LCD Replacement on Thinkpad X200

[think_lenovo15]

Hi,

So I dropped my X200 yesterday and my LCD is cracked. I called IBM parts services to see how much a replacement would cost and they are charging $460! So, I've decided to just go with seemingly reputable eBay dealer as they are selling for almost a quarter of the cost.

Anyways, I am wondering if it is possible to upgrade the LCD panel to the LED backlit one, since I am replacing it anyways. The one I broke was the 1280x800 CCFL (FRU was 42T0478, but has since been replaced with FRT0482 and 42T0510). The LED backlight has FRU 43T0709 (they also listed 43T0711, 43T0713, 43T0715, which I assume to all be the same as well)

Also probably worth mentioning, I have the integrated camera, bluetooth, and WIFI (only that, not the WAN or wireless-USB).

I've cross checked all the components on Lenovo's website, the only 2 pieces which seem to be different are the panel itself, and the "LCD cable assembly with Bluetooth connector, with camera connector", one says CCFL (FRU: 44c9909), the other says LED (FRU: 44c9991).

So, here are my questions:
1) Is it possible?
2) Do I need to buy the LED cable to do it?
3) If it is not possible, and I only want to replace the CCFL, do I only need to buy the panel?
4) Is there anything else I should know before doing this? (e.g. are there any adhesives that need replacing?)

I am by no means an expert, but I have taken the laptop apart before on a couple occasions (once when the fan was knocked loose, the other when the camera was knocked loose). Replacing the LCD seems pretty straightforward to me, and I will be following Lenovo's service videos as well, but I just want to make sure about everything before I buy the replacement.


Thanks so much to anyone who read all that, and any help would be greatly appreciated.

[penartur]

First of all, it is quite difficult to replace CCFL-backlit screen with LED-backlit one or vice verca.
Then, there are a good news: you can easily replace CCFL-backlit mediocre TN screen with the great IPS or *VA one. You just should purchase such a screen (Boe-Hydis HV121WX4 IPS one or Samsung LTN121AP03 *VA one) on ebay or elsewhere, and follow lenovo's Hardware Maintenance Manual steps to replace the LCD panel (there is no need in replacing inverter or cable etc). Just make sure that, if you're purchasing HV121WX4, the screen comes without a digitizer. HV121WX4 are usually coming with digitizer attached, and such a screen cannot be installed in X200 without removing a digitizer, which is quite difficult procedure.

[think_lenovo15]

Hi,

Thanks for your help. I'll stick with CCFL. As for the Boe-Hydis HV121WX4 IPS or Samsung LTN121AP03. I want to have a matte screen and unfortunately the only HV121WX4-120 on eBay is $400 (the -110 and -100 are cheaper, but glossy), the Samsung is a lot on eBay too.

Will any eBay screen with FRU 42T0478, 42T0482, or 42T0510 work? Is there any difference between these? A guy at IBM told me that -478 is just replaced with -482 and -510 now. I understand the stock ones are much worse quality, but non-gloss is most important to me. These are also cheaper as well.

Thanks.

[Harryc]

Welcome to the forum ... here comes the welcome mat ... or should I say matte . If you're interested in just having a viewable LCD until you can find a matte AFFS LCD, I have the old LCD from my X200 that you can have for shipping cost. It literally has a pen point sized hole in the LCD screen in the upper left quadrant, but it is otherwise bright and totally usable. Let me know via PM if you are interested. It's just sitting here collecting dust. As someone who has done the AFFS mod, you really want to do this. It's worth waiting for, and whatever you have to do to get the Boe Hydis matte LCD is worth it. It's spectacular. I waited for months before one showed up on EBay for $160.

[penartur]

Thanks for your help. I'll stick with CCFL. As for the Boe-Hydis HV121WX4 IPS or Samsung LTN121AP03. I want to have a matte screen and unfortunately the only HV121WX4-120 on eBay is $400 (the -110 and -100 are cheaper, but glossy), the Samsung is a lot on eBay too.

LTN121AP03 is matte. Yes, HV121WX4-120 is expensive and always was expensive.
Just make sure you ordering actual HV121WX4 or LTN121AP03, not some "compatible model" or "replacement" (as such a "replacement for HV121WX4" is likely a common mediocre TN panel, which has nothing to do with HV121WX4 except for interface compatibility).
Yes, any HV121WX4 or LTN121AP03 will work in your X200, regardless of revision or comments, even if X200 or lenovo is not mentioned in item's description. It is like HDD or RAM - you can purchase any 2.5" SATA HDD from any manufacturer who doesn't mention compatibility with thinkpad, and there will be no problems in replacing your thinkpad hdd with a purchased one.

[think_lenovo15]

Thanks for your help guys. And thanks a lot for the offer Harryc, but I think I would rather just replace the screen once and sort of be done with it. I don't really have the time to keep checking and waiting for the matte Boe-Hydris.

Anyways, I've been searching around the forums and eBay and I've narrowed it down to these 3. If you can check them out and let me know what you think, that would be very helpful!

The first is the Samsung LTN121AP02. Is this comparable to the LTN121AP03? Also, how would you compare it to the Boe-Hydris? And I know you said the FRU doesn't really matter, but the seller lists it as 42T0563, which is not one of the 3 listed by lenovo for the x200... So, I just want to make sure:

Samsung LTN121AP02:
http://cgi.ebay.com/New-SAMSUNG-LTN121A ... 1c0dea0c78

The second doesn't give the brand or anything (apparently LTD121EWVB is the model though)... I assume its just the same as the stock one I broke (when I opened mine up, it turned out I had FRU 42T0510, the same as this one)
http://cgi.ebay.com/New-IBM-THINKPAD-X2 ... 19b6fd4762

The third is just the glossy Boe-Hydis
Boe-Hydis HV121WX4-110 (Glossy):
http://cgi.ebay.com/Boehydis-AFFS-LCD-s ... 19bd10b4f5


So, what I'm asking I guess, is the Samsung LTN121AP02 better than that stock panel? And as I said, matte is most important thing to me. BUT, if those are both equally terrible, then I'll just get the glossy Boe-Hydris. I should probably add that I never really had much of a problem with the stock.... I didn't even know you could throw in a better screen until I visited the forum, lol.


Also, I've noticed a few people on this forum (and other forums) have bought from this seller before, and he seems pretty reputable.

[Harryc]

I'd go for the first one because it is close to what you have, and the manufacturer is known. I have used that exact seller in the past and they are good. Don't know the answer to the Samsung question. If you hate glossy screens you will hate the third choice.

[think_lenovo15]

Ok, I bought the Samsung. Based off further research, apparently it is also a PVA. And most people seem to think it is slightly better than the stock TN, so seemed good enough to me. Thanks for all your help!

I had couple more questions actually. In taking the bezel off the screen, I completely destroyed those little screw covers. I found a set online for X60/X61 though, do you happen to know if these will fit? (http://cgi.ebay.com/IBM-Thinkpad-X40-X4 ... 51924cb481)

Lastly, on Lenovo's support site for instructions on removing the bezel, they seem to remove a bunch of other screw covers. I'm talking about the covers labelled 2 and 3 on the third picture down (they are squre and rectangular shaped)http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-71339

I can't seem to find these anywhere on my laptop, nor do I think I need to replace them even if I could find them. It seems like I can pop the LCD panel right out and put the new one in. Do I need to worry about these other covers?

Thanks again!

[Harryc]

The square covers are only needed for a WXGA+ LCD. Those round screw covers should work.

[think_lenovo15]

Great! Thanks again.