Screen for R51?

[thinkpad1]

I'd like to get some opinions on a R51 I bought. Maybe it's a bad impulse buy but I bought this R51 for $50.

The laptop boots up okay, it seems. A bit slow but I assumed the slow speed was due to only 512MB of RAM and the configuration the owner had (all kinds of apps installed.... who knows what they put on it). I didn't re-install yet.

The only problem I could find or see is with the screen. I pm'd two of the regulars here asking about it. I am hoping that I didn't waste my money.

Even then, live and learn, I suppose.

I'm hoping I can salvage it. It needs a lcd screen and I don't know whether I'll also need the entire assembly. The current screen has streaks up and down and a bright white long blotch (how to describe???) at the bottom. It's whiter than the 'dull white' of the rest of the screen. I am wondering if that means there was an impact? I'm not sure what the streaks mean but it doesn't look like it's supposed to be there. My T41 screen looks better except for the bad pixel.

I thought I could use the 2GB of RAM in my T41. The R51 has the same ATI GPU (Radeon Mobility 9000 aka RV250) and the same wireless card, an Intel 2200bg. The only thing that is different besides the model # is the resolution. The R51 has 1024 x 768. Does that mean I need the same res of the screen I'd buy? Or can I buy a SXGA screen if I want? This R51 has a 15" screen.

These are the original specs:
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... ry=1836QPU

In case, Lenovo was down, here's the rest of the specs:
P M 735(1.7GHz), 512MB RAM, 60GB 4200rpm HD, 15in 1024x768 LCD, 32MB ATI Radeon 9000, CDRW/DVD, Intel 802.11bg wireless(MPCI), Modem(CDC), 1Gb Ethernet(LOM), UltraNav, Secure Chip, 6 cell Li-Ion batt, WinXP Pro

Anyway, if I could receive some opinions on this purchase and if I have any options other than junking it, it would be appreciated.

At the very least, it seems to have serviceable parts compared to my T41 which is plagued with issues.

[goofyGAguy]

This beauty would be plug & play:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0500462250

[thinkpad1]

I don't know about that. Can anyone else confirm?

I notice that is for a R50p that has a different res than the highest ones listed for the R51 model. The highest res for the R51 is 1400 x 1050.

Also, the R50p has a ATI Mobility FireGL T2 GPU and the R51 that I have has a Radeon 9000. My uneducated wild guess is that these are incompatible or may be asking for a problem.

That price is decent, though, although only U.S. is listed as a destination to ship to. Unfortunately, I need someone who would ship to Canada.

That's what I'm looking for, though. I think $60 for the whole thing would be great if it solves the problem and gives me a 'clean' screen to look at.

[ajkula66]

That screen WILL work on a standard R51 with ATi graphics, it has been done before and no issues have been detected.

[goofyGAguy]

That screen WILL work on a standard R51 with ATi graphics, it has been done before and no issues have been detected.

Indeed it will. I have personally run a UXGA FlexView on my R51 w/ATi 7500, so it should certainly work with the 9000.

[goofyGAguy]

That price is decent, though, although only U.S. is listed as a destination to ship to. Unfortunately, I need someone who would ship to Canada.

That LCD has been listed for quite some time. You've got nothing to lose by pointing that out to him, and asking if he would ship to Canada in order to make a sale.

[thinkpad1]

Really? Learn things all the time on here... Well, I have an offer from someone on here that will sell me an IPS screen. What res would that one be? SXGA, right?

Is there any difference? Well, I think it would be easier to do a transaction from someone on here and I would prefer to put some dollars in their hands, too...

Very interesting about the screen options, though. I am praying, saying chants and knocking on wood that there's nothing else wrong with this R51. If it just needs a screen, it'll be in way better shape than my T41... knock on wood.

I think my 2GB of RAM can come right out of the T41 and go in the R51. That makes me think of another question. Is the R51 easy to take apart? Does it take the same screws as a T41? It's good I didn't order screws yet but it doesn't matter, I guess. I should probably order some in case I keep this R51. I thought I was going to give away the T41 for peanuts so didn't bother yet (buying screws).

[goofyGAguy]

What res would that one be? SXGA, right?

Most likely.

That makes me think of another question. Is the R51 easy to take apart?

If I can do it anyone can.

[ajkula66]

BTW, that LCD from R50p is IPS as well...as long as you can tolerate UXGA resolution, that's an outstanding screen and a very good deal...assuming that the screen itself is free of any blemishes.

[thinkpad1]

If I can do it anyone can.

Hey.... you haven't seen me take apart and try to repair a T41!

BTW, that LCD from R50p is IPS as well...as long as you can tolerate UXGA resolution, that's an outstanding screen and a very good deal...assuming that the screen itself is free of any blemishes.

Yeah, that's make things look a lot smaller than the SXGA screen I have (on the T41), right?

I'm not so sure I'd like things that small... I can change the dpi and increase the size of the icons but still.... I am used to the SXGA res, though. It's not too bad.... I don't have the UXGA to compare, though.

Very cool to have these IPS screen options, btw.

Good point about the ebay seller. The rating is decent, though. I've had a few 'bad experiences' but then I broke the cardinal rule and bought stuff from someone with a rating below 99%.

[rkawakami]

Just FYI: I asked that eBay seller about the condition of the panel(s). Here's the exchange:

Hi! Any visible defects in the screens? Stuck/dead pixels, pink/red tint at turn-on, pressure spots, scratches, etc. Thanks!

No, the screen is in good working order. It was tested before being listed and no scratches or dead spots.

[thinkpad1]

Are you referring to the R50p screen?

Isn't the fonts/icons a bit small at that resolution (1600x1200) on a 15" screen? I was concerned about that.

I am open to suggestions, though. Since, I've never had that res although my 20" LCD monitor is 1680x1050.

Shipping from these ebay sellers seem to charge about $30 U.S. to ship to Canada. What about this screen:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... K:MEWAX:IT

It's the LG-Phillips lcd panel which is also IPS but is it good as the ID Tech?

I am not sure about inverters or cables but I understand that if it's not R50/R51, the cable will be shorter. What about the inverter? The R51 I bought has a 1024 x 768 resolution so do I have to replace the inverter, too? I am not sure now whether I need a new inverter since I've noticed on ebay that there may be different ones for the res as well. A R51 15" SXGA+ cable is $9 U.S.

http://cgi.ebay.com/IBM-ThinkPad-R51-15 ... ltDomain_0

Inverter board:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... K:MEWAX:IT

15-in SXGA+ IPS TFT panel
FRU numbers
inverter card: 91P7336

Is the inverter card separate when you order a LCD panel or cable? It sounds like it is. I guess that is why it's convenient to get the entire assembly? I am pursuing a deal with a forum member here. I think going with an ebay seller is convenient in one way only: if I could find a R51 assembly or separate lcd panel, cable, inverter (but I'd have to find all SXGA+ parts) but then shipping will get expensive and I don't know whether there's any defects (incl. scratches, stuck pixels etc.) with the screen.

Comments?

[pianowizard]

thinkpad1, our discussion in the other thread brought me to this thread about your R51 screen. The R50p display assembly mentioned above is your best bet, even with $30US for shipping to Canada. Don't worry about how small things will look on this screen. Your T41's SXGA+ has a pixel density of 124.11 DPI whereas this R50p UXGA is 133.33 DPI, not a huge difference. Besides, this R50p screen is Flexview and thus far superior to your T41 crappy TN screen, so you will find it quite comfortable to view this UXGA screen. I say go for it, and then sell your T41 to recover the expense.