Replace the XGA panel in a T60 with a UXGA from T42p

[obarriel]

I have a spare UXGA panel from a T42p lying around and I wonder if it possible to use it to replace the TN XGA panel of a 15'' of a T60. I think I read somewhere in this forum it was possible with a direct swap (I can't find it now). However I am not sure if I need to get a new lcd cable. The cable from the XGA will work/fit the UXGA panel? I don't think so...

[obarriel]

Anybody knows?

[Troels]

Hi,
The cable will work fine. Unlike the T4x series, the T6x series does not have different cable with punched holes to indicate what resolution the LCD that is installed has.
In the T6x series, the EDID is read upon boot-up, so the content of this must be correct for it to detect properly and display an image of the LCD you want to install.
The UXGA of the T42p (assuming it is an N150U3-L01) is 100% pin compatible with the ones used in T6x.

If an incorrect image is shown when initially booting with the UXGA LCD, you'd need to reflash the EEPROM with a new EDID. If needed, i can supply you with one that works. Flashing can be done by a registered version of Powerstrip (and connecting an external monitor to the thinkpad so you can see what you're doing) or by a cable method using a PonyProg2000 and a Parallel->I2C interface.

The former is by far the easiest and works for most people.

[richk]

If you have integrated graphice (Intel), it will not drive a UXGA panel. You certainly need to flash the eprom before doing it or you may damage the motherboard.

[obarriel]

Too bad... I have the integrated intel graphics. Are you sure about it richk? I have read on the QXGA thread that one user installed a QXGA panel in a T60 with integrated graphics.

Thank you Troels and richk

[richk]

I tried it once and it didn't work. It was exactly what you are trying. I had a R50p panel (exact same IDTECH part as T42p) and I flashed the eeprom, put it into a T60 lid and mounted on an integrated graphicsd machine. No picture. I moved to to an ATi motherboard and it worked fine. I only did it once, but I'm, pretty sure I didn't have a loose cable or anything like that. I can try it again next week. I still have the screen and lid.

[obarriel]

Today I have replaced the XGA with the UXGA from the T42p. No problem at all. The panel perfectly fits the T60 and in my case directly boots the computer into UXGA resolution, I didn't have to flash anything or change the inverter, just a super simple change of panel. My T60 (1951-F5G) uses the intel graphics, so I can confirm that this mods work.

richk there must be something strange in your T60, another mobo revision?

[richk]

What brand of panel? (I'm asking because panels made by BOE Hydis seem to have everything in the eeprom on lower resolution screens. I have not seen them in T42p but they are used in T60) I also wonder if the later T42p panels had the needed data in the eeprom. The early ones certainly did not. If you search the forum for old threads, there had been discussions on the subject. I have flashed several myself. The old IDTech (IBM) panels did not have the configuration stuff needed by the T60. I have enough parts to put together a UXGA screen so I'll try it again on an intel base and post back later.

[obarriel]

The panel is a IDTech N150U3

[richk]

That IDTech panel was the same one used by T42p, T43p, R50p and T60p, but they had different FRU numbers and the eeprom had different contents. At least at my house, I stand by my earlier statements. I did a really complete test. I took a panel from a T50p (Identical to T42p) and the same IDTech part number you mentioned, but IBM FRU 92P6683. I flashed the eeprom with a T60 image and put it into a T60p lid and tried it on a T60 intel base. The screen was black. I tried the same screen on an ATi base (x1400) and it worked fine. Just to make sure, I tested an XGA screen on the intel base and it worked fine. I was not willing to try the screen without flashing because one of the earlier threads mentioned blowing a fuse on the motherboard and I know from personal experience that trying a panel without an eeprom can blow a motherboard fuse. I'm curious, but not that curious. Once I have the panel out, it only takes me a few minutes to flash it. BTW, my intel motherboard FRU is 41V9912. What FRU is your MB?

[obarriel]

I am not sure where I can check the FRU # of my mb without opening the case (this is a 2nd hand unit). Using a software called HWinfo32 I gen the s/n of the mb, but not the FRU.

My T60 (1951-F5G) comes with fingerprint reader, don't know if that means a different mb FRU with respect units without it.

[richk]

The FP doesn't matter. If you are not the original owner, is it possible the motherboard was replacd by an ATi one?

[obarriel]

No. It has intel graphics.

Until this morning nobody had ever opened this thinkpad.

http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/1257/capturac.png

But if people are using qxga panels in R60/T60 with integrated graphics it is not so strange that the UXGA also works, and in my case without flashing the eeprom.

[Troels]

Then this might indicate that some of the N150U3-L01 panels have minimal eeproms/stock edid data, while others do not. That's really interesting.
All IAQX10N/S i have encountered all had minimal amount of edid data and would not work as they are in T/R 6x series.

[richk]

The N150U3-L01 is the same idtech part number used in the T60. It's not worth taking it apart to see, but I would ber courious what the IBM FRU sticker says.

[Nihan]

I have a N150U3-L01 from a R50p which worked without modifications on my T60p. FRU is 92P6683.

[underclocker]

FYI, based on my experience as well, it seems that manufacturers started to add the EDID chips to displays before some machines required them. So, some T42 or R52 or other panels may work in T60's or other newer model ThinkPads, but there is no guarantee that they will! It is hit or miss. Only those panels with the appropriate FRU numbers are guaranteed to work. Other than that, you have to eyeball the EDID chip or test it out yourself.