x200s AFFS+ screen mod

[jcvjcvjcvjcv]

Yes I know the difference between TN and AFFS . A screen is only as good as it's weakest part, and TN is simply bad. Putting lipstick on it (LED) doesn't help... it's still a pig

But all non-LED X200s notebooks can be upgraded with the AFFS panel? Or only the European ones? (Thickness of lid?)

[positive]

I believe that the ultraconnect 2x2 with the factory installed WWAN antennas used to be available only in Europe. But, I purchased mine recently on the US Lenovo site, and it clearly states WWAN upgradable. If I remember correctly, WWAN was not an option on the X200s when it first came out.

To answer the recent question, my X200s is a US model, and the AFFS mod definitely works.

[iwishiwasinwhistler]

Anyone know if I can change the title of this thread or does a Mod have to do it?

I thought it would make more sense if it was a little clearer seeing as you guys in the US can do this mod too and not just us Euro's.

I know a lot of people were bemoaning the loss of the wxga+ option for the x200s on lenovo's US site recently - maybe it's a blessing in disguise for some people seeing as this screen swap is possible. Granted it wont please the high res users but at least you can now have an x200s with webcam, wwan and a decent screen that isn't a p.o.s.

[emconuk]

TP x200s has arrived I hate to say it but I quite like the screen that's on it already. It is nowhere near as bad as I thought it was going to be.

I still think I am going to do the mod but I am in less of a hurry now so will probably wait for iwishiwasinwhistler to try it out.

[jcvjcvjcvjcv]

Anyone know if I can change the title of this thread or does a Mod have to do it?

I thought it would make more sense if it was a little clearer seeing as you guys in the US can do this mod too and not just us Euro's.

I know a lot of people were bemoaning the loss of the wxga+ option for the x200s on lenovo's US site recently - maybe it's a blessing in disguise for some people seeing as this screen swap is possible. Granted it wont please the high res users but at least you can now have an x200s with webcam, wwan and a decent screen that isn't a p.o.s.

Yeah. But if we just had the 12" 1400x1050 back...

Webcam; well, yeah, how many of you guys that have a X200 with webcam actually use the cam?

[emconuk]

@iwishiwasinwhistler.
How's it going with your upgrade ?

[iwishiwasinwhistler]

Done! New screen's on and looking great! I'm really pleased with it.

Like you I'd heard so many horror stories about the standard screen I was half expecting it to make me vomit. It didn't. Mind you it's not up to the standard of the rest of the laptop and that's a shame. The AFFS screen is SO much better. Colours look so much more vibrant and richer. The contrast is great. I know I'm preaching to the converted for all you Flexview fans out there. I thought that I'd always be resigned to looking at the screens on the Sony's, Fujitsus and Macs with envy - not any more! I've got something better!

I did the mod yesterday as i had some time so took my TP apart on the kitchen counter. I'd had a look at some of the service videos on the lenovo website and read some of the posts here and over at NBR. It wasn't easy but it certainly wasn't difficult. It's fine as long as you have the time and patience.

Oh, almost forgot to say my version had the digitizer on the back and the glass on the front. Removing them was once again just a matter of time and patience. The digitizer and backing peels off really nicely and the tape holding the glass on the front can just be carefully cut off with a craft knife.

Thanks to everyone who helped with this and AvalonXIII for his info and original inspiration. If any of you have an x200s CCFL with backlit screen and are sitting there thinking this looks good - do it! It's not that difficult and the results are great.

(keep in mind it'll void your waranty )

I was interested to see erik and zephir's idea of a LED version taking shape over at NBR. Who knows, maybe it's the next step up?..........

[emconuk]

Well done ! that sounds really good. I am definately going to try it out.
Do you have any screenshots that you could post/link ?

btw: have you managed to get Arch installed yet ?
Slightly off topic but I am going to use Arch linux as well. Can we PM to discuss progress ?

[iwishiwasinwhistler]

emconuk I'll PM you re Arch.

I haven't taken any photos. I don't think my rubbish camera phone will do the screen justice The photos I linked earlier in this thread actually do a great job of showing what the screen's like.

On a slightly different note i have noticed that the inverter under the bottom of the screen in my TP makes an audible buzzing noise when on any other setting other than 100%. At 100% it's silent but as you step the brightness down you can hear the buzzing and the pitch changing as you step up and down. Anyone else notice this?

I did wonder if it was a result of the screen swap so went back to the old Toshiba panel to check but it does it with that too. I don't think I damaged it while doing the mod as I was realy careful. Tried Linux and Windows and it's apparent on both. It's barely noticeable with the noisy stock lenovo hd in it but I stuck an intel ssd in and because it's so silent (bliss!) you tend to notice any other noise. Or maybe I'm just being anal.

Appreciate any feedback from fellow x200s (CCFL) owners.......

Cheers.

[jcvjcvjcvjcv]

No, it's because the stupid parts used.

My phone charger of my Siemens S55 was absolutely silent (Deutsche Grundigheit). The charger of my Nokia 6120 was so noisy that I couldn't sleep with the charger in the same room.

Luckily my T61 power supply is relatively silent. But the buzzing noise with dimmed screens is quite irritating. A lot of notebooks have it... unfortunately.

[jl123]

Does any1 know if this screen swapping would work for the X300 which also has a very poor screen? Is there a great wide-screen 13 inch that could be recommended? thanks, JL

[AvalonXIII]

Does any1 know if this screen swapping would work for the X300 which also has a very poor screen? Is there a great wide-screen 13 inch that could be recommended? thanks, JL

I'm glad you asked
Yes, there is a 13.3" BOE-Hydis AFFS panel. It is also LED backlit. Here's the kicker. The panel is really rare, and as far as I know only the Fujitsu T5010 uses this panel. Also, I don't know whether it will fit the X300 or not. I don't have the resource to experiment with that. Maybe somebody will volunteer to see if the mod works or not.

[AvalonXIII]

I've used my X200 for 9 months and have never encountered the issue. It sounds like a hardware issue, and you should get it replaced using warranty.

emconuk I'll PM you re Arch.

I haven't taken any photos. I don't think my rubbish camera phone will do the screen justice The photos I linked earlier in this thread actually do a great job of showing what the screen's like.

On a slightly different note i have noticed that the inverter under the bottom of the screen in my TP makes an audible buzzing noise when on any other setting other than 100%. At 100% it's silent but as you step the brightness down you can hear the buzzing and the pitch changing as you step up and down. Anyone else notice this?

I did wonder if it was a result of the screen swap so went back to the old Toshiba panel to check but it does it with that too. I don't think I damaged it while doing the mod as I was realy careful. Tried Linux and Windows and it's apparent on both. It's barely noticeable with the noisy stock lenovo hd in it but I stuck an intel ssd in and because it's so silent (bliss!) you tend to notice any other noise. Or maybe I'm just being anal.

Appreciate any feedback from fellow x200s (CCFL) owners.......

Cheers.

[emconuk]

hi again everyone.
Well I've pulled the trigger on the screen and ordered it from ebay.
Fantastic communication from Derrick in NY and hopefully the unit will ship asap.
I've asked him to remove the extra stuff I don't need so it can be fitted immediately to the x200s.
I presume his contact in HK (who I believe has already done this mod) knows what I do and don't need.

At this point I would recommend Derrick to anyone looking to do this mod. His email replies have been fast and extremely polite.

As soon as it arrives I will fit it and report back. I'll try and get some pictures up somewhere so I can link to them.
cheers.

[maumu]

hi folks

this doesn't work on the x200s which comes with 1440 x 900 LED screens right?

[iwishiwasinwhistler]

You're right - sorry maumu, it won't work for the 1440x900 LED version. AvalonXIII has already checked out that possibility.

Another recommendatiton for Derrick from me. His communication and shipping were really good and very prompt. The screen arrived protected and carefully packed. I'd not hesitate to recommend him to a friend or order other items from him in future.

[maumu]

You're right - sorry maumu, it won't work for the 1440x900 LED version. AvalonXIII has already checked out that possibility.

Another recommendatiton for Derrick from me. His communication and shipping were really good and very prompt. The screen arrived protected and carefully packed. I'd not hesitate to recommend him to a friend or order other items from him in future.

dats a pity

but congrats to u folks for having such a wonderful screen...

[erik]

Anyone know if I can change the title of this thread or does a Mod have to do it?

done

[iwishiwasinwhistler]

Thanks erik. I wouldn't want anyone to miss out on the chance of doing this because they only think it's applicable to european models.

[.nox]

Ok that's it. I'm getting a x200s and doing this mod. My T61 has served me well, but I wanna go light !

[emconuk]

Hi everyone.

Well I've done it. The new screen is in place and it is excellent. The installation went without any hitch and my worries about the glossy screen have completely gone. Once the screen is on I don't notice any reflections at all.

It compares very well with my T60p screen for those of you who are interested.

I would recommend anyone with a CCFL WXGA x200s to do this upgrade (at the risk of voiding your warranty).

If you any questions then please ask either on this thread or via PM. I'll try and get some pictures taken but to honest it looks exactly the same as those on previous postings.

cheers.

[.nox]

Hi everyone.

Well I've done it. The new screen is in place and it is excellent. The installation went without any hitch and my worries about the glossy screen have completely gone. Once the screen is on I don't notice any reflections at all.

It compares very well with my T60p screen for those of you who are interested.

I would recommend anyone with a CCFL WXGA x200s to do this upgrade (at the risk of voiding your warranty).

If you any questions then please ask either on this thread or via PM. I'll try and get some pictures taken but to honest it looks exactly the same as those on previous postings.

cheers.

Could you post some side by side pictures of your x200s and T60p ?

[iwishiwasinwhistler]

Great news emconuk!!! I'm glad you got around to doing it and it went well for you.

Like you say, it isn't the hardest thing to do........I hope more people have the chance to do this.

[Puppy]

I still watch this thread because it would be the only way for me to buy a new ThinkPad. But I'm still not comfortable with voiding the warranty by this mod. Has anyone tried to use his/her warranty after this mod anyway (especially in case of dead motherboard) ?

[jcvjcvjcvjcv]

Then just mod it back into original state.

[emconuk]

If you were to apply a matte screen protector I don't think any Lenovo service engineer is going to notice the glossy screen and may not even notice to superb display beneath it. I am thinking of getting one just in case I do need to send the unit in for warranty. If it looks rubbish then I'll just switch the screen back. It would take about 30 minutes now I know what I am doing.

[perplex]

This is a very interesting thread indeed.

May I/we request photos of the screen, at various angles etc to show the improvement(s)? That would be great, if possible.

I'm especially interested to hear if anyone has done this with their X300. Although I absolutely love mine, the screen is terrible considering the price, however it's sufficient for me as it just gets "office" work use and no photo use etc.

[jl123]

"jl123 wrote:
Does any1 know if this screen swapping would work for the X300 which also has a very poor screen? Is there a great wide-screen 13 inch that could be recommended? thanks, JL


I'm glad you asked
Yes, there is a 13.3" BOE-Hydis AFFS panel. It is also LED backlit. Here's the kicker. The panel is really rare, and as far as I know only the Fujitsu T5010 uses this panel. Also, I don't know whether it will fit the X300 or not. I don't have the resource to experiment with that. Maybe somebody will volunteer to see if the mod works or not."

[pnolan]

God we gotta make this work - I've had an x300 since they where released. Wonderful hardware, crap screen.

I am really interested and would test this immediately (if anyone can find a resource for the 13.3" BOE-Hydis AFFS)

[godbreath]

is the AFFS+ screen the same screen used in the x200t?
if so, why cant lenovo just offer the screen in the x200s?