Thinkpads Forum

Hello ALl,

Great info on this machine. So i maxed out my machine to the absolute max. New samsung fast HD drive, 32gb memory.
I have a few questions...

1. is there any modifactions i can do processor wise? or GPU? if yes any idea which part numbers etc?
2. How can i optimumise the display. The screen doesn't look great from angles and some text on websites. Is this my Windows Display profile i am using? I see its set to "Generic LCD profile" i do have this application called "Pantome" (or something like that which calibrates the screen). I was thinking maybe i need to download a display driver specific for my W540?i think we call them the "ThinkPad Monitor INF File for Windows" ??
3. Is there any way i can upgrade the WIFI card or make the WIFI quicker/range longer maybe only way is a WIFI6 dongle of some sort?
4. No way it run windows 11 so i suppose Win10 it will be for a few years?


I love this machine it served me SO WELL i used to work from home and for 7 years served me well. ANd i am falling back in love with it after all these years
Any help much appreciated team

If the display doesn't look good, then it means it's a TN LCD panel. You'll need to replace it with an IPS screen in order to get better colors and viewing angles. If your current screen is 1920x1080 you can replace it with a LG LP156WF6 SPB1, which is a drop-in replacement, as mentioned in this T540p screen upgrade thread (the T540p and W540 use the same chassis and the screens are interchangeable).

thanks, is there a way i can see if i have a TN screen or IPS?

I take it the LG LP156WF6-SPB1, is just a simple plug and play? I take it there maybe other upgrades from the LP156WF6-SPB1 ? or is this the best safe option for my W540?

Download and run system information software liked AIDA64, then go to "Display" in order to find the brand and model# of your screen.
After that, just do a web search for the model #.

As for others, I'm sure there are others. I'm willing to bet that IPS panels for later Thinkpads like the T570 and T580 are compatible (especially 1920x1080 ones).

hello

Here is the stats:
-----------------------

[ Lenovo B156HTN03.4 ]

Monitor Properties:
Monitor Name Lenovo B156HTN03.4
Monitor ID LEN40B4
Manufacturer B156HTN03.4
Monitor Type 15.6" LCD (FHD)
Manufacture Date 2012
Serial Number None
Max. Visible Display Size 344 mm x 193 mm (15.5")
Picture Aspect Ratio 16:9
Maximum Resolution 1920 x 1080
Pixel Density 142 ppi
Gamma 2.20
DPMS Mode Support Standby, Suspend, Active-Off

Supported Video Modes:
1920 x 1080 Pixel Clock: 140.00 MHz

---------------------

I take it the LG LP156WF6 will fit for above, it doesn;t show if this is TN or IPS? i am sure this is not IPS right?

mstar wrote: ↑

Mon Jul 28, 2025 9:31 am

Manufacturer B156HTN03.4

I take it the LG LP156WF6 will fit for above, it doesn;t show if this is TN or IPS? i am sure this is not IPS right?

My previous post mentioned "After that. just do a web search for the model #."

A quick web search for "B156HTN03.4" leads to panelook.com: https://www.panelook.com/B156HTN03.4_AU ... 20477.html

Viewing Angle : 45/45/15/35 (Typ.)(CR≥10)
Display Mode : TN, Normally White, Transmissive

For comparison, the LP156WF6-SPB1 : https://www.panelook.com/LP156WF6-SPB1_ ... 24180.html

Viewing Angle : 80/80/80/80 (Min.)(CR≥10)
Display Mode : AH-IPS, Normally Black, Transmissive

Some reason panelook.com needs me to register my details to take a look BUT i am happy with what you showed.

I ordering online now. I HOPE there is a significant upgrade as my eyes dont like this screen you need to move the screen just to get the full colour/lighting right when surfing.

Its interesting how online panel suppliers all say "if we do not have model specified/ordered, a compatiable model will be sent" i hope its a good brand like LG PHILLIPS as i never heard of my current brand name "AUO" seems like a cheapo lenovo supplied brand

I read on here the W540 is whitelisted WIFI cards. Is this for all W540 machines? is there a way i can see in BIOS menu if its wifi card whitelisted restricted?

Based on my research the "intel Dual Band Wireless - AC 7260 Laptop WiFi Card, Model: 7260NGW" is this best card i can get for my W540 without messing about to un-whitelisting the WIFI card restriction?

{how do i attach pictures on here?]

mstar wrote: ↑

Tue Jul 29, 2025 12:26 pm

I read on here the W540 is whitelisted WIFI cards. Is this for all W540 machines? is there a way i can see in BIOS menu if its wifi card whitelisted restricted?

All W540's have a WiFi whitelist in the BIOS, unless it has been modified already.

The whitelist is very specific, only WiFi cards that the W540 can be ordered with (from the factory options) will work. A WiFi card from a Dell or HP laptop/desktop won't work even if it has the same WiFi chip (for example, an Intel Wireless-AC 7260).

PCI and PCIe devices are identified via their Vendor and Device IDs, which are 2-byte IDs but rendered in hexadecimal. Intel has the vendor ID "8086" and the Wireless AC 7265 is "095a".
But there's a second set of IDs known as the "Subsystem Vendor ID" and "Subsystem ID" which identify the specific card itself. This level of specificity allows the BIOS to identify if the card is a Lenovo/Thinkpad part or not.

That's why you need to remove/disable the whitelist in order to upgrade the WiFi card.

i never heard of my current brand name "AUO" seems like a cheapo lenovo supplied brand

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AUO_Corporation
It's a major manufacturer of LCDs (and apparently solar panels as well).

Thanks axur-delmeria, you help has helped me a lot from your advice on here

I have been quoted £60 to remove whitelisting I did notice the forum tools in the stickey topics here. I have to search for a video if I am brave enough as I don't want to mess up the laptop (but then all I do is reinstall BIOS I guess and Windows 11) so a simple guide for dummies is what I will try to understand. This is a new hobby of mine I resurrect old laptops for disabled/under privileged kids to access computer/Internet services at a care home centre.

Have ppl noticed a jump in performance using a AX card here? Just thinking if it's worth the time and effort.

Anyway my new IPS panel display should be arriving tomorrow so I keep you informed.

mstar wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 30, 2025 2:17 am

Have ppl noticed a jump in performance using a AX card here? Just thinking if it's worth the time and effort.

The performance increase will be noticeable under the following circumstances:

* your WiFi access points/routers are already AX (WiFi6 or 6E)

* your internet connection exceeds the bandwidth of your current WiFi card

* your current WiFi card is crappy (like Realtek or Mediatek): one of my clients had one such card, limiting him to 100Mbps at the 5GHz band. Upgrading to an AX210 instantly bumped it to 300+ Mbps.

* You transfer lots of data over WiFi and the other devices are WiFi6/6e compliant as well.

right its time to get a coffee and read and learn i guess how to whitelist wifi card.

Am i right to read guides by using IVprep and 1vyrain?

mstar wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 30, 2025 6:35 am

right its time to get a coffee and read and learn i guess how to whitelist wifi card.

Am i right to read guides by using IVprep and 1vyrain?

Those are specific to the T430/530, T430s, X230/T, and W530. You cannot use them on the W540.

Start searching the Forum for whitelist removal, it's all there.

axur-delmeria wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 30, 2025 10:44 am

mstar wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 30, 2025 6:35 am

right its time to get a coffee and read and learn i guess how to whitelist wifi card.

Am i right to read guides by using IVprep and 1vyrain?

Those are specific to the T430/530, T430s, X230/T, and W530. You cannot use them on the W540.

Yep just saw that. Will search so many posts on it.

I will display doing WIFI whitelist for a bit.

Good news! i replaced screen with BOE NV156FHM-N43, and the screen is much better. Better colour, views, contrast. Very happy with it.

However, anyone know what windows 10, display profile to use? i am using "sRGB IEC61966-2.1" not sure if this is right or not. The others are just Lenovo Laptop Screen 1,2,3,4 or Generic ones. There is also a "wide viewing angle and high density flexview" not sure what that does. Anyone know what this all means?

Also noticed the Pantone colour calibrator stopped working complaining to add a lenovo display -not sure if thats a issue post installation?

I'd pick the "wide viewing angle and high density flexview", as it's what the Thinkpad Monitor INF package installs when my Thinkpad has an IPS screen.

Thanks i see 2 options;

1. wide viewing angle and high density flexview: File name: TPLFLX60.ICM
2. wide viewing angle and high density flexview: File name: TPLFLX.ICM

Any idea what the difference is both look the same VISUALLY but anyone know which to choose?

Wait, since you replaced the stock screen with a non-Thinkpad one, you shouldn't use any of those.

I did a quick search for "NV156FHM-N43 icm profile" and this page came up:

https://download.schenker-tech.de/packa ... -profiles/

Use the web browser's "Find in page" function to get the right profile.

Omg you can tell I'm no expert in this, I will download the correct inf file!! I wasn't aware there was monitor specific ones. I take it they work on W540 from the download link? Jeez I never knew getting a new screen was so exciting setting it up lol

It's just an ICM profile, not an INF. Windows allows you to select a specific color profile, right? Just download the ICM file and have Windows use it.

great stuff its worked a treat!!

Thanks so much

Just a quick update, screen working a treat with the new Display profile axur-delmeria noted above.

It's like a new laptop with all that RAM and new SSD!

Great help here thanks for this guys

Glad to hear that it's working great.