Faulty Flexview? R50

[AnitaC]

Hi all!

Can it be right that there is only one CCFL in the Flexview (SXGA+) screen? And could this somehow be the cause of the problems I'm having with my screen?

The screen on my R50 1830-CG5 died and I got it replaced, but the screen they gave me wasn't the Flexview unit so I had to send it back for a second replacement, but when I got it back it seemed like the original Flexview was sooo much better.

With my original Flexview I never noticed any difference in color from top to bottom, but now black is black at the top, and gradually changes to a kind of grey at the bottom. I had the local IT nerd look at it and he said that it seems that there is no CCFL at the top, thus possibly explaining the difference in color.

Also the screen is now really uncomfortably bright - gives me a headache looking at it for more than a few minutes - and it's as if the contrast is somehow wrong. If I move my head in front of the screen, from the bottom of the screen and to the top, the colors sort of get distorted, and dark and light kind of become inverted.

Dunno if the description makes a lot of sense, but I'm hoping someone might recognize some of the symptoms and will point me towards how to go about fixing the problem, 'cause I really miss being able to use my laptop.

Thanks in advance!

Anita

[goofyGAguy]

If you are still under warranty I would send it back without delay.

[Harryc]

Go into device manager, under monitors, select the thinkpad display, details, and post what it says for display ID. Also, the original LCD for that unit was a TFT color, not IPS flexview.

[pianowizard]

the original LCD for that unit was a TFT, not IPS flexview.

Actually, it most likely was Flexview. All 15.0" SXGA+ R50's listed in the trwbook are stated as having Flexview. The "Downloads and drivers" section of the Lenovo site doesn't say that the 1830-CG5 has Flexview, but the same is true for all other 15.0" SXGA+ R50's.

[Harryc]

Well, if the LCD model comes up as IDtech N150P3 we'll know it's Flexview.

[pianowizard]

Well, if the LCD model comes up as IDtech N150P3 we'll know it's Flexview.

It's too late to find out though. The original LCD is long gone.

[Harryc]

Lets see what model comes up now... and I also checked, the OPs model does not show up in any txxbooks. Also, if they do a machine type/serial number search here and clicks on 'view parts lookup for this system', the original part number for the LCD would be more useful information.

[AnitaC]

If you are still under warranty I would send it back without delay.

Unfortunately the laptop is no longer under warranty

Actually, it most likely was Flexview. All 15.0" SXGA+ R50's listed in the trwbook are stated as having Flexview.

Exactly. And if I do a look-up of the original parts on my system and compare that to the LCD service parts for the R50/p, R51 the LCD panel is a 15-in SXGA+ IPS TFT panel with the FRU number 92P6680.

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... 129#15sxga

[Harryc]

Yes, but what is it now? Look at my post on using device manager ... also if it is out of warranty, who did the LCD replacement? Your original problem description simply sounds like some backlight light leakage. If the original repair facility will replace it again go for it.

[AnitaC]

Go into device manager, under monitors, select the thinkpad display, details, and post what it says for display ID.

The Device Instance Id for the display shows up as: DISPLAY\IBM1A5E\5&279FDC78&0&00000110&01&00

Was that the display ID you meant? In the device manager it is listed as Wide viewing angle & High density FlexView Display 1400x1050

[Harryc]

That is a flexview LCD, so again ...send it back for repair if the current quality is bad. If you are asking here what that symptom is, you are not going to want to get involved in fixing it yourself. A backlight replacement is by far the most difficult repair on a Thinkpad, or any laptop for that matter.

[sjthinkpader]

With my original Flexview I never noticed any difference in color from top to bottom, but now black is black at the top, and gradually changes to a kind of grey at the bottom. I had the local IT nerd look at it and he said that it seems that there is no CCFL at the top, thus possibly explaining the difference in color.
...

These panels all have single CCF. Only desktop monitors use 2 or 4 CCFs. So there will be top to bottom difference with the screen black and backlight on. They have different batches of CCF and even difference in inverter. So you will have difference in brightness. Panels have brightness specs and this panel should pass within spec. If a panel is rated for 200nit, it may be 180nit to 220nit.

To mitigate the single CCF top to bottom brightness problem, the backlight is designed like a wedge, thin at the top and thick at the bottom. There is one or two BEF (brightness enhancement film) used to distribute the light evenly across the entire LCD. They have highly reflective edges to capture all the light and prevent leakage out the edge and back. Behind the CCF is a round back shield again to reflect as much light upward as possible.

I would guess that after the non-IPS panel, you have become more sensitive to the look of the panel. The original panel was probably not that different from the one today.