Which LCD screens can be substituted for a T61?

[nigratruo]

Hi,

my T61 6460-D6G LCD screen backlight has just died (replaced the inverter, still dark) and I don't want to do the complicated repair for the back light, so I figured might as well buy a new screen. I can see the thinkpad logo still very faint on the screen at startup, so I'm pretty sure that it is just the backlight and not the LED or GPU.
The one I have is 15.4 inches and 1680 x 1050 and I could just replace that, but have been looking at the higher resolution ones.
The machine I use has a NVIDIA Quadro NVS 140M - 128 MB.
What I currently have is a WSXGA+ (partnumer ltn154p2-l05 is written on it) and I would love to get a WUXGA (1920 x 1200).
From this webpage,
https://support.lenovo.com/us/en/documents/pd005070
I see that these higher resolution screens WUXGA have the part numbers 42T0408 (samsung screen) and 42T0361 (LG screen)

My questions:
1. Can I use the higher resolution WUXGA screen with my T61? They all seem to be pretty interchangeable, but I just want to make sure before I buy it.
here two products that I'm eyeing:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/IBM-Lenovo-T61- ... SwZ8ZW8u57
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003T ... EC1VV96LRL

2. What is likely the difference between the LG and Samsung screens?
3. What LCD tech uses my original screen? IPS or TN? I see it mentioned nowhere.
4. How do these screens communicate the resolution to the mainboard? Will I have problems that they won't run at the proper resolution not using an original lenovo screen?
5. I'm not familiar with the connector (which is like 30 pin or something), is there any configuration needed or can you just plug it in?

Any pointers are appreciated.

Markus

[RealBlackStuff]

Welcome to the forum.
On average (at least the older) Samsung screens are the least liked on this forum.
Of the 2 mentioned, most would prefer the LG one.
Personally I would put in a Sharp WUXGA as used in the likes of Dell D800 and others.
Search e.g. on eBay for LQ154M1LW2A or LQ154M1LW02, those two are guaranteed to please.
Those screens have some brackets on top and bottom that first need to be carefully removed.
You can use e.g. sturdy wire clippers for that.
Make sure you do NOT bend the metal frame around the LCD in any way!
Or you can use good old Dremel with a cutting wheel.
Make sure to cover the LCD properly first, to avoid the metal dust!
You can leave ~2mm leftovers from those brackets.
Don't bother to "smooth" the leftovers, you'd only risk bending the frame and/or cracking the LCD.
After that it's a drop-in replacement.
T61 uses the same cable/inverter for all resolutions.

Also, Dell screens are a lot cheaper than IBM/Lenovo screens!

[nigratruo]

Thanks for the tips. I had no idea that these screens were so interchangeable.
I thought that most were only compatible with the own manufacturer.
Are they all compatible or how can you tell? By the connector? How many pins it has?

[RealBlackStuff]

You'll need to compare LCD-cable-connector location and type, but most important: the exact pinout compatibility.
That's where spec sheets come in handy.

[nigratruo]

Thanks so much for your contribution, I ordered a LQ154M1LW02 and it should arrive in a week.

[nigratruo]

Sadly, that display does not work for my T61.
I just received it and it stays dark for 12 seconds, like the Laptop is trying to figure out what to do with it, then it shows the milky blurry pictures I attached as dropbox links. There are no recognizable pixels or anything. Is there a special configuration or thing I can do? How do you know this screen works with a Lenovo T61?
The connector looks slightly different, I measured it and it had the same length, but plugging in the cable was not as easy as doing it with my original screen.
The video card and display connector are OK, I tried it with the old display, that I had the new back light installed and butchered it badly doing it. (it now has a nasty uneven backlighting with dark and light spots)

https://www.dropbox.com/s/swroddhburpvx ... 8.jpg?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/vh1m983x2hu8m ... 6.jpg?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/g6jmlk5k270c9 ... 0.jpg?dl=0

I'm kind of bummed, as I was looking forward to the higher resolution and how great the display would look after you recommended it.
I wonder if maybe the display is DOA, I bought it via ebay and the seller said that it is seller refurbished. How can I tell if is in working condition?

[RealBlackStuff]

I have put several of those screens in 15.4" T61, T500 and R500.
Did you check your screen upon arrival?
You may have damaged it when you cut off the brackets.
Or the LCD-cable has dirty contacts.

[nigratruo]

That is odd, you saw the pictures right? I appreciate that at least you had success with them before and that they are supposed to work.
The contacts don't look dirty, but I will especially clean them. I did, of course, since I have a lot of experience in Hardware NOT YET removed the metal pieces, as I first wanted to see if it would work. I have assembled many PCs and found that if I automatically assume they work, and put everything already together, they sometimes don't, therefore it is wise to do a test BEFORE putting everything together.
I have a Dell D600, can I try the Display on that device to see if it does indeed work or is defective?
I understand that it is meant for a D800.

I would appreciate any idea what I could try, have you seen fuzzy pictures like this on displays before like I showed on the pics? I have not really any experience changing LCDs internally, so there might be other things I can try. The connector definitely did not just slide in as easy like it did from the original screen.
I will make pictures from the connector.

[RealBlackStuff]

I have seen white pix like yours, but that's a while ago, and I can't remember what caused it.
I would try another inverter and/or another LCD-cable (any T60/T61 cable, even 14.1").
If neither works, then I guess the screen was DOA.
May have been damaged during transport.
USPS is not known for gentle handling, especially it a package is marked GLASS or FRAGILE.

[nigratruo]

So I am writing this here on my old Screen that I barely could fix, on the T61, so I the LCD cable does work, so does the Inverter. If it works for my old LTN154P2-L05 screen (1680 x 1050) screen, then that is 100% proof that the Cable and the inverter is proper and working I guess.
It might be DOA.

[ac12]

Thanks RBS, I have one of the Dell screens coming to me.
Next the trick of opening the cover to replace the screen.

[nigratruo]

And, how did it go? Could you replace it?

[ac12]

I've been busy.
Screen is still in the box.
I'm getting up the nerve to do surgery on the lid to replace the screen.

update.
I'm also holding off to get a Bluetooth 4 module, to put into the lid.
That way I go into the lid just once.

[TED08540]

Hello
I have a IBM ThinkPad T61. Type 7664. S/N L3-B0272 02/08 Product ID: 766417U
It's highest brightness level is really not bright at all.
I'm told that the T61P LCD is much brighter by default.
Is the T61P LCD compatible / interchangeable with the T61 and able to improve the T61's brightness?
Thank you.

[Thinkpad4by3]

Hello
I have a IBM ThinkPad T61. Type 7664. S/N L3-B0272 02/08 Product ID: 766417U
It's highest brightness level is really not bright at all.
I'm told that the T61P LCD is much brighter by default.
Is the T61P LCD compatible / interchangeable with the T61 and able to improve the T61's brightness?
Thank you.

That is a 14" T61 so no it will not work. The display has gotten dark because over time the CCFL bulb wears out. Find a new 1440x900 14.1" panel for your T61 to get brightness back or upgrade to something like a T410 with LED lighting.

[W500tragic]

I have a similar query, but as there is so much info on the forums (thanks guys), I was reluctant to start a new thread, but add to this one.

I have a T61 (6064-A19, 15.4" 16:10, 128MB nVIDIA Quadro NVS 140M, 08/03 manf - oooh sailing close to the wind) I am currently typing from, but I want a "new screen" for it. It has the original (? I only buy 2nd hand) WXGA 1200x800 screen, and I had assumed it was stock Samdung but I ran an EDID check from Linux and found that my dim T61 screen is actually a LP154WX4-TLA6 (LG/Phillips).

I really want something with higher resolution and brightness (thought seriously of xiphmont's LED upgrade path), and after combing the fora here thought I could just get a 30-pin, drop-in 15.4 replacement (ala RBS' and other's recommendations for WUXGA LG Phillips LP154WU1-TLB1; Sharp LQ154m1l-w2a, LQ154m1l-w02, Dell D8xx - type screens I believe) and tracked down what I thought would be a suitable replacement - a new WSXGA+ LP154WE2-TLA1 (1680x1050), and ordered it.

The providers emailed me back and said that flipping from a WXGA to a WSXGA+ like that is bad ju-ju and would risk damage to the panel, mbo etc etc. I enquired whether they meant I would likely have to source another inverter for the job (inverter not included with the screen) but did they have an alternative they could recommend for my case instead? They have come back with a new Samsung LTN154P3-L02 - a drop-in replacement for the Lenovo T500/T61p, and not bad ratings overall - but WXGA (1280 x 800)!

Please - what have I missed - is upgrading from native WXGA to WSXGA+ or WUXGA so evil or dangerous? Have all the examples I have been reading about examples of just swapping (old) like for (new) like?

Advice on this area of ThinkPad black magic desperately sought!

[W500tragic]

<snip>
T61 uses the same cable/inverter for all resolutions.

Also, Dell screens are a lot cheaper than IBM/Lenovo screens!

answering my own question, and from RBS's comments earlier in this very thread - will ask to have my eBay provider send the original WSXGA+ option I chose, pronto!

[wujstefan]

Please - what have I missed - is upgrading from native WXGA to WSXGA+ or WUXGA so evil or dangerous? Have all the examples I have been reading about examples of just swapping (old) like for (new) like?

What kind of bulls... those sellers are trying to produce.

It's a 1:1 replacement, and as far as I remember even work on the same cable/inverter set. SHARP WUXGAs do NOT work on some of cable/inverter set in T61/p (tested; need to filter which sets are no-go for the panel), but these are not stock. Stock WSXGA+ and LG WUXGA panels are great. I have led-modded the latter some years back, but I'd recommend against trying to do this. These panels are bright enough.

[W500tragic]

Thanks wujstefan - good tips, and I'll stick to my guns in future.
As it happened, they sold the last WSGXA I had ordered to another customer, and sent me the new WXGA instead. I returned it unopened, but am still waiting for my refund. I wasted several hours going back through my notes and readings to double-check the supplier's concerns. They are pretty prominent in Australia but I won't be going back. Cost is about the same to buy "locally" from a limited number of Australian providers as it does to buy and ship from the UK - I know they do better for their customers as the competition across Europe is much higher. I'll practice swapping out CCFL for LEDs on two other older Toshibas first before I think of it in my T- and W- class Lenovos - but I really need to upgrade the resolution anyway.
Cheers

[wujstefan]

Thanks wujstefan - good tips, and I'll stick to my guns in future.

Get ready to reload:
I've just sourced a couple of cheap WSXGA+ panels AND a fully working D810 w/WUXGA. PM me if interested, I'd be happy to share.

[Natakranta]

Thanks wujstefan - good tips, and I'll stick to my guns in future.

Get ready to reload:
I've just sourced a couple of cheap WSXGA+ panels AND a fully working D810 w/WUXGA. PM me if interested, I'd be happy to share.

Hi, I have 14" wide screen T61 with 1440x900 TN display. Are this WSXGA+ (1680 × 1050) panels you are mentioning 14" by any chance?
I'd love to improve the screen on my T61. I have 15" R60 which I upgraded to 1600x1200 Flexview/IPS panel and that's night and day to TN screen. Though R60 is a slough comparing to T61, hence I'm looking at options to upgrade my 14" widescreen T61, which I haven't found any so far.

Edit, I guess you were referring to 15.4" , bad luck for me

[wujstefan]

Edit, I guess you were referring to 15.4" , bad luck for me

Hate to say, but the panel you have is a top you can get. It's not a bad panel by any means, it's that there were no better panels for T61.

[Natakranta]

Edit, I guess you were referring to 15.4" , bad luck for me

Hate to say, but the panel you have is a top you can get. It's not a bad panel by any means, it's that there were no better panels for T61.

That's what I figured out reading here and on Reddit, but I was hoping that maybe something new came out, a mod of some non original screen retrofitted to T61 14" widescreen. "Hope dies last".
Thanks/Dzięki!

[olddog]

It would not cost you very much if you were to sell the 14 inch and buy a 15 inch. That's what I would do in your situation. And just to encourage you, I have to say that the 1920 x 1200 screen on my T61P is superb.

[kfzhu1229]

Here I thought the Dell D series screens are all proprietary? I remembered that for my Latitude D630 I have to get a Dell OEM 1440x900 screen otherwise it won't work. I also remembered that for my D610 I tried a ThinkPad T4x XGA screen with absolutely zero luck, even though a D630 WXGA screen worked when a D610 is not designed for widescreen (but D810 is).
However as far as I know of you can freely use any screens from Dell C series (a T22 Samsung works perfectly in my C600 and vice versa) and perhaps use a Sharp UXGA screen from a C840 to fit a T4x (not T6x due to the EDID chip problem)

[wujstefan]

It would not cost you very much if you were to sell the 14 inch and buy a 15 inch. That's what I would do in your situation. And just to encourage you, I have to say that the 1920 x 1200 screen on my T61P is superb.

This is true for LG panels. Samsung WUXGAs (both were factory installed) is a poor panel, despite reasonable parameters on paper. If you have troubles getting SHARP panel, try to get LG. If you have troubles getting LG, stick with WSXGA+.

Here I thought the Dell D series screens are all proprietary? I remembered that for my Latitude D630 I have to get a Dell OEM 1440x900 screen otherwise it won't work. I also remembered that for my D610 I tried a ThinkPad T4x XGA screen with absolutely zero luck, even though a D630 WXGA screen worked when a D610 is not designed for widescreen (but D810 is).
However as far as I know of you can freely use any screens from Dell C series (a T22 Samsung works perfectly in my C600 and vice versa) and perhaps use a Sharp UXGA screen from a C840 to fit a T4x (not T6x due to the EDID chip problem)

Well I just tried to retrofit D810 mentioned above with a different screen. Two screens tested, zero issues. Moved SHARP to T500. Zero issues. Maybe it depends on laptop model.

[pm23885]

Last year I changed the lcd on my stock 14.1" T61 WXGA 1280x800 with this: LP141WP1(TL)(B8)

Its probably not the best but it fits perfectly. Its a bit brighter than the old lcd which makes sense due to the age of the original ccfl. It can't compare to the new led lighted ones though. Slightly higher resolution, I can't complain. One thing to note - its really difficult to remove the lcd bezel without breaking one or two of the plastic latches. I'm not a frequent modder so I don't know if there's a secret on how to remove it without breaking a latch.

[W500tragic]

Please - what have I missed - is upgrading from native WXGA to WSXGA+ or WUXGA so evil or dangerous? Have all the examples I have been reading about examples of just swapping (old) like for (new) like?

What kind of bulls... those sellers are trying to produce.

It's a 1:1 replacement, and as far as I remember even work on the same cable/inverter set. SHARP WUXGAs do NOT work on some of cable/inverter set in T61/p (tested; need to filter which sets are no-go for the panel), but these are not stock. Stock WSXGA+ and LG WUXGA panels are great. I have led-modded the latter some years back, but I'd recommend against trying to do this. These panels are bright enough.

OK so this is going a little off-topic for the OP regarding T61, but I just wanted to recount a quick example of 1:1 replacements for screen upgrades. Dad's Lenovo B50-70 IdeaPad motherboard carked some time ago, I salvaged everything I could including the 15.6" screen, for a rainy day.
Now speaking of BS - my daughter's new and woefully overpriced HP 15-BS522tx had its screen crack through normal use (no impact) and was quoted AU$450 for a replacement, under "warranty" (they claim impact damage). No, thank you (!!) I finally got a chance to open it up myself - and seeing how the dimensions and pin configurations between the B50-70 and the BS522tx were the same, and half the bracket holes matched up natively... and now my daughter has a new (edits:oops - ) WUXGA FHD (1920x1080) screen for her HP and no longer needs to be hooked to an external monitor. 4 months now of continuous heavy use - no issues. Winner, winner, chicken dinner

[W500tragic]

Just to confirm - I upgraded some screens over the weekend, and RealBlackStuff's recommendation for the LQ154M1LW2A is pretty much (?!) on the money. That is - I bought a "compatible" screen on eBay that was advertised as a brand new LQ154M1LW2A and I missed the fine-print "availability" disclaimer. Anyway, I thought I'd bear with it and I'm otherwise stoked with the 15.4" WUXGA in my W500. I had a scratched 15.4" WUXGA I had from a motherboard-locked W500 and it slotted straight into my 15.4" T61 - much happier with that now than with the original WXGA, even with the blemishes.

I didn't do any dremelling to remove the metal bracket tags top-of-display in the pseudo-LQ154M1LW2A, but I used them for additional points to fix with the "Red Devil" double-sided tape recommended elsewhere on the ThinkPad (and Lenovo?) fora.
Good Luck with your experiments