14" t43 LED backlight mod

[[gadget]]

Hello everyone, been lurking and reading some of the posts here, and wanted to confirm the following conclusions with you guys.

1. LED backlight mod will only work with a 15" device.
2. The only way to apply such mod to a 14" device is to move it to a 15" chassis.

Is this correct? Is there more to it? Thanks in advance.

[ajkula66]

Welcome to the forum!

.

1. LED backlight mod will only work with a 15" device.
2. The only way to apply such mod to a 14" device is to move it to a 15" chassis.

Is this correct? Is there more to it? Thanks in advance.

None of the above is correct.

There are LED conversion kits available online for almost any screen size.

The LED screens you've seen in T4x/T6x units around here are equipped with factory LED-lit panels, not converted.

[[gadget]]

thanks for the quick reply ajkula66,

sounds like I might be able to do this mod after all. I guess I was thrown off by the fact that all (almost all?) the mods here seem to use t43p's, so I thought it might be because of the screen size.

Do you by any chance have a recommended place to look for the conversion kits?

Welcome to the forum!
None of the above is correct.
There are LED conversion kits available online for almost any screen size.
The LED screens you've seen in T4x/T6x units around here are equipped with factory LED-lit panels, not converted.

[[gadget]]

would this work out of the box? or are there additional components necessary?
seems to have inverter, leds, what else is needed?


http://www.iccfl.com/product_info.php?products_id=11859

[ajkula66]

I guess it should, but I've never attempted to convert a CCFL panel to LED, or have any intention of ever attempting it, so all I can say is "good luck".

[[gadget]]

I guess I am still confused as to how everyone is modding their ccfl to led. If not by the use of the kit i showed, then does one have to find a ready LED panel + inverter? Is this the new LED panel the FlexView that is frequently mentioned?

[ajkula66]

Is this the new LED panel the FlexView that is frequently mentioned?

Yes. I own two machines with these panels.

They require custom wiring but no alterations to the panel itself.

That's the main reason why I previously stated that I had no intention of modding a CCFL panel with the LED string, since:

a) There's an excellent chance of dust specs getting between the screen layers, just like with any other CCFL-removal operation and

b) I really can't think of a LCD that I'd want to mod in that manner to begin with.

Obviously, YMMV...

[[gadget]]

Ah, I see. I guess it was the availability of the FlexView LCD units in 15" only that was limiting the modification to 15" models. Now I see even those have gone out of production/are no longer available.

What is everyone currently using? Anything in 14.1" size?

[ajkula66]

What is everyone currently using? Anything in 14.1" size?

That's a very broad question...

My work-issued laptop is the last 4:3 (non-widescreen) machine standing, Panasonic CF-31.

Everything else in 14" format is widescreen, 16:9 ratio these days...so it's T430 or T420 if you prefer the "old" keyboard layout, and T410 for those still hanging onto 16:10 format...

[[gadget]]

I meant more which manufacturer/part number, for example of those available here:

http://www.lcdscreen.com/IDTech-brand.htm
or
http://www.lcdscreen.com/Hyundai-BOEhydis-brand.htm

just looking for a source of parts...

[ajkula66]

I meant more which manufacturer/part number, for example of those available here:

http://www.lcdscreen.com/IDTech-brand.htm

ID Tech went bankrupt about 7 years ago and never recovered. There are no 4:3 panels currently in production by Chi Mei which would be their successor, if they even still exist...

or
http://www.lcdscreen.com/Hyundai-BOEhydis-brand.htm

just looking for a source of parts...

I doubt that these are the real Hydis panels, more than likely just "compatible" ones.

I still can't figure out what you really want...if a LED-mod on your existing 14" screen is the answer, you need that LED strip/inverter set that you've linked several posts above. There are no conventional 4:3 14" LED-lit laptop panels on the open market, the ones for Panasonic are 13.3".

[[gadget]]

I wasn't really clear on what exactly my options were initially, but now, after considering both - I believe the LED strip is the way to go for two reasons. One, it is much cheaper, as replacing the whole LCD unit costs nearly as much as the laptop itself (since it is so old). And two, it appears that finding the whole LCD unit is not even possible to begin with. So that pretty much settles it. Thanks for explaining all this.

[DRobinson]

gadget. please keep us updated if you follow through with the mod. I have several 14" sxga+ LCDs that I want to live for a long time. I was beginning to look into this mod as well. Watched a few video demos. They make it look easy.

[[gadget]]

I took off the cover bezel in hopes of identifying which LCD panel I have in my 14.1" T43. I could not find the correct FRU to identify it in this list:
http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/TFT_display

I was hoping that one of the experienced members will be able to identify the LCD make from these pictures:
(Choices are: IDTech, Samsung, BOE-Hydis)

Inverter (label 1):


Inverter (label 2):


Overall view:


Invisible in the last picture, but there is 14P12B stamped on the aluminum LCD frame.
It seems to me that it might be the BOE-Hydis model: HT14P12.

Can anyone confirm?

Are these difficult to disassemble?

[ajkula66]

FRU # as well as all the other info is located on the back of the LCD panel.

[[gadget]]

Well, I think i'm going to pull the plug on this project, due to the BOEHydis LCD. Unless someone's got a writeup or a video of the disassembly. Tried looking on ebay for T43 IDTech panels, but all I found were mostly Samsungs, and a few BOEHydises. Oh well...

[systemBuilder]

BoeHydis 14.1" LCDs are the BEST 14.1 LCDs, although they are a little "warm" in color temperature, whereas the Samsung's are a little "cool" and the IDTechs are a little "Dark". So if you were going to modify a 14.1" panel, you should modify a BoeHydis, IMHO.

My employer gives me a T420 with a very good 1600x900 LED-lit panel (except it's too freak'in tiny!) I don't think a CCFL IPS panel is as good as this LED panel. So frankly, I would not give up on the panel modification, just because it's not an IPS panel. The brightness and power efficiency of an LED backlight are worth adding to any thinkpad.

I know all the 14.1 panels are still available, NOS, I recently hunted down a BoeHydis for $79, so I imagine that the 15" IPS panels are still available, NOS, if you know where to look. I have done 2x panel replacements, but no LED mods ... yet.