Thinkpads Forum

Before we get started, this thread is about exploring the possibilities of a DIY (Do It Yourself) modification. This is not about an official upgrade or a mail-it-in professional upgrade.


I've seen signs in various places across the forum suggesting that LCD upgrades are completely possible. One such example being here (See post towards the bottom of the page by jsfrank). So, it is possible.

It is also possible to buy replacement 12.1" SXGA+ X60T screen from various vendors.

The real questions are:

• - Does the X60T LCD's wires work with the X6x/s?
  - Does the X60T LCD require a new inverter or will the X6x's work? If not, will the X60T's inverter work and is it compatible with the X6x/s?

From looking at the HMM of both machines I would say it doesn't look as if the X60T's inverter would fit in the X6x/s machines - but you can't judge much from the pictures. It also looks as if we can't use the X60T wires as they have connections for the digitizer and the microprocessor board that processes the digitizer's inputs - so we'd have to explore further the possibility of using an X6x/s cable (but are the cable connectors the same size?).

All in all there are a lot of questions and I'm hoping to get some insightful answers. (Especially since I don't know what the heck an inverter board does... )

Antioch wrote:I've seen signs in various places across the forum suggesting that LCD upgrades are completely possible. One such example being here

But that's a much more straightforward case, because the QXGA LCD was specifically designed by IBM for the R50p. By contrast, the X6* tablet's SXGA+ isn't supposed to be used in the non-tablets.

Antioch wrote:The real questions are:

• - Does the X60T LCD's wires work with the X6x/s?
  - Does the X60T LCD require a new inverter or will the X6x's work? If not, will the X60T's inverter work and is it compatible with the X6x/s?

One more question: Is the SXGA+ tablet LCD thicker than the XGA LCD? If it is, it might be too thick for the X60s/61s's display lid. My R50p's QXGA LCD is thicker than its UXGA LCD by about 1 mm.

The point about thickness is true - it will have to be looked into. However I have seen in a different thread here that a Japanese retailer "upgrades" T43's to QXGA screens using the R50p hardware so it seems completely plausible that it would work for the X-series. Unfortunately many of the links are broken now (they're 2-3 years old) but the screenshot is still working.

Antioch wrote: However I have seen in a different thread here that a Japanese retailer "upgrades" T43's to QXGA screens using the R50p hardware

If I remember correctly, these upgrades entailed swapping the entire LCD assembly, i.e. not just the LCD itself but also the plastics around it! Not a good idea because with such a heavy lid, the T43 (whose base is lighter than the R50p's) might easily tip over! In fact, even the R50p's LCD assembly can barely accommodate the QXGA panel and is constantly threatening to burst.

Interesting. I did not know that. Well, in our case swapping the LCD assembly is not possible (nor wanted).

Either way, I don't think the weight will be much of an issue because the tablets don't seem to want to fall over with their SXGA+ screens.

Antioch wrote:Interesting. I did not know that. Well, in our case swapping the LCD assembly is not possible (nor wanted).

Either way, I don't think the weight will be much of an issue because the tablets don't seem to want to fall over with their SXGA+ screens.

I saw some discussion on Thinkpad forum in China, someone tried to put a SXGA+ screen off X60t to a X60, not just the cable is different but also the video chip doesn't support it.
It recognize the screen as XGA , therefore it still can display something on the SXGA+ screen, but in pieces.

poky wrote:the video chip doesn't support it.

This is very surprising, because the video card can support at least 1920x1200 externally.

Just a suggestion - I have seen DIY pros do some wild stuff with LCD screens on another forum - mp3car.com - I would recommend checking it out. Aside from the technical knowhow of doing such a modification, forum members also know where to obtain raw LCD panels of all sorts.

pianowizard wrote:

poky wrote:the video chip doesn't support it.

This is very surprising, because the video card can support at least 1920x1200 externally.

Agreed. That and the fact that both machines use the same "video chip." Those guys must not have changed the inverter or something.

poky wrote:I saw some discussion on Thinkpad forum in China, someone tried to put a SXGA+ screen off X60t to a X60, not just the cable is different but also the video chip doesn't support it.
It recognize the screen as XGA , therefore it still can display something on the SXGA+ screen, but in pieces.

Poky - Can you please link us to the thread? I would really like to see how they overcame the difference in cables. After that the only thing to do is make sure you have the right inverter - but I'm not sure the X60T inverter will fit in an X60.... [censored] Lenovo.

Well, I believe it's first of all important to determine the exact X6x/s TFT panel types and sizes, their used inverters, display bezel sizes and so on. - These can be partly determined from the HMM and LCD panel supplier specs etc.

Next I would see what 12.1" SXGA+ panels from notebook LCD panel suppliers are available on the market...

---> lcds4less
---> screentek

...etc.

Finally I would see if one of the SXGA+ LCD panels and inverters on the market would fit for the individual X6x/s model by comparision of the spec datas.

Just a hint, there also have been in the past some Asus 12.1" subnotebooks (not tablets) offered with a 4:3 SXGA+ TFT panels, namely specific M5200N and U5F-2A122P models.

vkyr - Some good points, but those links and ideas alone show that you know more than I about this. I'd appreciate your help in the matter. I don't know what I'm doing (vaguely) and I was hoping to start this thread in an attempt to centralize and effort to figure things out.

Here is information taken from the HMM:

LCD: Manufacturer, FRU

LCD module 12.1-inch XGA (TMD) 13N7092
LCD module 12.1-inch XGA (Hydis) 13N7094
LCD module 12.1-inch XGA (Samsung) 13N7096
LCD module 12.1-inch XGA (CMO) 42T0343

Bezels: Manufacturer, FRU

LCD front bezel assembly 12.1-inch TFT (SPWG) 41V9721
LCD front bezel assembly 12.1-inch TFT (TMD) 41V9722
LCD front bezel assembly 12.1-inch TFT (SPWG) 42X3937
LCD front bezel assembly 12.1-inch TFT (TMD) 42X3938
LCD front bezel assembly 12.1-inch TFT (SPWG) for WWAN 42X4327

Dimensions were not mentioned for LCD or bezel.

Inverter manufacturer / FRU:

LCD inverter card (Foxconn) 39T5699
LCD inverter card (YEC) 42T0152

Beyond that I don't know too much. I didn't even know about those links above. However, those links don't talk about inverters for the LCDs. Also, how do you know if the connectors and wires will match between the LCD/Inverters and the mainboard? Are they standard or not?

Thanks.

I found the following sites that have inverters:

Link1
Link2

But I have yet to determine what goes with what. The good news is that most of the inverters looks to be about the size of the X6x/s inverter so it may possibly fit.

Question: With a different inverter, will the screen dimming functionality (Fn + Home/End) still work? I hope so...

It's not an easy task to find and get all the relevant technical datas for such a LCD upgrade job, as is the panel/inverter exchange job itself. - Especially if a notebook is not right out of the box specified for any higher res panels by the vendor.

In other words, for the X6x-series it's not like for an R50p model, which had been already specified by IBM for the higher UXGA/QXGA resolution panels and where IBM also offered therefor all the right LCD parts (the panel, inverter board, hinges mounting parts etc.) out of the box.

If you look over the FAQs from the links I showed above, you will see that ScreenTek, LCD4Less etc. always too do write...

Q: Can I upgrade the size or resolution of my laptop LCD screen?

A: Screen size cannot be upgraded. Your laptop resolution may be upgraded sometimes depending on the type of video card contained in your laptop and if there exists a compatible LCD screen of a higher resolution. We generally discourage against upgrading resolutions as it is not easy to determine a compatible LCD screen between resolutions.

...or...

Q: Are some laptop LCD screens compatible with other LCD screens?

A: Yes. Laptop LCD screens may be compatible with other laptop LCD screens. Moreover, laptop makers like Dell, HP Compaq, IBM, Toshiba and Sony may source more than one LCD screen (as distinguished by the LCD screen's part number) even from different brand LCD screen manufacturers to install in the same laptop model. There are many variables to take into consideration like various physical constraints, electronic signaling characteristics and power issues.

...that's also since they don't sell and have fitting inverters and mounting parts for the individual lcd panels related to all the specific notebook bezels from all the different notebook vendors.

In sum up, even it is theoretical possible to perform an lcd upgrade for specific notebook displays, it's always hard to do so in practice, if you don't have enough approved internal informations about the specific notebook. And the Thinkpad HMMs don't give you here enough of the needed internal engineering informations that you would usually need to perform such a job, if it is not already designated for the specific notebook (like for the above mentioned R50p example)!

Antioch wrote: Deleted...

Poky - Can you please link us to the thread? I would really like to see how they overcame the difference in cables. After that the only thing to do is make sure you have the right inverter - but I'm not sure the X60T inverter will fit in an X60.... [censored] Lenovo.

Here's the original post on chinese website
http://www.thinkpad.cn/forum/viewthread.php?tid=543944
Don't know if you can view the pictures
But they said something like by default, the BIOS is set up for the XGA screen, only way is to change the value in BIOS.

poky wrote:But they said something like by default, the BIOS is set up for the XGA screen, only way is to change the value in BIOS.

An evil trick by Lenovo to prevent people from upgrading the LCD. Dell did the same thing to my Dimension B110's integrated video card, preventing it from supporting 1920x1200 so I had to buy a separate video card.

poky wrote:Here's the original post on chinese website
http://www.thinkpad.cn/forum/viewthread.php?tid=543944
Don't know if you can view the pictures
But they said something like by default, the BIOS is set up for the XGA screen, only way is to change the value in BIOS.

Hey poky, thanks for the site which I finally had a chance to look at. I can't read simplified Chinese well, but I think the most recent post (24 Aug 2007) says someone successfully installed the SXGA+ screen on an X60? Can you please verify that?

To me, the four most exciting LCD mods are:

1) 10.4" SVGA --> XGA for the 240X
2) 12.1" XGA --> SXGA+ for the X40, X41, X60s or X61s
3) 14.1" SXGA+ --> UXGA for the T series
4) 15.0" UXGA Flexview --> QXGA Flexview for the R50p

I've done "3" and "4" and would like to try "2" next. I would get the following material:

1) A Toshiba M200/M205/M210 tablet with 12.1" SXGA+ (about the same price as buying just the LCD); I would take out its LCD and sell the rest of the machine for parts

2) A Thinkpad X60s with a non-UltraLight screen; this is important because the UltraLight version's LCD assembly would be too thin for the SXGA+ panel

3) An SXGA+ LCD cable for the X6* tablets or the one designed for the 14.1" T60.

4) An SXGA+ inverter designed for the 14.1" T60 or the X6* tablets.

pianowizard wrote:To me, the four most exciting LCD mods are:

1) 10.4" SVGA --> XGA for the 240X
2) 12.1" XGA --> SXGA+ for the X series
3) 14.1" SXGA+ --> UXGA for the T series
4) 15.0" UXGA Flexview --> QXGA Flexview for the R series

I've done "3" and "4" and would like to try "2" next.

#1 would be easiest by buying a japanese s30 or 240Z since they both came native with a 10.4" XGA panel -- no modding required.   i'd actually rank #2 above #1 simply because it's (hopefully) a mod you can do to a modern thinkpad X60/X61 and produce a very powerful and capable machine in the end.   in fact, as soon as i find out if someone has been successful with an SXGA+ X60/X61, i'll buy an X61 and do it myself.

erik wrote:#1 would be easiest by buying a japanese s30 or 240Z since they both came native with a 10.4" XGA panel

Of course, but the XGA 240Z (most models only had SVGA), S30 and S31 are very hard to find! Another problem is that I don't think there's an English-only keyboard for the S series. I've used Japanese keyboards and hate them. So, my only options are 1) upgrading a 240X myself, or 2) getting a 240Z with XGA.

erik wrote:in fact, as soon as i find out if someone has been successful with an SXGA+ X60/X61, i'll buy an X61 and do it myself.

I've thought hard about it and I'm now convinced that this mod is worth trying only with an X60s or X61s. The X60 and X61 are heavier, and after replacing their XGA screens with the tablet's SXGA+ (presumably quite a bit heavier than the non-tablet's XGA), they would weigh almost the same as an X60/X61 tablet, so I might as well just buy an X6* tablet and use it as is? By contrast, an X60s/X61s with the slimline battery would probably still weigh less than 3.3 lbs after the upgrade.

erik wrote:i'd actually rank #2 above #1

I agree that #2 is a bigger contribution to society.

i have both english and japanese keyboards for my s30.   i bought a US english keyboard from IBM maintenance parts back in 2004 just to have in case i ever decide to sell it.   they are (were?) available because some corporation here in the US bought a bunch of S30s and spec'd them out with US english keyboards.   but, i use the japanese keyboard and have them on all of my current thinkpads (T61p, T42p, and s30) simply because i took two years of japanese in college and now prefer typing on their keyboard layout -- especially when typing in japanese.

erik wrote:they are (were?) available because some corporation here in the US bought a bunch of S30s and spec'd them out with US english keyboards.

Sounds like Dynamism.com. Lucky you!

pianowizard wrote:

erik wrote:they are (were?) available because some corporation here in the US bought a bunch of S30s and spec'd them out with US english keyboards.

Sounds like Dynamism.com. Lucky you!

afaik, dynamism only imported genuine japanese s30s with japanese keyboards.   i bought mine while in japan back in 2001 so i'm not 100% sure of what was offered where.

fwiw, the s30 HMM has the part number for the english keyboard just in case you go that route.

erik wrote:fwiw, the s30 HMM has the part number for the english keyboard just in case you go that route.

That's fanTAStic! Thanks for the info. It's even harder to get than an X31 though, because a Google search returned only 46 results!

I also owned a s30 thinkpad and was very happy with it, but having multiple laptop at the same time take too much time to updates them simultaneously...

I confirm that you can have an REAL english keyboard on them, I had one. In case you are interested, it is very common to find very good s30 in Japan. Try the following link, it is Yahoo JP auxtions:

http://search.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/s ... 2&auccat=0

And if you want use them to buy one, I advise you to try the following service:
http://www.akibado.com/index.html

I already use them and they are reliable.

serge

Is anyone aware of any breakthrough on this XGA-->SXGA+ modification? I know that someone successfully did this on an X31, but the upgraded machine probably weighs around 3.8 lbs, which is too heavy, so it's not worthwhile. I thought about trying it on an X40 (which is almost 1 lb lighter than the X31) but I doubted it would work because the display assembly is probably too thin.

x31 xga -> sxga+
http://www.51nb.com/viewthread-576766

user poky said above that the X60 BIOS is permanently set at XGA, even if a higher res panel is installed.   this may be the determining factor in getting this mod to work.

i'd still like to see this work on an X6x notebook.   or, i'd like to see the X notebook redesigned with an 11.1" WXGA (1280x800) panel.

fantomex wrote:x31 xga -> sxga+
http://www.51nb.com/viewthread-576766

That's where I learned about someone doing this mod on an X31, but like I said, it's not worth the trouble because an SXGA+ S31 would weigh about 3.8 lbs, which is too heavy for an "ultraportable" IMHO. That's the same weight as the SXGA+ X6* tablet, so I might as well get that tablet.

I think most people want an SXGA+ X series that weighs around 3 lbs.

erik wrote:user poky said above that the X60 BIOS is permanently set at XGA, even if a higher res panel is installed.

I remember that post, but I was hoping someone had overcome this BIOS limitation since.

Just wanted to chime in and say thanks for posting that info.

I'm watching this thread eagerly -- I would drop my SXGA+ X61t in a second for an SXGA+ non-tablet X61.

If some enterprising individual wanted to charge for the conversion, he could do well.