Replacing A30 SXGA+ LCD. OEM part numbers?

[r. aster]

Hey guys,

I think the backlight is giving up on my 15" SXGA+ A30. The failure mode--black screen on startup with very faint display visible--is complicated as these things seem to be but it goes like this:

• Almost always displays BIOS screens on startup
  Often blanks when switching to XP screens after BIOS stuff (assume this is because brightness steps down when PM kicks in?)
  More likely to fail on battery, esp. if battery is low
  Sometimes will not start even on mains, in which case removing outboard peripherals and DVD drive gives it enough extra juice to start

I have relaced the inverter and flex cable, with nil or small improvement. Next, the LCD. I think the process to just install a new CCFL is beyond me after reading up.

With all that as set up -- since this unit is getting near end of life in any case, not desirous of spending much on the LCD. I'd like to know all the OEM compatible panels that I can swap in. This unit has three listed (yes, three alternate 15" SXGA+ panels for this one model) on the IBM site, but only by FRU number). Since I read the back of my panel, I know its info, but I'd like to complete this matrix so I can find the, um, cheapest replacement.

Code: Select all

FRU          P/N              OEM Data
05K9965    05K9935           Samsung LTN150PE-L01 (from the panel)
11P8298      ?               "Samsung V2" (from the IBM site)
11P8266      ?               "LG" (from the IBM site)

So anyone know the actual OEM part numbers of the latter two?

Thanks,
RA

[Wilsonflyer]

Contact Kathy at kathy@imsales.com .

Jack and Kathy will sell you one for about $99US + shipping and you'll have it in about 2 days. I doubt you'll find a better price, even on eBay. Been there. Done that.

See this thread: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=21740

You can find the matrix here: http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-39593

[r. aster]

Wilson,

Thanks for the info. I had already seen your amusing saga, glad it worked out. And thanks for the IBM page link. Even though I had seen it too already--that's where I got the FRUs from--I appreciate the effort.

As for imsales.com, the $99 + S&H you mention was presumably for a used XGA panel? Was it supposedly refurbed? Any guarantee? The imsales site is basically non-existent at the moment, so no info available there and not too confidence-inspiring. But I'll contact them via email for an SXGA+ quote after I do a little more research.

To all: any help on the OEM part number question? If anyone has torn open an A30 and found the OEM parts that the 2nd and 3rd FRUs above equate to, it would be helpful to me.

Thanks,
RA

[Wilsonflyer]

The panels are new IBM stock; at least the two they sent me were. I broke the IBM factory seals on the boxes. I THINK they only sell IBM new stock when it comes to the panels themselves but you'll have to ask them.

They primarily sell via eBay for now which is why the website is pretty much non-existent. http://stores.ebay.com/IMS-Store

If it's the IPS panel (and I never ran across an SXGA+ that wasn't in my little voyage), http://search.stores.ebay.com/IMS-Store ... 73QQsofpZ0

They have a LOT of stock that they don't list on eBay. Always worth asking.

I researched my stuff to death as far as price goes. If you can find a cheaper NEW panel, more power to ya.

Good luck.

[r. aster]

WF,

Thanks, I found their stuff on eBay following your link.

As an FYI to anyone else working on their A30 LCDs, there appear to be two basic families of 15" SXGA+ LCDs.

Per the IBM page shown in WF's link above, there is one family with the three different LCD FRUs I mention that all share the same inverter card and same flex cable. And then there is there is an IPS SXGA+ LCD family with just one panel listed that uses a different inverter and cable.

I have a notion that the IPS panels were considered an upgrade, perhaps only offered in the A31s?

Iny any case, brand new IPS panels are now a dime a dozen, $99 from several sources. Bunch must have fallen off a truck or something. Unfortunately, the IPS version would at least require a new flex cable and inverter, and, as Wilson's adventures showed us, might still be incompatible anyway.

I have not found any source for new non-IPS panels less than $400 or so. But I can't search directly for the alternate two FRUs in the first family since I don't know their manufacturer data. Which is where I came in: Anyone know the OEM data for the other two panels? (And anyone ever actually swap among them to verify they are actually plug-compatible?)

Thanks all,
RA

[jfahlman]

Hi,

I am in the same boat, I am looking for an R32 LCD replacement for my FRU 11P8283. The IBM support sites lists 3 different manufactures with 3 different FRU numbers for the 14" screen. Are all three pin for pin compatible and directly interchangable, or must I replace mine with the same exact FRU? Field Replaceable Unit leads me to believe they are all swappable so this may be a dumb question but I'd rather ask it than buy an unusable display

Thanks

[proaudioguy]

Tell me where to find the part numbers on my LCD and I'll post them next time I get a chance to pop it out.

[r. aster]

Pro,

You don't have to do that just for this, but if anyone is in there anyway, I think the complete list of OEM parts corresponding to the various FRUs would be useful as our A30s age and the LCDs fail. I surmise that the CCFLs (backlight) are all doomed to fail -- just a matter of time -- so many of us will be seeking these parts eventually.

I myself decided to take a chance and ordered a used panel with exact matching OEM parts numbers off of eBay. Not expensive ($90), but who knows if it is a month from end of life? Since the new Samsung panels are ~$600, this seemed like the best compromise.

RA

Edit: The manufacturer data is on a sticker pasted on the back of the LCD panel.

[kf_tam]

Hi,
I have a second hand A31 2652-D4U. The sticker on back of the LCD module says:
LG-Philips LP150E01 (A2M3)
IBM P/N 11P8265
FRU P/N 11P8266

Recently there is a eBay auction of a IBM 15" SXGA LCD module for A30/31, in which the sticker was also shown
http://cgi.ebay.com/IBM-LCD-SCREEN-11P8 ... dZViewItem
It says:
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS LTN150PE-L01
IBM P/N 11P8301
FRU P/N 11P8298

Hope this help,
Edward Tam

[r. aster]

Ok, thanks to Edward's input, it looks like the matrix is:

Code: Select all

FRU          P/N              OEM Data 
05K9965    05K9935       Samsung LTN150PE-L01 (from my old panel) 
11P8298    11P8301       Samsung LTN150PE-L01 (eBay photo)
11P8266    11P8265       LG-Philips LP150E01 (A2M3)

It appears the first two panels are just revision level changes. Whether they are all interchangeable I know not, but the new used LCD I just installed had the first set of markings on its sticker but the vendor marked the static-bag as the second set, so at least he thinks they are the same.

Swap takes about ten minutes when you know how, working great.

Thanks for all the assistance on this.

RA