Most important things to upgrade on my R51

[jwdjr2004]

anyone know how to find an inverter compatible with my system?

[Harryc]

Assuming that you have an R51 with a 14.1" XGA LCD, you need inverter FRU# 91P7335. By the way, there is no such machine type as 2888-2WU. Check your sig. Should it be 2889-2WU?
http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trksid ... Categories

[jwdjr2004]

By the way, there is no such machine type as 2888-2WU. Check your sig. Should it be 2889-2WU?

nah it's definitely 2888-2WU

[Harryc]

Doesn't exist at the Lenovo support site. Anyway, is it an R51 with a 14.1" XGA LCD? Is yes, the FRU # I provided is correct.

Edit: I just checked again and it's there. Must have fat fingered it ...
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... ry=28882WU

[jwdjr2004]

yeah 14.1 XGA. any idea which CCFL replacement? i found the part lookup thing on the lenovo site, but didnt see that.

[Harryc]

Lenovo doesn't sell CCFL's. Just the entire LCD panel. You'd have to go to a company like Moniserv for just the CCFL.
http://www.lcdparts.net/agnCCFLlamp.asp ... 5QodaUKkyA
As a side note, it is not recommended to replace just the CCFL because it's a job that rarely turns out well. You could send Moniserv the entire unit and have them do it. There are a few other options as well...like post a wanted Ad in our own marketplace forum for an entire LCD assembly or just the panel. EBay is a third option. Lenovo is going to charge a premium for parts ...
The panel FRU's are 92P6675, 11P8352, 92P6717, and 92P6745
http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trksid ... Categories

Personal advice - watch your costs. A loaded R51 (ordered with every available feature) is not worth much more than $175 these days in mint condition. Yours is kind of basic, feature wise ...

[rkawakami]

Edit: I just checked again and it's there. Must have fat fingered it ...

No, I think you probably typed it in correctly. I just checked the 2888-2WU type and the Support site said it did not exist. I then refreshed the page and it reported it as a valid system type

[Harryc]

Thanks Ray...you gave me back some brain cells I thought I lost

[jwdjr2004]

Personal advice - watch your costs. A loaded R51 (ordered with every available feature) is not worth much more than $175 these days in mint condition. Yours is kind of basic, feature wise ...

Yeah but my other alternative is buying a new $800-$1000 laptop. plus this is kind of a hobby. plus, sentimental value.

you guys don't think i should try replacing the ccfl? I'll bet i could do the inverter. I'm starting to think it's that, since occasionally the screen looks perfectly fine--implying the lamp itself is ok.

[Harryc]

Since it looks like you can buy a replacement LCD on EBay for $50, I would not recommend the CCFL replacement. It will cost you $20 and change just to get the CCFL, then there is labor, time, etc. It's hard to describe just how difficult it is to get a CCFL in just right, and even if you do get it in, it is almost impossible to keep dust out of the work environment. A tiny speck of dust looks like a huge blob under the intense CCFL light once lit. The tube itself it not much thicker than a ball point pen cartridge, and they are delicate.

[RealBlackStuff]

There's a nostalgic thread on replacing the CCFL in an older TP 600.
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=3705
Most of that is also valid for newer LCDs, plus LCDPARTS has instructions as well.
I have done a number of them.
Depending on the LCD-manufacturer, it takes me between 35-60 minites to swap the CCFL out.
Hitachi is the worst to work on, then Samsung, then LG-Philips and IDTech.

[jwdjr2004]

ok the screen is entirely dead now. i can barely see a faint image of the desktop. seems like textbook ccfl going out, doesnt it? i'm going to send back the RAM and battery and HDD. I may buy an inverter at some point and see if i can revive it. new laptop, here i come. any suggestions?

[Tasurinchi]

new laptop, here i come. any suggestions?

Why don't you try to get an used R5x? You could keep the RAM and HDD and upgrade it. Another alternative could be to get a T-series with 15" screen. I've read lots of positive comments about them in this forum

If you want a new laptop, check the Lenovo site (the outlet store has good offers too)

Cheers

[RealBlackStuff]

What happened to hobby and sentimental value?

[vitalous]

I took my 1.5GHz (Dothan) R51 to 2GHz, and can tell the difference.
But, going to 7200rpm HD made a bigger improvement.

On the other hand, you may want to check prices on a later model.
You may find a Core Duo with a SATA HD used or refurb cheaper
than upgrading the R51.

John

[dacp]

John, what about heat! The cooling system on the R51 is not made for the 2ghz is what I have been told and can cause heating issues?

I took my 1.5GHz (Dothan) R51 to 2GHz, and can tell the difference.
But, going to 7200rpm HD made a bigger improvement.

On the other hand, you may want to check prices on a later model.
You may find a Core Duo with a SATA HD used or refurb cheaper
than upgrading the R51.

John

[sjthinkpader]

John, what about heat! The cooling system on the R51 is not made for the 2ghz is what I have been told and can cause heating issues? ...

You can use the R52 fan but both the P-M 715 and 755 are rated for 21W Thermal Design Power.

[vitalous]

John, what about heat! The cooling system on the R51 is not made for the 2ghz is what I have been told and can cause heating issues?

No issues, as long as there were none before. The fan comes on no more often.
Plus, it may actually be a little (tiny) bit cooler, as I think I spread out the thermal paste (Stars) more evenly than whomever did it at Lenovo.

You can use the R52 fan but both the P-M 715 and 755 are rated for 21W Thermal Design Power.

Correct, same thermal specs.

John

[dacp]

John, 1 more question what 2 ghz chip did you use Pentium M?

[ajkula66]

The correct CPU is Intel Pentium SL7EM, Dothan 755, 2.0

If you're content with 1.8 then it's SL7EN.

[vitalous]

John, 1 more question what 2 ghz chip did you use Pentium M?

The correct CPU is Intel Pentium SL7EM, Dothan 755, 2.0

If you're content with 1.8 then it's SL7EN.

Yeah, that's the 2GHz I found on eBay for about $75 or so a year ago. They're even cheaper now.
You can actually go up to a 2.1GHz, but these are harder to find. (And over $100 or so.)
According to ThinkWiki, the T42p was the only TP with one. Same power and voltage too.

John

[jwdjr2004]

What happened to hobby and sentimental value?

I'm not going to throw it out. unfortunately, it was the only laptop i had, so when it broke, i needed a working, portable computer ASAP. I returned all the parts...lost about $20 in the deal, most of which was restocking fee compliments of new egg...but i'll probably buy an inverter board and play around next time i have a free weekend.

thanks for the help guys.

[Smokestoomuch]

Just a heads up, somebody on this thread recommended PC2100 memory for an R51 2888. Well, that's wrong. You need at least PC2700 memory. I know this because I've been working on a whole pile of R51 2888's.