T520 B156HW01 v.4 "Compatible" screens and 95% NTSC

[vgiozo]

I am seriously considering upgrading my T520's HD+ screen with a FHD one.

My questions are

1) Do "compatible" B156HW01 v.4 screens adhere to the advertized 95% NTSC Gamut specification?
- I have found Alibaba sellers who advertize the exact specifications from panelook, but I don't know if they're actually true.
http://www.panelook.com/modeldetail.php?id=686
- Then there are various "compatible" screens under the same name, but not sure if they actually match these specifications; of course they mention only the title, not the actual features.
- Listings for "Genuine" B156HW01 v.4 exist but at double the price, and outside the EU, thus increasing customs fees...this would make the upgrade VS purchasing a more modern used Thinkpad less advantageous.

2) If "compatible" B156HW01 screens aren't up to it, should I go for alternative AUO/LG screens which, may be better than the vague "compatible" ones, or are these, actually, the "compatible" / lesser ones?

For example some of these panels can be found in the market
http://www.panelook.com/N156HGE-L11__15 ... 16512.html
http://www.panelook.com/B156HTN01.1__15 ... 20471.html
http://www.panelook.com/modeldetail.php?id=12286
http://www.panelook.com/LP156WFC-TLB1_L ... 18458.html
http://www.panelook.com/modeldetail.php?id=686

[jursky]

If you are willing to go into compatible models, I personally would rather give a try to LVDS->eDP converter board + an IPS panel, it would be probably more worthwhile investment and give you better results in the end.

Anyway, I can confirm that AUO B156HTN01.1 is fully compatible with W530 (which means it's compatible with W510-W530 and T510-T530) because my W530 came with this panel when I bought it (4 years ago, second hand). However I did not like the panel because it had barely visible vertical lines (with offset of 2px between each line) across whole display. Somebody else would probably not mind but I just could not get accustomed to it, so I started looking for a "full" B156HW01 V.4 unit (or V.7 = glossy, that would be even better but I could not find any) and I was lucky because there was a guy who had a dead W520 (with V.4 display), so I bought it from him. Now that I am thinking about it, I don't even remember what I did with the B156HTN01.1 after that.

Edit: it is possible that maybe I just had a faulty B156HTN01.1 panel, which had these vertical stripes.

[vgiozo]

If you are willing to go into compatible models, I personally would rather give a try to LVDS->eDP converter board + an IPS panel, it would be probably more worthwhile investment and give you better results in the end.

Anyway, I can confirm that AUO B156HTN01.1 is fully compatible with W530 (which means it's compatible with W510-W530 and T510-T530) because my W530 came with this panel when I bought it (4 years ago, second hand). However I did not like the panel because it had barely visible vertical lines (with offset of 2px between each line) across whole display. Somebody else would probably not mind but I just could not get accustomed to it, so I started looking for a "full" B156HW01 V.4 unit (or V.7 = glossy, that would be even better but I could not find any) and I was lucky because there was a guy who had a dead W520 (with V.4 display), so I bought it from him. Now that I am thinking about it, I don't even remember what I did with the B156HTN01.1 after that.

Edit: it is possible that maybe I just had a faulty B156HTN01.1 panel, which had these vertical stripes.

Was your monitor not returnable/refundable ? Did you try to to return it?

B156HTN01.1 is the one I was considering buying, because it fits the B156HW01 V.4 specifications so well...in another notebook-related forum, people have even reported that HWINFO shows their B156HW01 V.4 having "B156HTN01.1" as manufacturer's Monitor Name


These are my main choices, other than the original 95% NTSC panel
B156HTN01.1
LP156WF1(TL)(B2)
N156HGE-L11
LP156WFC-TLB1

There are many available components in the US/ebay. market..unfortunately having them shipped to europe increases the cost and since they're used panels, the cost reaches around 100 EUR, when I can buy a new panel from the local market, with 2-year zero-pixel warranty for 115 EUR.


Is this what you're talking about? https://www.ebay.com/itm/LVDS-To-EDP-Ad ... 3856716026
Where would all this fit inside the back cover? Has it been done successfully?

Is there a thread here which demonstrates how it's done on the T520?

[jursky]

Yes, some adapter like that, but I would prefer something what's being sold directly for use in the laptop, so for example this w520/w530 adapter: https://www.google.com/amp/s/h5.aliexpr ... 16802.html

But I didn't try it myself so I am not saying you should buy it. I was kinda hoping for someone else to step in and say "hey, no worries, it's working flawlessly. You need exactly this, and IPS panel buy from this seller...".

There is very similar board for T420/T430 which allows to install IPS panel into the laptop, and I saw few posts that people did install it, so if somebody of them gets across this post, they could share their thoughts.

[vgiozo]

Yes, some adapter like that, but I would prefer something what's being sold directly for use in the laptop, so for example this w520/w530 adapter: https://www.google.com/amp/s/h5.aliexpr ... 16802.html

But I didn't try it myself so I am not saying you should buy it. I was kinda hoping for someone else to step in and say "hey, no worries, it's working flawlessly. You need exactly this, and IPS panel buy from this seller...".

There is very similar board for T420/T430 which allows to install IPS panel into the laptop, and I saw few posts that people did install it, so if somebody of them gets across this post, they could share their thoughts.

One Aliexpress Seller (I didn't keep the link) who was selling the W520 LVDS>eDP converter had written in the listing description that it requires modding, cutting plastic etc so I'm not too optimistic. Would love it too if it could be done.

When I got the laptop I was happy it had the 1600*900 screen in comparison to the lower resolution, although I could see it was even a little worse than the one on the L520 I gifted to my father (also 1600*900).

[wujstefan]

One Aliexpress Seller (I didn't keep the link) who was selling the W520 LVDS>eDP converter had written in the listing description that it requires modding, cutting plastic etc so I'm not too optimistic. Would love it too if it could be done.

It does, the board/cable is unstable and fails frequently, and the screen is not centered - it is impossible due to center it due to hinge design. Been there, done that. Stick with stock. This system is - unfortunately - not meant for IPS...

2) If "compatible" B156HW01 screens aren't up to it, should I go for alternative AUO/LG screens which, may be better than the vague "compatible" ones, or are these, actually, the "compatible" / lesser ones?

I have one for sale, and genuine from T520 (after trying to mod my system with the above). Since I needed to destroy the lid to install the IPS screen I will not need it anymore. PM me for details.

[vgiozo]

I have found a new panel locally, the AUO B156HW02 V1

http://www.panelook.com/B156HW02%20V1_A ... w_688.html

(AUO specification panel)
http://www.yslcd.com.tw/docs/product/B156HW02%20V.1.pdf

I also found this comparison between the LG LP156WF1-TLB1 and the AUO B156HW02-V1
http://www.colordmd.com/display%20comparison.pdf

Does anyone have any experience or info about the quality of this panel?

[kfzhu1229]

so I started looking for a "full" B156HW01 V.4 unit (or V.7 = glossy, that would be even better but I could not find any)

I think I might have a V.7 display on a ThinkPad T520 because the original owner smashed the original Samsung 900p display. I actually really hate the glossy look on a ThinkPad so I can do a trade if you want. Or I am about to sell that entire laptop anyway too so...
edit: wait no mine also said V.4 but it is glossy, I never got my brain around these model number things.
https://1drv.ms/u/s!At7-rt1KJ7WviNQq-BziDzXOPjEBlA

[jursky]

so I started looking for a "full" B156HW01 V.4 unit (or V.7 = glossy, that would be even better but I could not find any)

I think I might have a V.7 display on a ThinkPad T520...

Hey, glad to hear that, however I am thinking about selling my W530 too. I got also X230 (which I love) but recently I was thinking about selling that one as well and getting something with 14" screen. X Carbons with 14" HDR screens are very tempting. Anyway thanks for the offer.

[steveadorjan]

I have one for sale, and genuine from T520 (after trying to mod my system with the above). Since I needed to destroy the lid to install the IPS screen I will not need it anymore. PM me for details.

PM sent

[steveadorjan]

[/quote]

I have one for sale, and genuine from T520 (after trying to mod my system with the above). Since I needed to destroy the lid to install the IPS screen I will not need it anymore. PM me for details.
[/quote]

I have PMd you for the screen. Do you still have it?