HP Elitebook 2530P: Screen Swap?

As 2530p owners know, this laptop's most noticeable flaw is its screen's poor viewing angles and below average contrast. To remedy this, the stock TN panel, LG LP121WX3-TLA1, Samsung LTN121S3, or AUO B121EW07 (hooray panel lottery!) could supposedly be swapped out for a superior AFFS screen, such as the 12.1" Boe-Hydis HV121WX5-110 (Matte LED) found in the HP 2730p.

Has anyone ever carried out such a swap, and if not, is there any reason to assume that it wouldn't work? I've never replaced a notebook panel before so I'm far from familiar with the challenges that such an operation would face.

Here's a picture of the back of the stock screen:


Here's the Boe-Hydis screen, hv121wx5-110


EDIT: Evidently the AUO B121EW07 is compatible with both the 2530p and the 2730p. By extension all 2530p LED screens can be swapped with 2730p LED screens, and vice versa.

 

From the looks of it, I'll be the first to try this then. I'll get back to you guys with problems/results.

 

How did it go?

 

I wanna know too.

 

It is happening as I type.

 

Well, that didn't work too well. The good part is that with the digitizer removed, the Boe-Hydis HV121WX5 panel fits the mounting bracket and screws in perfectly. The bad part is that the power inverter ribbon is both mounted on the left side (vs. centered at the bottom) and narrows from roughly 1/4-inch to 3/8-inch (vs. constant width). While this prevents the Hydis panel from being a simple swap job, I suppose I could hunt down a spare ribbon from somewhere.

The most troublesome part is the data ribbon. Though they're both roughly 1" wide, the Hydis' ribbon connector has 40 pins (stock panel has 20 pins).

Both panels use LED backlighting, so at least that matches. Since I can't solder to save my life, the 40-pin HV121WX5 is out of bounds.

Is there a LED-backlit Hydis which has a 1-inch wide, 20 pin data connector? If one doesn't exist, are there any IPS/PVA alternatives? The stock 2530p panel sucks the life out of me.

The photo below is of both panels, the Hydis on the right, the stock AUO B121EW07 on the left.



Here's the stock panel's 20-pin connector with the flap raised:


Stock panel, the AUO, showing the location of the ribbon going to the inverter:


Detail shot of the AUO stock panel's power ribbon:


If anyone has any suggestions, I'd be glad to hear them.

 

Suggest match the cable that leads from your systemboard to your LCD. It will be a high density connector on the systemboard end and (currently) 20pin on the other end. You want 40pin connector on the other. Then the swap would be plug and play.

http://www.pchub.com/uph/content/fq2_dis_lcd_cable .html

is a good place to peruse such connectors looking for another vendors cable as a candidate. FYI: I used a Mac HD cable at one stage when I swapped a panel that used a different 20pin connector. 2730P cable would be the first I'd be looking at.

2530P/2540P users will no doubt be quite interested in getting a decent panel swap-out solution.

 

The LCD cable used in the 2530p is pictured here:


The LVDS cable used with the HV121WX5 in the 2710p, and presumably the 2730p, appears here:


I'm no expert, but they look substantially different both where they connect to the systemboard and also where they connect to the LCD. I assume that with the LVDS cable, one fork of the LCD end goes to the inverter while the other goes to the LCD connector. The 2530p LCD cable on the other hand thoroughly confuses me; I didn't notice where all those ends went when I disassembled my 2530p.

I'm currently looking for 2730p owners who could perhaps get me the parts number for the cable used in their notebook. Until then, I'll read up more on how LCDs are installed.

 

Thanks for the update! Too bad it hasn't worked yet..

 

Looking forward to any progress. My 2530p screen has a minor defect and I'm considering to get a new one. Might as well get something better if the price don't scare me off. Watching this thread.

 

Hi,

Just replaced the original (mecanically broken) Samsung screen with another Samsung screen that I ordered online (£140 including the shipping) and I am happy with the result. The new screen is glossy instead of matte but I woudn't say that it is any worse than the original, depends what you do with it since the colours are now better. The replacement itself was simple and saved me about 500 euros vs. having it done by the local HP service partner.

 

500 euros? That's insane.

As it happens, I received a new 2530p from HP since the previous one died under warranty. It sports a Samsung LTN121W3 as well. Subjectively from memory, it's no better or worse than the original AUO panel.

 

your stock cable is 20 pin???
i just bought an hp 2530 cable (probably not LED) looking at it here, Im sure its got to be more than 30 pin.
Maybe you should get one of these cables, could be an easier soldering job. I mean you'd have to get a 2730 cable to splice.

Here is some VERY interesting things about 30 vs 40 pin. If you get the pinouts right, Intel graphics chipset will figure it out.

The WXGA to WUXGA LCD cable mod PT2 - seen here first!

 

peli_kan sent me a PM looking for some help on this.

this is the same issue ThinkPad owners have run into in trying to convert their LED X200/X201 systems to LED AFFS+.   the limitation is in adapting the 20-pin Hirose connector to the 40-pin JAE connector.   a jumper harness could theoretically be built but you'd still have to pull data and power leads from other locations to feed those last 20 pins.

this can be done but it's a huge undertaking in soldering nearly 30 jumper wires to/from various locations on the LED board, LVDS cable, and display panel controller board.   a few resistors have to be opened (de-soldered) in the process.   the result winds up looking like a spiderweb of wires on the back side of the display.

unfortunately i don't have any instructions prepared on doing this and don't have the time to create any right now.

if HP has a CCFL version of this notebook then it would be easier to convert the system using CCFL parts (LVDS and inverter) and a different Hydis panel.   99% of ThinkPad X20x owners performing this conversion are using CCFL components rather than LED because it's a plug-and-play mod versus needing soldering skills and system board layout knowledge.

i wish i could be of better help.   good luck with the project!

 

You'd be looking at a NC2400 for CCFL components to do a Hydis CCFL conversion. NC2400 refence components below:

HP Compaq nc2400 Series LCD Cable (12")
Ambit T18I075.04 LCD Inverter
Samsung LTN121W1-L03 LCD 12.1" WXGA

 

Does this mean that one could swap in the above LCD inverter, LCD cable, and a CCFL HV121WX4 into a formerly LED backlit HP 2530p?

I really appreciate the help.

 

Consider the details at: http://forum.notebookreview.com/panasonic/471036-changing-ccfl-led-display.html . Notice that the LED backlit LCD consumed [email protected] (1.75W) at full brightness. The CCFL one [email protected] (5.25W).

That up-to 3.5W difference is a fair whack on your battery life. If you get 5hrs battery life from the 55Whr 6-cell (11W average) at full brightness, then that would be 4:33 with the CCFL backlit LCD.

 

If you want I can mail you the Samsung CFFL LCD from my X200 so you can test whether it'll work with a CFFL screen. It's just sitting in the closet collecting dust. Then you'd only have to find a cable and inverter. If it works you could move onto the Hydis screen to see if that works.

 

Thanks for the offer, but my chapter on this matter has been fully written. I've sold my 2530P to pay for textbooks in the short term, and (hopefull) fund the purchase of a Fujitsu T730.

 

I just got my 2530p screen changed and I have to say I liked my old panel better. The last one was a Toshiba-Matsua(according to Everest) and the new one is an AU Optronics. My keyboard has been changed too and it feels quite different from the old one (maybe got one from a 2540p but this one is more clicky ). I am getting my touchpad cover changed soon. This machine has had some problems but the HP warranty and customer service are pretty good (at least here in Mexico) so I think I'll buy another Elitebook when the time comes. Anyone else trying the AFFS+ mod on their 2530p?

 

Would that be a yes or no? Everything I've read so far indicates that a X201 (LED backlit) or HP 2530P/2540P (LED backlit) could take a CCFL AFFS+ panel, given the right inverter and cable.

 

hm I have a 2530p 40-pin cable here. But my laptop isnt actually running
if ALL your screens are 20-pin I really dont know where this one came from...

BUT regardless Do you guys NOT have a 30 pin connector on your motherboard??
this is just weird... i mean 20 pin is like for xga...

 

Has there been any progress with this project?