Thinkpads Forum

I've recently bought an X230 and want to change the screen from TN to IPS.
From reading on this forum, it seems that the screens to go for are

• LP125WH2 (SL)(B3) or

• LP125WH2 (SL)(T1)

I see there is also now an LP125WH2 (SL)(T3) - is this also suitable?
The main problem is where to buy one of these screens? Practically all the sellers on Ebay and elsewhere on the web refer to their screens as "compatible" with the model numbers listed above.
What does this mean? Surely only LG make the above screens?
The trouble is the few that I've seen that don't say compatible cost more than the laptop did!
So can anyone suggest a reliable vendor of a good X230 IPS screen at a sensible price, ideally UK based?
Many thanks

Try Amazon UK (look up by panel model number).

Also read this thread:
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=43&t=119273

I bought from http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/400251899917 in August 2015, was £32.10 at the time. I'm in the UK.

I received an LG LP125WH2(SL)(B3) which on close inspection had one dead pixel (no light). It's only noticeable on a light background, and even then I need to pay attention to find it (1 pixel is small in a whole screen) so I decided I could definitely accept that rather than faffing with a return and another round of screen swapping. Otherwise the screen is great: high brightness (I use it at 25% brightness in office), good viewing angles. I've had no ghosting or other issues. Mine's in an X220 but the X220 and X230 screens are the same fitting. Installing the screen was fine, just pay attention to the magnets at the corners not moving.

I also spent a fair amount of time wondering "what if", might all these screens have multiple dead pixels/other issues, considering the potential risk of ghosting/white spot issues appearing later. Though I concluded that while there may have been a ghosting issue with an early batch of screens in 2010 or 2011, a screen sold years later now won't be that batch, and the internet is full of people who bash & abuse things and then wonder why they get damaged, and/or if a company sells a million laptops there will always be a small number of issues over something (referring to the white spots on screen issue).

Given that the screens are just over £30 I assumed the sellers wouldn't be interested in me contacting them for them to guarantee a particular panel model & revision with zero dead pixels. The sellers also probably don't know much about any particular screen, just buy in bulk and sell on. So I just went ahead and bought. All the reasonable sellers should have a 14 day returns policy, so if you what you receive isn't OK for you, you can pack it up carefully and return it at your cost and try again. As you say, the guaranteed route is so much more expensive it's not worth it.

The IPS is so much better than the TN it is worth doing it.

Bought from those guys: http://www.ebay.fr/usr/lcd24?_trksid=p2047675.l2559
(switch to English at your own peril, the listing may be in FR). Anyhow, I remember paying around 80 euritos for the panel, it came with three dead sub-pixels (green on black background). They're invisible on bright background. Now, when I say 'sub-pixels' I mean they have a size of pixel/3, if you catch my drift, so that's really no problem unless one is paranoid about it. Most ebay sellers will in fact put some kind of fine-print info at the bottom of the listing to warn you about their dead pixel policy, so as long as everyone knows it, there's no shock.
Screens for x220 go for x230, as rjwilmsi said. Changement (whoops, frenglish:)) Changing is very easy.

rjwilmsi wrote:

The IPS is so much better than the TN it is worth doing it.

I disagree I had LG TV with Flexview and i liked but only for tv or indoor usage . I have no idea what kind of screen i have on x220 and x230 but i believe they are tn HD and they are ok compare with t61 tn the biggest problem with IPS screens is NO PRIVACY ! thats why companies buying TN panels and why TN panels will be living long and prosper life so ips if you are open minded, you do not mind that people look what you type , do or watch but if you like to be private TN is the panel to go

I can assure you that almost no one (I wouldn't say "no one" because obviously you do) thinks of privacy as a factor when deciding on which LCD panel to buy. And that's not why companies buy TN panels.

Furthermore, TN vs IPS vs VA has almost zero effect when it comes to readability of your screen from the side. If you think TN panels will keep your privacy, you're in for a surprise or two.

dr_st wrote:I can assure you that almost no one (I wouldn't say "no one" because obviously you do) thinks of privacy as a factor when deciding on which LCD panel to buy. And that's not why companies buy TN panels.

Furthermore, TN vs IPS vs VA has almost zero effect when it comes to readability of your screen from the side. If you think TN panels will keep your privacy, you're in for a surprise or two.

I have not tested IPS screen nor VA ( i have no idea what VA means)... but when i look from the sides of TN panel - it is readable but not so bright like ips, but if you look from the top or down - it isnt ... obviously i could speculate and put few things like you sit while you use your laptop (most cases ) but you use your legs while you walk and automatically your head is much higher then laptop screen which makes really hard to read or see ... this same with pics and video, but if you want to see what others do - you will
Obviously i wont go into debates about TN panels , but i assure that some of them buys for this purpose ( obviously you can add privacy film on ips, but then you defying ips ... or im wrong ? )... well, i might be wrong but if i do this , others do to

EvoT61 wrote:obviously you can add privacy film on ips, but then you defying ips

Not at all. If you desperately need to work on your laptop in public, but feel private, then you can add the privacy film. And when you want to use the laptop for viewing movies with some friends and enjoy the wide angles, you can remove said film. It's the only reasonable thing to do.

Relying on the natural crappiness of TN panels to keep your privacy (because it's "not so bright" when viewed from the side) is plain and simple a very bad approach. Yes, you may do this, and others may too, but that doesn't make it any better.

i bought an x230 with TN instead of IPS by mistake....side by side comparison made the difference very obvious...IPS is far superior