Thinkpads Forum

My T400 is a 7417-CTO, with a 63Y1189 mainboard. Is it LED or CCFL backlight? Secondly, if I need to replace mainboard do I need to use that specific FRU# ? I thought perhaps the boards are specific for display type...?
Thanks
Mark
Mt. View, Ca

7417-CTO is a Configure To Order system; you can't tell from that model type what options were installed at the factory (i.e, what LCD you have). Motherboard should not make a difference whether your LCD backlight is CCFL or LED; that should only be a function of the panel that's in the lid. In order to determine what shipped with the system, go here:

http://support.lenovo.com/us/en/ibasepartslookup

Plug in your serial number and the 7417 model (machine) type. It should return a list of FRUs. From that you (or us) can determine what screen you have. It's safer to stay with the same FRU for the motherboard but there were several models that shipped in a T400. In order to figure out the differences, grab a copy of the Hardware Maintenance Manual from here:

http://download.lenovo.com/ibmdl/pub/pc ... 629_05.pdf

The T400's LCD/CCFL backlit screens aren't motherboard specific, but rather display cable and "inverter card" specific. You don't need to stick with the same motherboard FRU for the sake of retaining the screen; all the specific/required parts are contained in the LCD assembly.

I'm not sure if that unit is CCFL or LED, but you can use the freeware utility "PC Wizard" (from the same folks who publish CPU-Z) to tell you the model number of the LCD panel, which you can use to determine its backlight technology.

I don't think PC Wizard will do him any good. If I'm not mistaken, he has a dead T400 motherboard.

If that's the case, then no, it won't.

Thanks guys, I was able to follow Ray's advice and look up the buildlist from Lenovo, then look up the screen type in the hardware manual. It is an LED type. Strangely though I was unable to find the FRU number from the motherboard (the one on the 1st label of the three under the ram slots) listed in the hardware manual, the closest match was the number on the second label (barcode number) which shows up on my buildlist.
Anyhow, it seems that motherboards and screens can be interchanged within the same general model range which is what I was after. I'm still trying to revive the original board but if it looks too involved then i'll be going board shopping. Or not. Working specimens are pretty affordable nowdays.
Thanks again,
Mark

By the way I had to eliminate the "dash" from the serial number before Lenovo would accept it.
Little tidbit of info that might help someone else-
Mark Silva