LCD replacement question

[kid8]

I have a question about replacing my lcd on my T41. Can I use a SXGA+ LCD from another laptop, mainly a Dell, that uses what seems to be the same panel as my current LCD? I have an SXGA+ Samsung panel w/one stuck pixel that just drives me nuts and I want to replace it. I see on ebay that dell has a bunch of these panels for more than half the cost of an IBM panel. Could I order one of these and use it w/my current Inverter and cables? Thanks.

[The Spirit of X21]

If it isn't from an IBM machine, you're pretty much on your own unless the part numbers for the panels match exactly. I'm pretty sure the only forum member here crazy enough to swap a Dell panel into a ThinkPad is pianowizard, and he was lucky. You could be our researcher, though!

[rkawakami]

I would say if the panels have the same Samsung part numbers then yes it would work. If they are not identical then you would have to determine what specifically is different between them. I don't know enough about the LCD interface standards (or even if there are any) to say that the end of the T41 video ribbon cable would plug into a "Dell" panel and have the same pinout. I do know that the placement of the connector can vary and that the inverter usually needs to be matched with the backlight contained with the panel. This means that even if the ribbon cable connectors have the same pinout, if they are physically located at different spots on the panels then the cable may either not reach the socket or it will need to be bent or twisted to fit. With the inverter, if the lamp in the Dell panel needs a different voltage to operate properly, then the screen may be too dim (insufficient voltage) or too bright (possible reduced lifespan of bulb).

Looking through the archives, I can find these threads which talk about replacing LCD panels with non-IBM versions:

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=19958
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=19825
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=3426

If you do happen to try this out, please post your results here.

[pianowizard]

I see on ebay that dell has a bunch of these panels for more than half the cost of an IBM panel. Could I order one of these and use it w/my current Inverter and cables? Thanks.

Even new panels often have one or two stuck or dead pixels. You may want to look for a local source so that you can inspect it before purchasing.

You could be our researcher, though!

Yeah, we need more people doing these experiments! I can't do many more of these because I'm just a poor postdoc!

[melmo]

Interesting topic... I've been longing to upgrade my wife's T41 with an SXGA screen for awhile, but it's kind of discouraging to see that a new LTN141P2-L01 (for Dells) is generally half the price of a LTN141P2-L02 (for Thinkpads).

In the meantime, I've been looking at upgrading to a WUXGA screen in my Macbook Pro, and it seems that the Samsung LTN154U2-L0[1-4 and maybe 5] will work, as well as some Toshiba and LG screens. Here's a link to the product manual for one of the Samsung panels: http://www.wavetel.us/~jonjandran/Samsu ... U2-L04.pdf

If we could find the corresponding manuals for the LTN141P2-L01 and LTN141P2-L02 panels, we might be able to figure out what the differences are (e.g. pinouts on the lvds cable) and modify the Dell panel for our Thinkpads, and save some cash

[pianowizard]

I've been looking at upgrading to a WUXGA screen in my Macbook Pro

A WUXGA screen is most likely about 1 to 2 mm thicker than the Macbook Pro's WXGA+ screen. Apple worked hard to make this laptop as thin as possible, so the LCD assembly may be just thick enough for WXGA+ and not thick enough for WUXGA. Make sure there's enough room inside the assembly before buying anything.

[melmo]

Make sure there's enough room inside the assembly before buying anything.

There actually seems to be a handful of people on the macrumors site that have performed this swap with the panels I mentioned, so it would seem that there is room. The scary thing with the Macs is that Apple decided to GLUE the panels to the bezel.

Hopefully IBM/Lenovo engineers don't think that glue is a good way to hold their laptops together.

[pianowizard]

There actually seems to be a handful of people on the macrumors site that have performed this swap with the panels I mentioned

Wow, that's fanTAStic news. I would love to have a 15.4" MacBook Pro with WUXGA and run Windows XP Pro on it. It would be the lightest WUXGA Windows laptop ever made.

[kid8]

Thanks for all the info guys. I m gonna look into it a little more before I go and make the plunge.

[melmo]

Thanks for all the info guys. I m gonna look into it a little more before I go and make the plunge.

If you do go for it, let me know if you want to sell your old, damaged, fuzzy, dead-pixel riddled lcd for cheap!

[kid8]

Thanks for all the info guys. I m gonna look into it a little more before I go and make the plunge.

If you do go for it, let me know if you want to sell your old, damaged, fuzzy, dead-pixel riddled lcd for cheap!

Lol thats the thing. It only has one tiny stuck pixel (green) than only shows up on black backgrounds and one super tiny scratch. I am just being OCD about it.

[melmo]

Honestly, it's probably not worth replacing the lcd for one stuck pixel. Have you tried googling for "lcd stuck pixel"? You'll find a few suggestions on how to un-stick a stuck pixel.

By the way, pianowizard, there are more to laptops than the number of pixels and how light they are... they have cpu's, and personalities But seriously, the lack of a trackpoint on the Mac took quite a bit of getting used to. Not to mention the single mouse button (sigh).

Lol thats the thing. It only has one tiny stuck pixel (green) than only shows up on black backgrounds and one super tiny scratch. I am just being OCD about it.

[kid8]

Yea none of the tricks/programs worked to unstuck it.

[pianowizard]

pianowizard, there are more to laptops than the number of pixels and how light they are... they have cpu's, and personalities

LOL! Resolution and weight are indeed by far the most important things to me.

But seriously, the lack of a trackpoint on the Mac took quite a bit of getting used to. Not to mention the single mouse button (sigh).

I prefer the touchpad to the trackpoint, but it's still nice to have the latter as a backup. The single mouse button is a huge problem for me too.

[IBMbuilder]

I hope you have not shut one off those ebay auction dell LCD down yet. T4x won't work with that LTN141P4-L01 period. Been there done that!

But Yes, there is another option for T4x sxga+, which is even cheaper, and the screen is better in term of contrast.

Do anyone know, what I know?

[Troels]

What happens when the LTN141P4-L01 is connected to a T4x? Garbled image? Magic smoke? Nothing?

Perhaps this means that the last three numbers/letters of the display model is OEM specific - i.e. one for Dell, another for IBM, Toshiba, FSC etc.

[IBMbuilder]

Well, connect the dell lcd to T4x cause the laptop not to turn on, hit the power button, all you see and hear is the fan turn on for 1 second, then nothing happen afer that. I compare the pinout from the dell to t4x, they are difference.

[EvilH]

I recently picked up a T40 2373-2CU. I want to replace the XGA screen with a SXGA or UXGA. Is the Radeon 7500 able to run this resolution? I saw a screen on ebay and asked the seller if it would work and he said no.

[venro]

Is the Radeon 7500 able to run this resolution?

Recently I did that to my T40 (XGA, Ati Radeon 7500 32MB). SXGA+ works with ATI 7500 like a charm 1400x1050 and 32bits, no problems. Screen was from T40p.

[EvilH]

Awesome. Thanks. Off to ebay to get a screen. Considering I got the laptop for free $230 for a screen isn't too bad

Thanks for the clarification.

[melmo]

If you have the pinouts for both the IBM and Dell screens, then can you provide them to us? That would be a big help.

BTW, are you sure you have an ISP screen in that R51?

I compare the pinout from the dell to t4x, they are difference.