T400 CFFL to LED refit- first impressions

I found a complete LED conversion kit for a T400 on eBay. Total cost was $285USD shipped; not really cheap but I was extremely fed up with my current display so I decided to take the plunge and try it.

The LED I received is the LG LP141WP2-TLB1, a WXGA+ display that's considered to be the best available for the T400. The $285 gets you this LED LCD, the LCD cable for it, an LED board(to use in place of the inverter board), and the front bezel. The only LED specific part that isn't included is the top cover; about $50-70 or so on eBay. It isn't fully necessary, but there is a lightly more noticeable gap between the bezel and the screen with the CFFL cover on.

Firstly, the LED display is bright. I used my CFFL at about 15 brightness in my living room and found it tolerable... the LED is far, far brighter than that. Outdoor viewing should be a lot easier. I'm using it around 7-8 brightness currently and having no issues.

Secondly, I'm not sure how this happened but my ThinkLight is actually working like it's supposed to! This is a major deal for me as I do a lot of typing at night and use reference material next to me... having the ability to turn the light on and not be blinded is wonderful.

The Samsung WXGA+ CFFL I had in here before was pure, utter garbage. While this LG display isn't an IPS, the viewing angles are a lot better... it's got a much wider 'sweet spot' than the Samsung. Also, the LG's color reproduction is a lot better. I don't do photo editing or image work, but for my usage it seems to be loads better than the Samsung.

Installation was a pain and I wouldn't recommend it for anyone not confident with their notebook repair skills. I've done more than my crazy share of ThinkPad mods, and it took me five tries to get the display seated correctly.

The bezel is one for the webcam models. I purchased a webcam since I didn't have one on my T400 originally, but it's missing the overlay sticker. If anyone can point me towards where to get it, I'd be grateful. It also didn't come with the LED indicator overlay either, but I'm using the one from my CFFL bezel.

All in all, I'm not sure I'd recommend going out and plunking down the $300 for the LED display unless you've got a WXGA display and want to upgrade, or if you're totally unhappy with the display that you've got. It's not going to be an earthshattering mod for many, but at least for me it turned my opinion of my T400 around. I loved the capabilities of the T400 and the hybrid graphics, but hated the display quality and lack of working ThinkLight. Now that those are fixed I think I'm going to be very content with this system.

 

maybe i would use the money to get a refurb R400.... but if screen quality is important then i think it is a worthwhile investment....

 

I'm curious as what was making it not seat correctly? Paying $300 for the screen, wouldn't you be better off just selling you machine and getting one with the WXGA+ LCD?

 

The LCD cables between the two are completely different; the LED screen has its connector in an entirely different spot. There was some slack in the cable that caused fitment issues with the keyboard; getting it seated just right with the right amount of slack and not unplugging the cable from the LCD was the biggest problem.

As far as the cost issues go I figured that the amount of money I'd spend on the upgrade parts and being completely sure I was getting an LG display was worth it rather than the hassle of waiting for my machine to sell, shipping it out, and trying to find another T400 with the exact options I'd be looking for. Plus, there was the whole 'I get to open up my system! Yay!' aspect of it... I'll be the first to admit I get a bit irrational when approaching my system with a screwdriver.

 

An interesting read, I agree the Samsung WXGA+ CCFL is a poor display in both color reproduction and brightness so glad to see the LG LED conversion works well for you.

 

Thanks! As before, the cost and work doesn't make it for everyone. ZaZ does make a good point and it's probably far easier to source your preferred configuration; I just wish I'd known about the difference between the two displays before I took the plunge and got my machine in the first place. I definitely don't regret the upgrade but it could have shaved off some of my costs in the first place.

However, this mod addressed the most annoying issues with this system in the first place and reiterates what kind of junk passes off for displays these days. I thought my Samsung was pretty cruddy in the first place; it looked like an IPS in comparison to my ex's HP DV9000. :/

 

Just to pitch in, I just did the same upgrade albeit for my Uncle’s R400 instead. He originally had a LCD screen with WXGA (1280x800) resolution so I opted to upgrade into a higher resolution LED screen for him. The LG LED WXGA+ panel is stunning compared to the Samsung CCFL on my T61. I haven’t finished constructing it yet but the results look very promising. The first picture shows both ThinkPads having CCFL's (though the R400 has the better screen than my dim Samsung which is a piece of junk!), the next picture shows the R400 with the LED mod and well the picture speak for themselves really! Last picture shows both with same wallpapers at max brightness setting.

 

nice........

 

That's a pretty stunning comparison Hearst555 O.O

Luckily my T400 came with that LG panel

 

Very Interesting! I was wondering about this too for my R400 - except that I would get the IBM Service people to do and would source the panel from them too making sure I got the LG one.

But Hearst555, I have one question: In the second pic, the machine which is is stripped down and which has the brighter screen, the blue-coloured "Enter" key is the same as in the non-stripped down. Both the "Enter" keys are the big ones. And, both are blue in colour.

I have a R400, in which the "Enter" key is blue in colour but is also smaller. It is like the "Enter" keys on the T400 and the T410...you know the normal size "Enter" key.

Did the R400 - at some time - come with a keyboard that has the larger "Enter" key?

 

the size of the blue enter key depends on the keyboard language that you choose.

 

Yeah...true I guess. but in that second pic I thought the keyboard was English...could be wrong though!

 

that could be german...

 

Enter key is bigger vertically on UK keyboard, smaller on US keyboard.

 

Yes just as Ingvarr said, both machines use UK standard keyboards which has the larger blue Enter keys which I tend to prefer. You can instinctly just press the button without looking due to the size of it, the US keyboards have narrower Enter keys in comparison. Both use the QWERTY standards though minor differences are certain symbols such as the quotation marks, "@" symbols are positioned different as well the pound sterling (£) symbols are available natively on the UK keyboard.

 

Experiences vary. I have a samsung WXGA+ CFL screen. Although it's not as bright as LED screens, the colors and viewing angles are excellent.

 

Yeah... the displays could definitely be affected by manufacturer variance. Unfortunately mine was pretty cruddy.