SXGA+ on a X60s (non tablet)

[erik]

wow... 1.05 is an early version from last year.   that's old!

i'd offer to send you my BIOS but everytime i ask yongseok about sending it to various users he says 'no'.

my version is "X61sxga+" and unique to my system -- mostly because i coined the term.

[hanseatic]

Erik

could you provide us with specs of your cable?
Length of the adapter cable, width and thickness of the tape you used. What Kapton tape was it?

[force]

I connected a HV121P01-101 (X61T screen, has direct bonding (eg. really sticky glue that's probably impossible to get off cleanly) of a glass plate to the LCD) to my X60s. The display was garbled during the normal bootup sequence, but when it went into the graphical environment in Linux (didn't try it in Windows, sorry), the screen came up in SXGA+.

I wasn't expecting it to get it right, but apparently it honored the EDID data. I'm guessing something in Windows might work, but I haven't tried this yet. Supposedly, for the X60s you can use the X60T bios, but certain things don't work (bluetooth and something about the dock, IIRC). Note that this _should not_ be used for an X60, as the thermal alarm levels or something like that are different and could result in damage.

[AvalonXIII]

wow... 1.05 is an early version from last year.   that's old!

i'd offer to send you my BIOS but everytime i ask yongseok about sending it to various users he says 'no'.

my version is "X61sxga+" and unique to my system -- mostly because i coined the term.

My hope is that you won't patent the term, otherwise I'll have to pay you money everytime I use it
But then again, maybe you should patent it.

[erik]

i use heat-resistant kapton tape with silicon adhesive in two thicknesses: 0.0025" and 0.0035" thick.   it doesn't add a measurable thickness to any of the parts.   on the LCD hinges, i use a 0.25" wide double-sided tape to first attach the hinges to the frame before using kapton in various places.

you can see all of this in the lenovoblogs post and in the lenovo photo library.   my process has changed since those photos were taken but it will give you the general idea.

the adapter cable length is determined by a template i created a year ago.   since it's folded in two places it's difficult to say how long it is.   plus, each wire is individually cut to length, making each of the 13 wires different.   i don't cut them until they're ready to be soldered in case a mistake is made.

[erik]

My hope is that you won't patent the term, otherwise I'll have to pay you money everytime I use it
But then again, maybe you should patent it.

as an industrial designer, i'm very familiar with patents and trademarks.   maybe i should!

i don't mind, really.   it always makes me smile when i see someone else use the term.

[force]

What is Kapton tape used for? I've never used it before, but from the wikipedia article it appears that it's a durable insulator. I noticed on many cables (not FPCs) there's a bit near the connectors- I'm guessing it is to just shield the contacts and to provide some insulation and reinforcement.

Also, shielding of some sort is a must. I just stuck some wires together when testing mine, and I noticed a lot of noise in the image. Laying a pair of wire cutters (basically a large hunk of metal) cleaned it up a bit.

Also an update on the ebay seller 'leonworks2003'. It appears that he doesn't have any of the -100's in stock. I've also received various paypal refunds from different email addresses, which seems like it's really just a front for a handful of suppliers.

Re patenting the term: good thing I have an X60s.

[erik]

you're correct -- kapton tape is an insulator but it's also extremely thin, tear-resistant, electrically inert, will not create static, and the silicone adhesive remains strong and fast under high heat.   standard tapes simply cannot match these properties.

factory LVDS cables are captured in kapton.   in this form it's molded and not a tape.   it's the same stuff though.

i use kapton because it's the right tool for the job.   i'm sure scotch tape or packaging tape would suffice but it's definitely not ideal for many reasons -- static being the biggest one.

[Pumpe]

Erik, you were right. Using gaffer tape was not the best idea to fix the panel to the hinges. I made a second try using double-sided tape, which is a much more elegant way.

Additonally, I placed some small pads at the rear edges of the panel. This way, the pannel cannot be pushed in direction of the rear panel. Now, the mod is sturdy enough for every-day business use.

I plan to write a new entry in the ThinkWiki, describing the SXGA+ mod. Would you add some details concerning the cable (I got mine from a Chinese supplier)?

Pumpe

[erik]

pumpe - welcome to the forum!

next time i build a cable, i'll take photos of the process i use.   i've had a lot of inquiries recently about building cables and expect at least one of them will follow through with an order one of these days.

i'm supposed to build another complete system for a former colleague at lenovo.   when i do, i'll be sure to take photos of the build and give some hints as to what i do differently.

i've hesitated making a guide, per se, due to the lack of availability of the modified BIOS.   if the BIOS were made available then a guide would make more sense.

[Pumpe]

Erik,

that would be really nice.

In the German forum, the modified BIOS for X6x and X3x is already widespread. And for the X6xs series, the tablet BIOS works, too. And after all, Linux users can ignore the BIOS issue

I think, I will go out for the Wiki page. I am looking forward to see your correction of my guide

Pumpe

[erik]

the tablet BIOS works with an X60s/X61s but will cause problems with bluetooth and the ultrabase.   the thinklight will illuminate but you still get the slashed out OSD icon.   so, yes, it works, but not without some problems.

[andykrej]

How does the flexview screen affect battery life? Is the difference noticeable?

[erik]

an X61s with an SXGA+ panel is no different than an X61T with an SXGA+ panel.   the hardware is 99% identical.   AFFS panels are relatively efficient and don't add much overhead compared to the standard TN panel.

i had an SXGA+ X61T last year and got 5.5~6.5 hours (depending on what i was doing) out of both systems using an 8-cell.   granted, this was with an SSD, too, which helps.

[hanseatic]

i just wish i had more time to make the cables in bulk.   i suppose if enough orders came in i could do it.   unfortunately the tools and supplies necessary to do this the right way would cost over $2000 USD.   otherwise you're left trying to solder minuscule parts and quickly diminishing the quality and reliability of the end product.

Afaik we come up to about 40 displays, and probably as much cables. Could that be "enough orders" and to what costs?

Maybe some more people here would want one, too?

[Nihan]

Maybe some more people here would want one, too?

Definitely. I would be interested in getting a couple panels & cables if the price was right.

[andykrej]

me too!!

[gmgfarrand]

I could be interested..

[erik]

i'll work out the math and let everyone know what i decide.   hanseatic PM'd me this morning and said his list is up to 50 people so far.   that's a lot of cables for one person to make!

on the displays, i'll have to decline modifying them due to their highly-fragile nature and trying to ship them internationally.   the best i could do is to create an instruction guide the next time i modify one locally.

[charles.atcher]

I think I'd be in for a good, quality cable myself. Although I have no fear of rolling my own, it's always better when someone has "been there, done that". Then again, I always do need more tools...

[mrj47]

You can definitely count me in! This mod is too awesome to pass up.

[rek]

If the WWAN antenna doesn't pose a problem for the LCD mod, and the modded BIOS for an X60/s also allows non-authorised WWAN cards, you can count me in too.

[erik]

WWAN is no problem.

however, after talking to hanseatic, i can't meet the target price of what their forum members were looking to spend.   their target price for completed cables was slightly less than my cost in tools and materials alone, leaving me in the negative.   unfortunately i can't create engineering-grade cables at a loss.   that's just not good business.

we're still working out some details.   if things change then i'll let everyone know.

[gmgfarrand]

Will this panel work on a X61 as well?

[erik]

definitely.   it actually works better in an X61 since many of the X61s models come with the lightweight panel, requiring them to purchase X61 LCD housing parts.

[chris-uk]

if this'd let me SXGA+ an x61s and tell me how to do it then i'd be in!!

do we have a ballpark figure?

[fasterbybike]

IMO, one of the stumbling blocks with this project is the adapter cable, running from the LVDS cable to the replacement LCD, and the difficulty (and expense) in crimping small gauge wires.

My thoughts have been turning to fabricating a flexible flat cable - similar to the existing LVDS cable, only having a socket at one end to mate with the existing cable and a plug at the other to connect with the LCD. I have reasonable experience fabricating normal rigid PCBs but have yet to try a flexi PCB.

Research indicates that using Dupont Pyralux would be a suitable material along with KApton tape to complete the insulation. Solder-on DF19 type connectors are readily available (in fact can be salvaged from an old worn out LCD and cable).

I'll take a look next weekend to see what is feasible. In the meantime comments and hints are most welcome.

[fasterbybike]

SA Kapton tape ordered today - should be here in 10 days on the slow boat from China.

I've got the copper foil from another project, can use the SXGA+ screen out of this SX32GA+ (TM).

Will need the modified BIOS next - if anyone has a lead I'd be happy to take it

[charles.atcher]

FYI, anyone looking for these panels should have a look at eBay. There is a seller with new
HV121P01-100 for sale at a good price. I bought three.

[erik]

FYI, anyone looking for these panels should have a look at eBay. There is a seller with new
HV121P01-100 for sale at a good price. I bought three.

have you taken delivery of the panels and tested them?   if so, how did they turn out?

a month ago i bought a panel for a forum member who wanted an X61SXGA+ built.   the first panel was defective.   it was an absolute pain trying to get a replacement and the seller was in the US.   i can't imagine trying to exchange a panel between the US and china.

that's darned cheap though.   i paid over twice that and lost $15 returning the defective panel.

at least the project turned out well.   the panel i received wound up being one of the best i've built to date -- no dead pixels, no bright corners, and no gigantic spots of dust from refurbishing (which all these panels are... none of them are truly "new" no matter what the sellers claim).