T500 WSXGA+ <=> R61i WSXGA+ compatibility?

[Norway Pad]

I was recently offered some T500 parts, including the lid with the LCD. I wasn't interested, until I got to know it's a WSXGA+ panel, same as in my R61i. The panel in the R61i has always been kind of dim, so if possible, I would consider swapping it out for the T500 panel.

Are the R61i WSXGA+ and the T500 WSXGA+ LCD panels compatible, so I can just open the lids up and do a direct swap?

[RealBlackStuff]

Yes they are.
Just swap the panel.
You need to remove some metal brackets along the T500 short sides.
They can use the same inverter but T500 and R61/T61 cables are different, so keep using the R61 one..

[Norway Pad]

Thanks!

Project for this weekend, it seems.

[Norway Pad]

Swap done, and the R61i's whole appearance has got a new kind of brightness to it.

The two panels were actually the exact same type, LG Phillips LG154W02, so the swap was a straightforward as it could be. The inverters were different, though, as the connecetor to the LCD cable wasn't the same. Just information for you who might ever run into this.