Thinkpads Forum

I have a non-working T60p I bought off eBay. The machine does not power on at all. The reason why I bought it was because it had a 1400x1050 IPS display, and a T7600 CPU. Those parts I could easily transplant into my T60 and replace my 1024x768 display. But here's the problem:

The IPS display is very dim, according to the seller. When it did power on. So looking online, it appears these old displays used CCFL blacklights, and they tend to go dim after a few years. But, you can replace the CCFL blacklight with an LED one, but it's very hard. But considering this display is basically useless, I have nothing to lose.

So, what do I need to do? I found this guy: https://people.xiph.org/~xiphmont/think ... ight.shtml but it appears it's only for the X60, which has a 12.1" display, not 15". Do I just buy some Chinese LED kit for 15 inch 4:3 screens? I am confused.

Go one better and look for an UXGA screen (1600x1200).
Expensive if you can even find it: BoeHydis HV150UX1-100 or -101.

Much cheaper and almost as good: Sharp LQ150U1LW22 or LQ150U1LW22N
Search eBay with exactly this: (lq150u1lw22,lq150u1lw22n,9h753,n1563)

I did a LED conversion on both my T60 and T601 Frankenpad a while ago, here is the thread where I wrote down the experience and the results:

viewtopic.php?t=129053

I don't think Xiphmont makes these kits any more though. But try to message him, he might get back to you. I am almost certain you can buy cheaper chinese kits for the T60, but I don't have personal experience with those kits, I just remember reading about a few back when I was doing research before my LED kit purchase.

And be prepared this LED conversion is definitely one of the more involved mods. You must be extremely careful, as introducing dust, ripples and all kinds of artifacts into the backlight system is way too easy.

If you must have LED, then there is none better than BoeHydis HV150UX2-100, which should then be completed with my LED-mod

kyle2000yt wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 16, 2019 8:51 pm

So, what do I need to do? I found this guy: https://people.xiph.org/~xiphmont/think ... ight.shtml but it appears it's only for the X60, which has a 12.1" display, not 15". Do I just buy some Chinese LED kit for 15 inch 4:3 screens? I am confused.

If you do not need a LED, swap the bulb for a new one and live happily for the next couple of years.

If you need a LED, take RBS road and get the Hydis panel. These are *WOW* panels. And this statement comes from a guy working on both flexviews from IBM (fun), dreamcolors from HP (formerely) and premiercolor from Dell (currently).

If you need a LED and you want to use the panel you got, prepare for lotta work. Monty is not available anymore for some reason (I hope he is fine!), so all you can do is getting a led set from some chineese ebay sellers.

wujstefan wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 18, 2019 2:41 am

kyle2000yt wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 16, 2019 8:51 pm

So, what do I need to do? I found this guy: https://people.xiph.org/~xiphmont/think ... ight.shtml but it appears it's only for the X60, which has a 12.1" display, not 15". Do I just buy some Chinese LED kit for 15 inch 4:3 screens? I am confused.

If you do not need a LED, swap the bulb for a new one and live happily for the next couple of years.

If you need a LED, take RBS road and get the Hydis panel. These are *WOW* panels. And this statement comes from a guy working on both flexviews from IBM (fun), dreamcolors from HP (formerely) and premiercolor from Dell (currently).

If you need a LED and you want to use the panel you got, prepare for lotta work. Monty is not available anymore for some reason (I hope he is fine!), so all you can do is getting a led set from some chineese ebay sellers.

So just replacing the CCFL blacklight is easier than CCFL -> LED? I'm trying to keep costs down, since my T60 is a secondary machine (I have a T440p). My current 1024x768 panel is annoying to use and is a bit dim

wujstefan wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 18, 2019 2:41 am

kyle2000yt wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 16, 2019 8:51 pm

So, what do I need to do? I found this guy: https://people.xiph.org/~xiphmont/think ... ight.shtml but it appears it's only for the X60, which has a 12.1" display, not 15". Do I just buy some Chinese LED kit for 15 inch 4:3 screens? I am confused.

If you do not need a LED, swap the bulb for a new one and live happily for the next couple of years.

If you need a LED, take RBS road and get the Hydis panel. These are *WOW* panels. And this statement comes from a guy working on both flexviews from IBM (fun), dreamcolors from HP (formerely) and premiercolor from Dell (currently).

If you need a LED and you want to use the panel you got, prepare for lotta work. Monty is not available anymore for some reason (I hope he is fine!), so all you can do is getting a led set from some chineese ebay sellers.

So just replacing the CCFL is easier than CCFL -> LED? I'm trying to keep costs down since my T60 is a secondary backup (I have a T440p). The 1024x768 is annoying to use because there's not enough space. So 1400x1050 would be amazing. I don't NEED it to have LED blacklights.

Well this way I would just buy a better panel They are archievable at the likes of $25-40.

wujstefan wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 25, 2019 3:21 pm

Well this way I would just buy a better panel They are archievable at the likes of $25-40.

I thought the FlexView IPS displays were rare and super expensive? Like I thought they sold for $100-200.

The last one I have personally sold had a $50 label, and it was a perfect shaped Phillips SXGA+ Flexview.

They are getting rare, this is a fact, but $100+ for such an oldie would rather hit UXGA (1600x1200) Boe-Hydis panels in good shape.