Better Screen for R500

[Omineca]

I have a WXGA (1280x800) ThinkPad R500 with a screen with poor viewing angles and fairly washed out colours (which is typical for this model). Has anyone done a replacement/upgrade to a WXGA, WSXGA+ or WUXGA screen with good viewing angles and colour? If so, would you let me know where you got your panel? The resolution isn't terribly important to me, but the panel quality is.

Thanks.

[Tasurinchi]

I've done several WUXGA upgrades to T500/W500, no R500 but it should be a similar approach (and a little easier due to the lack of a magnesium frame).

My preferred panels are the Sharp LQ154M1LW02 and the LG-Phillips LP154WU1-TLB1. The Sharp was not a panel originally offered by Lenovo, it has metal brackets that need to be removed to fit the screen in the lid.

You can get "new old stock" Sharps online (I got two from Ebay), I couldn't find NOS for the LG-Phillips...

[ajkula66]

R500 is a weird bird.

I've upgraded the one in my signature from WXGA to WSXGA+, and can state the following:

a) You WILL need a different LCD cable, check the HMM for appropriate FRUs.

b) If you're looking to add a webcam as well, good luck finding the cable...took me 3 months AND cost more than I had originally paid for a barebone machine.

c) I don't believe that there's a cable for WUXGA LCD, and given the different inside dimensions between the R/T/W 15.4" series lids, some hacking is likely to be required if you go with T/W cable.

Good luck.

[Tasurinchi]

c) I don't believe that there's a cable for WUXGA LCD, and given the different inside dimensions between the R/T/W 15.4" series lids, some hacking is likely to be required if you go with T/W cable

I think in the German TPF forum a user mentioned you can make it work with a R500 WSXGA+ cable.

Not the same generation, but I did install a LG-Phillips WUXGA LCD in my R61i using a "standard" R61 WSXGA+ cable... Maybe there is some hope for the R500 as well

[Omineca]

Thanks for the replies and suggestions!

I think I'll try the Sharp panel, if I can find a cable. The thread http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=47&t=96422 suggests that cable FRU 93P4380 should work. It is available on eBay (http://www.ebay.ca/itm/201127742191).

I'll contact the final poster in that thread to find out if the wuxga swap worked in his R500. If not, then I'll go for a WSXGA+ panel.

[excal32]

I am looking to do the same thing but specifically looking to go to WUXGA. I have already used my dead T61p's WUXGA panel in one of my R61e, so even if it would fit, the panel is already in use!

This thread was particularly useful but I did not want to bump it again: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=80082

I already ordered the same FRU cable as Omineca and am waiting on a good deal on a compatible panel, then I'll buy it and do the swap.