Thinkpads Forum

This weekend i've got some free time for ThinkPad tinkering and i've chosen W700.
Some months ago i've got UXGA LCD for my W700 (originally it was made with WXGA+ @ 17";).
I tried to order original Samsung LTN170CT01 and when it arrived i didn't checked it and placed it on the shelves for a long time.

Yesterday i've begun this last mod. First of all made some tests with X-Rite colorimeter and discovered that it is ok, but problem was in ribbon cable. Then i've disassembled W700 lid. Then unpacked WUXGA LCD and... it becomes Sharp LQ170M1LW02. Sometimes Sharp did good LCDs but not now. It is worse in all terms - low brightness, low contrast ratio, lower viewing angles. And more over it is glare with blue tint (anti reflection layer like these on Thinkpad X-series tablets). I don't understand why they did this LCD - huge 17" with big energy consumption (2x CCFLs) outdoor readable with lower brightness and glare finish??? One thing that can consume this LCDs is 17" getacs (like X500 notebook / server). I couldn't find specifications for this sharp but have traced paths from LVDS connector and everything is like on LG's (LTN170CT01), but there is no EDID chip. Alas...
I have connected it (ThinkPad already was disassembled) - but there is no image and backlight even didn't started. But good thing - nothing have burned out after connecting this LCD.
But what can stop me from more experimentation? And i have connected 15" WUXGA that i have got for W500. It is Sharp (LQ154M1LW02). This LCD never used by Lenovo. But W500 can work with it with one problem. It needs some EDID patching or have nonlinear brightness regulation (i don't know how EDID affects inverter operations;).
And when i have connected it to the W700 - it have worked well. Even better than with W500 - no baclight problems.

So the question. Many rumors and forum posts denotes that LCD EDID is compiled into W700 BIOS. But how W700 can work with non standard 15" LCD?
I want to make some more tests with 4:3 and (if find any) WSXGA+ and write results here.

PS
I couldn't find any original Lenovo's (LTN170CT01-L01) on ebay now. But if i can found out that W700 can accept any electrically compatible LCDs so i can choose other LCD (AUO made good one with 1 CCFL or even DC1 if i can make adaptor for LED backlit LCD)

I think it has something to do with LCD timing, but I'm not an expert and I haven't done any kind of modification on W700/W701 so far. Those machines are still way too expensive for experiment of any kind.
Leokim has modded a DC screen onto W700. Check this out: http://forum.51nb.com/viewthread.php?tid=1196067
He mentioned the need to modify vBIOS and LCD timing.

Today is all day raining - so it is time to take screwdriver and do something.
Some days ago i've got another 17" LCD. And now it is true LTN170CT01. I have disassembled W700's lid again - connected this screen and all good working.
But something is hurting my eyes... LCD is glossy. Not 100% glossy like on modern crap notebooks - but it is clearly seen in comparison with LTN170BT09.
Investigation.
Yes my LTN170CT01 have Lenovo FRU numbers (42T0542) on it and have only "LTN170CT01" on label. On the metal frame i have found full ID - "LTN170CT01-001". ThinkWiki have only short ID "LTN170CT01" for W700 UXGA screen. Panelook have short specs for both LCDs LTN170CT01-001 and LTN170CT01-L01.
And yes -001 is glare and -L01 - matte. Moreover -L01 have better viewing angles (only 5 deg. better;) and have marker HCG (High color gamut) - but specs full specs didn't show any difference in color coordinates.?
From specs LTN170CT01-L01 should have EDID for Lenovo (maker = LEN). But there is no EDID table in LTN170CT01-001 specs. I'll try to read out EDID from my panel.
-------------------
DONE (EDID read): Maker marker is "LEN 4067" and Panel ID is "LTN170CT01L01". Something strange happening here
============

So the question is: what type of WUXGA LCD have your W700? You can read EDID by Phoenix tools or by i2c-tools from Linux. (Dump made by i2c-tools is not compatible with Phoenix but can be read in plaint text editor). Or simple assume how glossy is your LCD in comparison with classic T6x screens.

PS
Now my W700 is fully packed;) But this is not the end of my story... W701 is going to me soon;)