in Europe?

Moderator edit: Shortened URL to prevent horizontal scrolling

SteveS · #5 Post by **SteveS** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 11:08 pm

There might be something to the claim that Raedon 7500 does not support SXGA+. I have read the descriptions from several T40 series ThinkPads on the Lenovo web site and have never seen a SXGA+ model with the Raedon 7500. My upgrades have both been Raedon X300, and they work fine.

If you are not in a hurry to get your PC repaired, you might want to wait a bit to find a better deal on e-bay for the display/lid assembly. I have bought two – one for $161 and the other for $148, both including shipping in the USA. At $285, you are approaching the price for a complete, running T40 with SXGA+.

goofyGAguy · #6 Post by **goofyGAguy** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 11:12 pm

SteveS wrote:There might be something to the claim that Raedon 7500 does not support SXGA+. I have read the descriptions from several T40 series ThinkPads on the Lenovo web site and have never seen a SXGA+ model with the Raedon 7500. My upgrades have both been Raedon X300, and they work fine.

If you are not in a hurry to get your PC repaired, you might want to wait a bit to find a better deal on e-bay for the display/lid assembly. I have bought two – one for $161 and the other for $148, both including shipping in the USA. At $285, you are approaching the price for a complete, running T40 with SXGA+.

I'm typing this on an R51 with a 15" SXGA+ FlexView and Radeon Mobility 7500.

frgtn · #7 Post by **frgtn** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 9:58 am

Thanks for your replies.

Well the situation looks better now that there are cases of working SXGA+ screens on radeon 7500. I guess i'll keep my eyes open for any interesting offers.

The ugly part though is that it's usually expensive to get stuff shipped to Europe - like $60 for a single display assembly.

Anything else one should be aware of when buying a cat-in-the-bag lcd panel?

gunston · #8 Post by **gunston** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 10:12 am

SXGA+ is worth it.

you would appreciate it !!!

doylnea · #9 Post by **doylnea** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 9:23 pm

I posted several pictures and detailed explanations of my swap of an XGA LCD on my T41 with a UXGA, driven by the stock Radeon 7500. It's certainly doable - so don't be discouraged.

#10 Post by **rkawakami** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 10:00 pm

frgtn wrote:I've checked eBay for complete screen assemblies and found a few similar to this one:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0199314078

That particular eBay seller is also a member here

.

ref: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=54843

Robbyrobot · #11 Post by **Robbyrobot** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 4:55 am

The ugly part though is that it's usually expensive to get stuff shipped to Europe - like $60 for a single display assembly.

Then it's even more expensive to Lithuania than Germany, and the shipping charges from the US to Germany are high enough. They generally kill any deal for larger, heavier stuff right off the bat unless the deal is absolutely unbeatable even with the shipping.

You could try the German Ebay, but the prices there are generally a good deal higher than in the States. The shipping would probably be much lower, though.

frgtn · #12 Post by **frgtn** » Sun Jan 06, 2008 4:26 pm

Thanks for your replies.

I've checked german eBay several times but no luck. Guess i'll keep looking and hoping for some bargains soon

Hernandez · #13 Post by **Hernandez** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 9:05 am

frgtn wrote: I've checked german eBay several times but no luck. Guess i'll keep looking and hoping for some bargains soon

Hey Man, here at polish site i found one for you
http://allegro.pl/item296703449_lg_lp14 ... 2_t43.html
If you have problem with polish language i'm sure that you have friends speaking in. Lots of us are still living there in Kaunas.

Oh and the Lit is about like 1,13 to 1 to polish zloty. So It will cost you obout 380lit.

SteveS · #14 Post by **SteveS** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 3:45 pm

I would use caution as there seems to be a mixed review on using an SXGA+ screen with the Radeon 7500. I posted that from what I read in HMM and looking at hundreds of Type number configurations on Lenovo’s support web site, IBM/Lenovo did not build this combination. Other members have posted success with this combination, including one case driving a UXGA. I have also read accounts of people experiencing a blurred image from digital noise.

One seller on e-bay recently listed a SXGA+ lid for upgrade. The seller is a computer store of sorts, and added a strongly worded statement that the SXGA+ screen was not to be used with a Radeon 7500, doing so would result in a blurred image due to digital noise, and he would not guarantee results if anyone tried to upgrade a notebook with this video chip.

More than likely the chip has some cross talk or limited bandwidth, which would result in a blurred image as the resolution increases at the same refresh rate. The breakpoint might be close to the SXGA+/60 Hz rate – which is why some members report success, and others have the blurring issue.

sjthinkpader · #15 Post by **sjthinkpader** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 5:42 pm

My old T41 (2379dju) is a 9000 with SXGA+ but this post is typed on a A31 with 7500 and a UXGA IPS from an A30p. The cables on A30/A31 have hardwired resolution select but the T40/T41 cables have soldered zero ohm resistor resolution select.

My T43 X300 is mated to a XGA LCD which is not normally the case.

BobA · #16 Post by **BobA** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 10:13 pm

I have successfully put an SXGA screen into a T42 with the 7500 - haven't noticed any blur or digital artifacts. I did add a new SXGA cable but didn't change the inverter.

I bought a number of them and have some screens available for sale - with the SXGA cables. I just haven't advertised them yet as I don't have much spare time on my hands. I did test all of them last thursday so feel more confident about selling them - just not sure of a 'fair' price. These are the 14" SXGA screens.

If anyone is interested, please PM me. I have shipped a lot of stuff to Europe. Using USPS flat rate boxes, shipping can be kept down to $45.

Thanks - Bob

replacing XGA screen with SXGA+ on T42 with 32mb radeon 7500

replacing XGA screen with SXGA+ on T42 with 32mb radeon 7500

Re: SXGA on Radeon 7500

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