Latest mod: 14.1" T42 with UXGA! [PIX]

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pianowizard · #1 Post by **pianowizard** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 3:51 pm

As you all know, I am a resolution addict and that's why I have two QXGA R50p's. But they are very heavy and I needed something more portable, and the X series with XGA is out of the question. So I started this thread hoping to get either a 5-lb 14.1" SXGA+ T4* (lighter but lower res) or a 6-lb 14.1" UXGA Dell Inspiron 4100 (higher res but heavier and older). Then I wondered whether it's possible to get both, and transplant the Dell's UXGA into the T4* to have the best of both laptops. I got an SXGA+ T42 for $411 shipped and a Dell Inspiron 4100 for $277 shipped, both from eBay and both arrived this week. After four hours of surgery, I pressed the power button on the hybrid laptop, and it worked! I had predicted failure because I had never seen reports of such a mod, so it was a very pleasant surprise. With a 6-cell battery and both RAM slots occupied, this 14.1" UXGA T42 weighs 5.44 lbs. Before this mod, the original SXGA+ T42 weighed 5.17 lbs. This difference is due to the thicker UXGA panel.

If you want to attempt this yourself, here are the parts that I used:

1) a 14.1" T42 with 64MB ATI Radeon 9600

2) a 14.1" UXGA panel intended for the Dell Inspiron 4100

3) a 15.0" UXGA Flexview cable with part numbers 91P6836 and 91P6824; it's the same one that came with the 15.0" UXGA R50p and that I have for sale here.

4) The inverter (part numbers 91P7336 and 91P7299) for the above 15.0" UXGA screen. It's also on sale in the above thread. I found that the T42's original SXGA+ inverter also worked.

The UXGA panel is thicker than the original SXGA+ panel, and the 15.0" UXGA cable needs to be folded in order to be squeezed into the display lid. Consequently, the upgraded machine's display lid is a little swollen. I tried using the original 14.1" SXGA+ cable, three times, and it didn't work.

**One more cautionary note: Because the location of the display lid sensor on the 15.0" UXGA cable is different than that on the 14.1" SXGA+ cable, closing the lid can no longer activate this sensor. So, one can't get the machine to stand by or hibernate automatically by closing the lid.

UPDATE: I took two photos comparing the 15.0" 2048x1536 R50p and the 14.1" 1600x1200 T42. I'll let you guess which one has Flexview and which one doesn't:

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa13 ... 42UXGA.jpg

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa13 ... Aangle.jpg

UPDATE #2: If you want to buy just the LCD, look for Sharp LQ141U1LH02, as shown in this photo:

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa13 ... chUXGA.jpg

Eric Giles · #2 Post by **Eric Giles** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 4:02 pm

Wow-congratulations on your surgery! So I guess the Dell panel obviously has the same screen connector as the 15" panel used in the R50p, and it is about in the same location? Do you think that the folding of the cable-and the extra pressure on it from being folded-may cause it to fail prematurely?

Looking forward to the pictures of your 'hybrid'!

agarza · #3 Post by **agarza** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 4:07 pm

Interesting. Waiting the pics

wearetheborg · #4 Post by **wearetheborg** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 4:47 pm

$411 for a SXGA+ T42 is SWEET, which auction was this ?

I have a SXGA+ 14" T40 with dud screen, think this surgery will work on it ?
2373-9cu

#5 Post by **gator** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 6:38 pm

Wow! Yet another PW special! Congrats!

Now, if you will only post the pics, I will drool at it and sleep happily for the day.

#6 Post by **tomh009** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 6:54 pm

I am impressed ... and intrigued by the other possibilities this opens up. Will be waiting to see photos!

pianowizard · #7 Post by **pianowizard** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 9:32 pm

I just added two pix to the opening post.

Eric Giles wrote:I guess the Dell panel obviously has the same screen connector as the 15" panel used in the R50p, and it is about in the same location?

Yep, about the same. I got very lucky!

Eric Giles wrote:Do you think that the folding of the cable-and the extra pressure on it from being folded-may cause it to fail prematurely?

I haven't noticed any issue so far, but I do worry about this possibility a little bit. If I start experiencing problems, I will point them out in this thread.

wearetheborg wrote:$411 for a SXGA+ T42 is SWEET, which auction was this ?

It was very good indeed, because besides the SXGA+ screen, it had a 60GB 7200rpm HDD, a brand new keyboard, and the 512MB RAM was on one module. This is what I got, with Buy-It-Now. However, it has a crack in the display bezel, the touchpad's right button didn't work (I fixed it), and there are seven pressure marks on the SXGA+ screen. The UXGA screen is much cleaner.

wearetheborg wrote:I have a SXGA+ 14" T40 with dud screen, think this surgery will work on it ?
2373-9cu

There is a pretty good chance it will!

#8 Post by **underclocker** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 9:42 pm

Completely insane. That's is an awesome mod!!!

Congratulations

#9 Post by **gator** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 10:26 pm

Awesome pics. I can go to sleep peacefully tonight!

PW, I really like your R50p, the screen looks simply amazing. If you EVER think about selling it (eek!) remember me!!

#10 Post by **gator** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 10:30 pm

PW, I have a question for you: Now that you have experienced a flexview screen, what is your opinion about IBM's non-IPS screens?

wearetheborg · #11 Post by **wearetheborg** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 12:18 am

So the graphics card not being able to power a UXGA screen is not a problem in my T40 ?

What is a pressure mark ? Can it be cleaned ?
I'm looking for a SXGA+ screen for the T40, are you planning on selling yours ?

gunston · #12 Post by **gunston** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 1:03 am

so which one is the flexview?
left one or right one??

i would presume the left one with UXGA 15"

am i right

#13 Post by **KristianJ** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 3:52 am

QXGA, gunston

And yes, the one on the left is the Flexview since it still looks very visible from such an acute angle.

P-dub, that looks outstanding! I'd take the UXGA screen you have FS for my T42 but I'd be rather apprehensive about shipping overseas unless it was encased in a lead box

pianowizard · #14 Post by **pianowizard** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 8:31 am

gator wrote:Now that you have experienced a flexview screen, what is your opinion about IBM's non-IPS screens?

Good question. Since getting my R50p's over two months ago, I've been using Flexview almost exclusively. This T42's lower contrast and much poorer viewing angle are very obvious indeed. They bother me a little, but I would still rather have non-Flexview UXGA than Flexview SXGA+. You've been using Flexview too, right? Can you go back to TN screens?

wearetheborg wrote:So the graphics card not being able to power a UXGA screen is not a problem in my T40?

I can't be sure so I can't guarantee anything, but your T40 has 32MB ATI Radeon 9000, and the Dell Inspiron I got the UXGA panel from also only has 32MB graphics memory, so I think it's quite likely that you can get it to work. Also, I think the A21p and A22p used only 16MB of graphics memory to drive their UXGA screens.

wearetheborg wrote:What is a pressure mark ? Can it be cleaned

The screen has about 10, more or less circular spots up to 1 cm in diameter that look brighter than the rest of the screen. I am actually not sure whether they were caused by pressure applied to the screen. They can't be cleaned. They look tolerable to me though.

wearetheborg wrote:I'm looking for a SXGA+ screen for the T40, are you planning on selling yours?

I will probably sell the screen plus the cable for $70 shipped.

tomh009 wrote:I am impressed ... and intrigued by the other possibilities this opens up.

I think the best thing is that it's no longer necesssary for people who need UXGA to get 15.0" Thinkpads, which are slightly heavier and much bulkier than this 14.1" T42.

The Spirit of X21 · #15 Post by **The Spirit of X21** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 8:46 am

Very awesome, Kwoon. I'll have to see this next week at the lab...

#16 Post by **erik** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 9:06 am

pianowizard wrote:The UXGA panel is thicker than the original SXGA+ panel, and the 15.0" UXGA cable needs to be folded in order to be squeezed into the display lid. Consequently, the upgraded machine's display lid is a little swollen.

instead of folding the LCD cable, is there enough room to separate the strands from the ribbon to effectively create a curve in the cable? do you think that would eliminate the bulge?

pianowizard wrote:I think the best thing is that it's no longer necesssary for people who need UXGA to get 15.0" Thinkpads, which are slightly heavier and much bulkier than this 14.1" T42.

that's the boat i'm in.

do you have any other photos of this setup? i'm mostly concerned with the bulge as i travel with my T42p (and soon T61p) in my backpack along with tons of other stuff for work.

#17 Post by **gator** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 10:06 am

pianowizard wrote:Good question. Since getting my R50p's over two months ago, I've been using Flexview almost exclusively. This T42's lower contrast and much poorer viewing angle are very obvious indeed. They bother me a little, but I would still rather have non-Flexview UXGA than Flexview SXGA+. You've been using Flexview too, right? Can you go back to TN screens?

That is right, I have been using mt T60 wiht flexview since august, and I find the TN panels tuff to adjust to. The contrast and the colors are much better than any laptop LCD I have seen. If I have a choice, I will not buy a computer with a TN panel, but sadly that might not be possible.

That said, though it is TN, I like the SXGA+ panel on my T23 (thanks Ray!) more than the LCD on the T41 I sold. I cannot stand the T4x panels

I have been spoilt by flexview.

DarkMark · #18 Post by **DarkMark** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 12:34 pm

WOW, great work.

That's exactly what I was thinking of doing ever since I read about the UXGA Dell in the Marketplace.

Thanks, for the information and the pics.

So, another item ticked of my "Things I'd like to se work" list.

pianowizard · #19 Post by **pianowizard** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 1:12 pm

Thanks you all for the compliments!

I added a photo showing the part numbers on the back of the LCD panel to the original post.

The Spirit of X21 wrote:Very awesome, Kwoon. I'll have to see this next week at the lab...

You are very welcome to stop by next Wednesday. Do you still need a 14.1" SXGA+ LCD? I can sell you the one that came with the T42, plus the cable and the inverter, for $65.

erik wrote:instead of folding the LCD cable, is there enough room to separate the strands from the ribbon to effectively create a curve in the cable? do you think that would eliminate the bulge?

Hmm, I don't know exactly what you mean. But the bulge caused by cable is very minor.

erik wrote:do you have any other photos of this setup? i'm mostly concerned with the bulge as i travel with my T42p (and soon T61p) in my backpack along with tons of other stuff for work.

The LCD panel causes more bulge than the cable, but even so it's not that bad. It's too subtle to be captured well by a camera (I tried). The LCD pushes the front bezel forward a little bit, about 1 mm. To prevent the LCD from touching the Trackpoint, I replaced the original Soft Dome (which sticks out more) with a Classic Dome. I use the touchpad most of the time anyway!

NathanA · #20 Post by **NathanA** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 7:34 pm

pianowizard wrote:I use the touchpad most of the time anyway!

WHAT?! Heretic!!

Congrats on such an awesome mod!

-- Nathan

sergi0 · #21 Post by **sergi0** » Sun Sep 02, 2007 1:32 pm

hi everybody

I am very interested by this mod. Why didn't you use a t43p instead of a t42P? Is there any hardware reason or is just a question of price?

I am not in need of big processor power, but the udma disk of the t42p will limit the evolution of this computer.

Could you confirm that it will work on t43p?

Thanks,

Serge

pianowizard · #22 Post by **pianowizard** » Sun Sep 02, 2007 3:27 pm

sergi0 wrote:I am very interested by this mod. Why didn't you use a t43p instead of a t42P? Is there any hardware reason or is just a question of price?

That's because I owned a T43 for five months and I didn't like its constantly on, very loud fan. The T43's build quality is also significantly poorer than the T42's.

I didn't notice any difference in performance between the T43 and the T42, or between the T60 (which I owned also for about 5 months) and the T42 for that matter. If performance is important to you, consider trying this mod on a T61p.

Because I have tried this mod only on this particular T42, I can't guarantee that it will work on any other models. Someone needs to do more of these experiments, and it won't be me because I'm saving up money for trying to upgrade an X60s to SXGA+. If you ever try it, please report the results!

sergi0 · #23 Post by **sergi0** » Mon Sep 03, 2007 8:46 am

thanks for your feedback:) it is appreciated.

I don't really need performance, I just want to possibility to upgrade to bigger hard drive when they become available. BUT, I realize that the t43p don't have sata drive, so I will stick with a t42p

... Plus the fact that I can add more disk capacity inside the bay. I already di it when I owned a t42p 15" uxga. That was very usefull, but it was too heavy to transport it everyday.

I move to a x60s and I am very happy with it, except I would have preferr a bigger resolution... your future mod also interest me !

I will began to check ebay for t42p good price. Why didn't you try the qxga mod on a t4xp 15"? I have a R51 under my eyes, and it is definitively bigger than my previous t42p (and I don't compare it with my x60s...

thanks again,

Serge

pianowizard · #24 Post by **pianowizard** » Mon Sep 03, 2007 9:17 am

sergi0 wrote:Why didn't you try the qxga mod on a t4xp 15"?

Three reasons:

1) The T42p's LCD housing is too thin for the QXGA panel. Even the R50p's is barely thick enough, and I have several small gaps between the display bezel and the lid on both R50p's.

2) Before trying the mod, I had owned lots of T-series Thinkpads but not a single R-series, so I wanted to try an R-series.

3) I hate to carry laptops that weigh over 5 lbs, so even if I had done the QXGA mod to a 15.0" T42p, I would still only use it as a desktop replacement anyway. So, whether it's a 6-lb T42p or a 7-lb R50p makes no practical difference to me. When I am on the road, I use my 0.376-lb Dell Axim X51v.

crashnburn · #25 Post by **crashnburn** » Thu Sep 06, 2007 1:51 pm

pw - I bow before thee... I was wondering if there was any way to buy a laptop 14" with higher than SXGA+ ... esp WUXGA or UXGA.

I'd love to see if this mod can be done for a 14" T43p and / or T6Xp.

BTW - Can I buy that SXGA+ LCD from you for now?

?

jcvjcvjcvjcv · #26 Post by **jcvjcvjcvjcv** » Thu Sep 06, 2007 7:37 pm

Awesome!

Maybe someone should try this to a T61

pianowizard · #27 Post by **pianowizard** » Thu Sep 06, 2007 9:16 pm

crashnburn wrote:BTW - Can I buy that SXGA+ LCD from you for now? ?

I sold that to Ray. HOWEVER, I bought an extra 14.1" UXGA screen, the same model as the one I used in this T42. It has lots of pressure marks, and some glue on the surface. I can sell it for $35 plus actual postage. This would be perfect for someone who wants to experiment with a cheap screen before shelling out big bucks for a nice screen (>$200 on eBay). Other than these blemishes, the screen works fine and is very bright. Please PM me if you (i.e. everyone reading this) are interested.

crashnburn · #28 Post by **crashnburn** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 9:24 am

Ah! Too slow. Do you think an Intel 915GM/GMS,910GML Chipset Family Video Card would be able to handle the UXGA? Does it have minimum specs?

pianowizard · #29 Post by **pianowizard** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 9:48 am

crashnburn wrote:Do you think an Intel 915GM/GMS,910GML Chipset Family Video Card would be able to handle the UXGA?

According to this document, it would be!

crashnburn · #30 Post by **crashnburn** » Sun Sep 30, 2007 7:22 pm

pianowizard wrote:
crashnburn wrote:Do you think an Intel 915GM/GMS,910GML Chipset Family Video Card would be able to handle the UXGA?
According to this document, it would be!

I'll take it if you have it. I've been on and off the boards (busy). Let me know how to touch base with you - PM me. I'd love to call and speak with you on the phone before you make a Houston visit

Latest mod: 14.1" T42 with UXGA! [PIX]

Latest mod: 14.1" T42 with UXGA! [PIX]

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