T30 SXGA Screen Into An XGA T23??

[olex126]

Hi Gang.

I just inherited a lovely-condition T23 (2648-4MU). P3 1.13 Ghz, 1 Gb RAM, 30 Gb HD, no WiFi, but I can work on that later. The problem is that it has a very DIM/yellow 14.1" LCD XGA Panel.

Rather than replace the CCFL, which would give me a BRIGHT/yellow screen, I'd rather replace the screen. On hand I have new SXGA panel (long-ago-IBM-sent-under-warranty, never installed). As well as a requiring a new SXGA cable & inverter, can anyone experienced in panel swapping verify that the new T30 SXGA screen would work with the T23?

Present T23 screen: FRU: 05K9567 Panel LG 141X6 A1 IB

New T30 screen: FRU: 11P8295 Panel LG LP141E04

Same Panelook 20-pin interface.

SO:

1. Will this T30 SXGA Screen work?

2.Does the T23 SXGA inverter drive this T30 screen?

Any input is greatly appreciated. I don't mind spending some dollars on a T23 SXGA cable if it will give me the ability to use the T30 SXGA screen.

Thanks. Regards.

Dave

[kfzhu1229]

Pretty sure the new LCD cable is needed for the T23.
The inverter should drive all of these 14.1" ThinkPad screens (even the T4x ones) without problems since there are no IPS ones with extra brightness to worry about.
Pretty sure you can also mod the cable for T23 to work with SXGA+ by cutting and soldering a few traces like on the T4x series but I have only dived into the T4x series for that matter and not these.
Before doing any hassle installing though, you can try to verify if your NOS screen still lights up like you would expect. You can plug in the backlight without connecting the LCD connector and see how the screen looks under a pure white image. These things can develop dusting and dead backlights even without a single hour of usage if not stored properly

[olex126]

Kfzhu1229....Thanks for the tips!

Tomorrow I'll check the screen as you suggest, and although it has been unboxed for ten years and only moved once, it wouldn't hurt to verify its' intergity before I begin the rest of the odyssey!

I totally forgot about the good work you had done with the T4x XGA-to-UXGA cable conversion, I will check into that as well.

Thanks again. Regards.

Dave

[RealBlackStuff]

I know that 14.1" XGA R30 screens work in a T23.
But I have never tried a T30 screen in a T23 (or v.v.).
T23 XGA and SXGA+ need different LCD cables but use the same inverters.
Before you try T30 in T23, you should look up the Datasheets from both SXGA+ screens and do a pinout-comparison.

[kfzhu1229]

Well I also know the screen from A30 14.1" is EXACTLY the same crappy Samsung one from a XGA T2x so I don't expect the T30 SXGA+ screen to be incompatible. Moreover I also got 14.1" SXGA+ T4x screen running on a A31 with SXGA+ cable with the cable hinge plastic removed due to length problems.

[olex126]

Just a short update to the project.

I came across a known good XGA panel in my stash... a Hyundi HT14X14-101 from a previous T23, so I thought I'd try that...

HA! No Go. . It turns out the input connector is 2/10" SMALLER on this Hyundi panel than the end of the T23 XGA cable.

Panelook confirms...2 completely different input connectors for each panel.....Grrrrrrr....!

Awaiting arrival of an SXGA cable & inverter to continue the project.

Regards.

Dave

[kfzhu1229]

Just a short update to the project.

I came across a known good XGA panel in my stash... a Hyundi HT14X14-101 from a previous T23, so I thought I'd try that...
HA! No Go.

I think you have the problem of a 20pin vs a 30pin connector. T2x uses 20pin and only 15" T/A3x screens use 30pin
Wait... you say the hyundai panel is smaller and having a look on panelook it is definitely 20pin, so does your cable have a 30pin connector? A 30pin male connector on the cable has the golden fingers exposed while a 20pin one doesn't

[ajkula66]

Awaiting arrival of an SXGA cable & inverter to continue the project.

I'm reasonably certain that all T30 panels were proprietary for that model and not interchangeable with what was found in T2x. You may want to compare the pinouts before actually installing the screen.

Good luck.

[kfzhu1229]

I'm reasonably certain that all T30 panels were proprietary for that model and not interchangeable with what was found in T2x. You may want to compare the pinouts before actually installing the screen.

Good luck.

Wait so you cannot use a screen from a 14.1" A3x on a T30 and vice versa? I know for a fact that my 14.1" A30 came with a Samsung screen identical in FRU to the T22 and T23's I have before I converted that to A30p UXGA.

[ajkula66]

Wait so you cannot use a screen from a 14.1" A3x on a T30 and vice versa?

That is my understanding.

[kfzhu1229]

That is my understanding.

Okay seems like you are right. Having a closer look at the LTN141XE SXGA+ screen from a T30, the connector is unfortunately, higher up compared to a T2x or A3x 14.1". Its' like the same kind of problem between a 15" A3x screen and a 15" T4x/R5x screen.
Alas that means short of a 20 pin CCFL LVDS extender cable you won't be able to fit a T30 screen on a T2x or A3x but the other way around might be possible.
I have had the same problem between an Inspiron 2650 (Also connector higher up) and a Latitude C600 (screen compatible with a T2x) and I ended up fitting a T2x Samsung screen in the C600 to fix its broken screen. Here I thought Dell was just trolling with proprietary screen fittings on the Inspiron but unfortunately it isn't the only one.
But I know for a fact that that Inspiron 2650 works perfectly with the same Samsung screen with adjustment of its cable length.