T540p and T440p Heatsink/Fan and Display Panel Info

Concerning the T440p and the T540p, this is information that I have put together concerning the heatsink/fan assembly. As you know the T440p has the same CPU and GPU choices as the T540p, so you would think that heatsink specs would be about the same for both models using Intel I7 cpu’s with 47 watt configuration along with the GT730m GPU. However, based on the images from the following links, it is easy to see that T540p (see the fan intake and exhaust ports images and service video’s) has a more robust copper heatsink/fan assembly which is likely similar to the W540 that is soon to be released.

Links to T540p Fan Exhaust Image and the T540 Lenovo Service Video Heatsink image:
1. Google Translate

2. RTPW1210 - ThinkPad W540 - T540p v.1017b

Link to T540p and T440p FRU Listing Parts List:

1. http://download.lenovo.com/parts/ThinkPad/t540p_fru_bom_20131107.pdf

2. http://download.lenovo.com/parts/ThinkPad/t440p_fru_bom_20131008.pdf

Links to T440p Fan Exhaust Image and the T440p Lenovo Service Video Heatsink Image:

1. Google Translate

2. ThinkPad T440p Service Training

After reviewing many articles about the difficulties concerning cooling the 47 watt I-7 Mobile CPU’s with discreet GPU’s along with the fact that the link images that show the T440p has a dark colored plastic looking fan exhaust similar to the T440s and the Training Video does not seem to show a copper Heatsink, I can only conclude that in a T440p setup with a I-7, 47 watt CPU with a GT730m that I would want the same heatsink/fan assembly that the T540p has and not the setup that theT440s uses which only uses the imbedded Intel Ultra 15 Watt CPU’s.

Please feel free to help me change ( post some pictures of T440p Heatsink) my mind because I am trying to convince myself to purchase the T440p as it has a very nice FHD display that is actually the same FHD display used in the T440s (same part number). However, the T440p/T440s panels are not IPS panels but AHVA panel displays made by AUO (AU Optronics) which is okay because it is an advanced version of VA panel technology. Also, both the T440p and the T440s use the same panel part numbers ( see the Lenovo PDF Parts FRU Listings on the provided Links above). Correct me if I am wrong but please carefully review the following links first. I do wish Lenovo would stop labeling the panels as IPS and use AHVA instead because IPS and AHVA are not the same.

Link T440p FHD LCD Part Number shows this panel to be an AHVA display panel and not an IPS panel:

1. AUO B140HAN01.2 Overview - Panelook.com

Link to various Panel Technologies:
2. Monitor Specifications

T540p FHD DisplayPanel Information to consider:

I was also interested in purchasing the T540p for the better heatsink/fan setup and the numeric keypad until I discovered that the FHD (1920x1080) panel used in the T540p is definitely a lower end TN panel. (See the link to the LCD Panel part number from the FRU Parts List) The specs on the 3K panel look good at a glance but I do not want 3K resolution because of the small text and the added power requirements leading to more heat(work the CPU and GPU harder) and lower battery performance. Please correct me if I am wrong as I would rather buy the T540p, but only if it had a high quality FHD panel choice.

Link to T540p Panel Part Number as Listed in the Lenovo FRU Parts List PDF shows this panel as a TN panel:
1. INNOLUX N156HGE-EA1 Overview - Panelook.com

Otherwise, overall, I really like everything else about both the T440p and the T540p a lot and the prices are better than HP’s Mobile Workstation (HP ZBook) prices when custom configured. The HP’s do offer a lot of Workstation features but it gets pricey.

Questions
1. Any Thought about the above Info? Do you think the T440p should have a better Heatsink/Fan assembly(more copper) so that the system will last a long time like laptops have in the past?

2. Do think the T540p should have a better FHD Panel, IPS or AHVA instead of TN display technology? Don't you think they should list it on their website as a TN panel and that it is not the same FHD type panel used in the T440p?

 

After watching the T540p service videos, it seems it does not have spill resistant keyboard. It has no holes in the bottom and in the keyboard disassembly I couldn't see any water insulation too.

 

@kordis,
on this picture you can see the spill-holes: ¡¾Í¼¡¿¶¨Î»¸ß¶ËÅä´óÆÁ ThinkPad T540pÆÀ²â - ±Ê¼Ç±¾ÆµµÀ ͼƬÐÀÉÍ¡ª IT168 So I guess even if we can´t see the water insulation, the T540p still has a spill-resistant keyboard.

If the fan is like the T440s, then the heatpipe is made out of copper thats painted black.

 

Sorry, my mistake about the holes. Thanks for showing the water holes.

 

Well this is disturbing, especially considering that the T540p tech specs say:

15.6" FHD IPS anti-glare (1920 x 1080)

ThinkPad T540p Business Laptop | Lenovo | Lenovo (US)

Is it possible that the FRU part list is incorrect? Any way to get clarification from Lenovo?

 

Thank you ibmthink for the linked images and info on temps, it was helpful. I am convinced the T540p will not have any cooling issues. I am still wanting to see some colored close up images of the T440p Heatsink/fan assembly while the back cover is off in order to be convinced there is enough copper in place. Will someone kindly take the back cover off of their T440p and include some picture attachments. I would be grateful. Actually, while inspecting the Fan/Heatpipe/heatsink could someone verify if the copper coils in the fan shroud as well as the heatpipes are all copper but painted black! Please let me know what you find.

Also, did you take time to look at the T540p FRU parts list showing LCD part number CMI N156HGE-EA1 which is a FHD(1920x1080 TN Panel made by Innolux as described at Panelbook.com. I am ready to buy the T450p today but only if it is proven that they are shipping a FHD panel with IPS or AHVA Panel technology. Can someone jump in on this. Maybe Lenovo has alreadu or will shortly be using an IPS or AHVA panel. But for now their FRU Parts List does indicate this currently. I do not want to use 3K panel for several valid reasons. Lenovo needs to address this issue because I beleive there are more buyers that will actually want a gook solid FHD panel instead of a 3k panel (considering Price and Practicality,ie: very small fonts)

 

Because the website listing is ambiguous (listed as an IPS and also just FHD), I asked a Canadian sales rep if the FHD 1920x1080 was an IPS screen . She came back and assured me it was, this doesn't confirm it but I did say that if it wasn't I would send it back and she said no problem but it's an IPS screen. Charging $170 (or $200 for the same in a T440P) is about the right amount for an IPS I don't think it could be a plain TN for that price.

 

I agree Lenovo's website concerning the T540p display panel specs do not match up with Lenovo's FRU parts list(see links below). When you look up the display panel part numbers at panelook.com for both FHD(1920x1080) T540p and T440p and even the T440s, you can only conclude that the T540p FHD panel is a TN Display made by Innolux. Also it specs out only with 256K display colors as compared to 16.2M on the AUO panels used on the T440p and T440s. Also, the AUO panel used in the T440p and T440s has higher rated viewing angles because it has AHVA display mode technology (advanced AV tech similar to IPS specs). The innolux panel used in the T540p is stated as being a TN panel which is a lower quality panel with less angle viewing and lower display color specs. I also can only conclude that the FHD panel that will be used in the W540 will also be the same Innolux panel. I prefer to base my beliefs on technical spec data and less on customer service reps in most cases. The reason the price upgrade for the FHD T540p is the same as the T440p is because the T540p uses a 15.6 inch display which would cost even more if it used the same specs as the AUO panel used in the T440p and T440s. However, I very much want to buy the T540p because I believe that the heatsink/heatpipe/coil inside the fan shroud is more robust and cools better (the I-7 47 watt CPUs) than the T440p and I hope Lenovo comes through in the end with a better FHD display panel which will definitely keep me from buying the heavier, high priced, HP Zbook 15 mobile workstation with the 15.6 inch IPS FHD Dreamcolor($400 upgrade) and even more features. Based on my knowledge of FHD smartphones the only way to get the best of all worlds on a 14 or 15 inch display is to get a quality IPS display and scale up the fonts to use it for business use. I believe that for business use the T540p 3K(2880x1620) option will look nice but the font size will be totally too small and much harder to tweak. I look forward to other comments concerning this issue. Here are the Lenovo Fru Parts List links and the Panelook.com links:

http://download.lenovo.com/parts/ThinkPad/t540p_fru_bom_20131107.pdf

INNOLUX N156HGE-EA1 Overview - Panelook.com

http://download.lenovo.com/parts/ThinkPad/t440p_fru_bom_20131008.pdf

AUO B140HAN01.2 Overview - Panelook.com

Update: I spoke to Tech Support about several issues this is what I was told:
1.The Mobile Broadband Ready units do come with the WWAN/WLAN combo antenae Kit ready to upgrade in the future.....good news!
2.But according to his current parts info, the T540p's FHD panel is the Innolux TN display panel(in link above) and is not the same quality as the FHD panel used in the T440p and the T440s (AOU display panel in link above).
3.They do use different Heatsink/Heatpipe/coil in fan shroud configurations based on CPU Watts(37 or 47 watts) and whether there is a discrete GPU initially included. So if you are thinking about buying an I-3 or I-5 and then later putting an I-7, the unit may overheat because it will no longer be matched to the correct Heatsink/Fan assembly. He has not seen the insides of the 540p or the 440p and cannot comment on the differences between the Heatsink/Fan assemblies.
4. Lastly on a sidenote he said that the Windows 7 Pro 64bit downgraded from Win 8 pro 64bit will come with IE-9 SP1 which is important to me. IE-9 and IE-10(specifically for Win 7) do not require tabbed viewing and uses the old way to save favorites. I prefer open in new window and do not want my favorites pinned to a taskbar or anything else except the folder that I create and put them in. I also want my open IE windows and program windows to show in the taskbar(classic) which is still possible in Windows 7.

 

@Yilee - Thanks for taking the time to source out the manual specs, I admit I am hopeful that the 1920x1080 is an IPS panel but remain skeptical. I would order the 2880x1620 screen but like you am unconvinced that Windows (even 8.1) integrates useful scaling for this resolution. At least with 1920x1080 I feel comfortable I can scale to something useable and not too ugly.

 

Like you I was hopeful but not anymore, my research has convinced me that the T540p Display FHD display is a TN panel with specs that are not up to par. The new price on the website makes it attractive but the display issue is a deal breaker. I am dead set on getting FHD panel that uses IPS or AHVA display technology not TN so I guess it looks like I may get the T440p even though I'm not sure it is set up with a robust heatsink/heatpipe/coil in fan shroud assembly like the T540p is. I'll have to take my chances that the Lenovo engineers put a better cooling system than what the used in the T440s which uses 15 watt CPUs. I havn't been able to get enough internal heatsink pics to make a conclusion. I also havn't seen many extensive T440p reviews concerning performance and temp. If you want to spend a fortune you can look at Hp's ZBook 15 it has a IPS FHD Dreamcolor panel option that is gorgeous according to reviews.

 

According to Lenovo service training, it should be IPS in FullHD both for T540p and W540. Look for page called "Key parts", I guess it maybe wrong and only solution is to wait for test.

RTPW1210 - ThinkPad W540 - T540p v.1017b

 

Also according to the tech-specs: ThinkPad T540p Business Laptop | Lenovo | Lenovo (US)

But the PSREF does not say anything about IPS for the FHD T540p models. So I guess its really a TN screen.

 

Since I am in the same situation... I want to buy solid 15,6" FHD IPS notebook with good performance and configurability. My selection narrowed to Lenovo T540p. I was surprised to learn about a cheap low quality TN panel being spotted for FHD configuration. I did some digging and found out that the reason why we are finding information about FHD TN and FHD IPS for T540p seems to be that Lenovo decided to treat different markets differently.

Since there is no 100% way to make sure the panel is or is not IPS unless somebody buys it and confirms it I might have to either wait for first hands on experience or buy it myself and return it if it doesn't have IPS panel.

I will also check other brands.

 

Does anyone know whether the W540 FHD display will be TN or IPS?

 

Since the PSREF and FRU parts list have not been released for the W540, we cannot fully accertain. Howerver, based on the info on the Lenovo W540/T540P Service Training Video both laptops will be very similar in general with some exceptions. From the video under the Tab named T540p and W540 Features and Introduction (left side tabs) it seems that the only difference for sure is that the T540p will offered 3 panel choices(hd,fhd,3K) while the W540 will offer(fhd,3K). So at this point it might be worth waiting to see if the FHD panel used on the W540 will be a AHVA or IPS panel instead of FHD TN panel like on the T540p. I believe buyers should wait and hold their $'s to drive the company to use a panel that is suitable for a mobile workstation. As far as the 3K Panasonic panel is concerned, we really don't know squat about it. See the Thread called "T540p / 3K Panel Pros and Cons" I would wait if I knew the W540 will have a great FHD panel(IPS or AHVA). See the following Lenovo video Training Link:

RTPW1210 - ThinkPad W540 - T540p v.1017b

 

Just update the following link with the current date... if it doesn't hit, try again the next day
http://download.lenovo.com/parts/ThinkPad/w540_fru_list_20131204.pdf

I'm going to check with my local BestBuy tomorrow, which supposedly has a W540 on display... From other sites I've seen, they've described it as an IPS - which, should(?) put it at the same panel-element as available on the Asus Zenbook UX51VZ XB71 ( Asus Zenbook UX51VZ-XB71 15.6" Ultrabook, 8GB RAM, 2 x 256GB SSD, Brown UX51VZ-XB71), and MSI's GT60-2OD-261US.
I've become strongly tempted to purchase any of these three, just to find out for sure... while the MSI-build has the best hardware over-all, and best price.

** Edit - This shows it to be an IPS (if there was a question - while not being absolutely definitive):
http://shop.lenovo.com/no/en/laptops/thinkpad/w-series/w540/

 

The W540 is listed in the newest PSREF: http://www.lenovo.com/psref/pdf/tabook.pdf Also no IPS FHD screen, as I predicted.

 

https://www.laptopscreen.com/English/model/IBM-Lenovo/THINKPAD T540P SERIES/

^ I'm considering ordering a FHD IPS panel from the link above and replacing the TN panel myself.

 

I just purchased that screen from ScreenCountry for my new T540P which had a FHD TN panel.
The IPS screen they supplied was LG part # LP156WF4-SPB

see:
LG Display LP156WF4-SPB1 Overview - Panelook.com

The install took about 10 minutes. It's a perfect fit and the LG screen
is great. I really don't understand why Lenovo won't build this laptop
with a better (FHD) screen to start off with.

Let me know if anyone has any questions, I took a few pictures during the process of
replacing the screen.

 

why are people calling the tn panel in the t540 cheap? if it's like the previous gen, it has nice contrast/black levels/nits level and 95% gamut, only thing that is bad about it is the viewing angles

and if you really want an IPS panel have a look at this

Screen for IBM-Lenovo THINKPAD T540P 20BE SERIES. Replacement Laptop LCD Screens

also

if you want the 1080p in IPS coming from the factory, just buy the 3k display and scale it down to 1080p

 

It's not the same panel. The AUO one that was shipped with FHD versions of T/W 510/20/30 has been discontinued.

If one were modding a $500 bottom-of-the-barrel notebook, all of that would make a ton of sense.

ThinkPads are supposed to be a premium offering...where no such hacks are required.

My $0.02 only...

 

thanks for clarification

and yes, that's why i won't show them my hard earned money until they give out a product for what it's worth without the build quality issues, screen problems, it sucks that i will be out of a new laptop for a whole another year if i can not find anything or wait till next gen comes out, just acquired a mint t60p though that sat in a lawyers desk since he bought it new as a backup which will suffice for now

 

You're welcome. The old AUO V4 screens were pretty decent for TN, but even some of the late *30 series shipped with a different (worse) revision of that panel...

Nice catch.You might be surprised to find out what these are still capable of, 6-7 years later..it's a 15" I hope?

 

yeah i saw in local classified and he was down the street from me, i believe it is because the resolution is 1600 x 1200, was a very nice screen for it's old age

 

The panel I pulled out of my t540p was AUO B156HTN03.4

AUO B156HTN03.4 Overview - Panelook.com

 

Which is a different panel from AUO B156HW01 V4 altogether...

AUO B156HW01 V4 Overview - Panelook.com

 

I was thinking of following in your footsteps and installing an IPS panel into my T540p as well. How did you get the front bezel off? Did you need to pry it off?

 

One of the key differences being that the B156HW01 V4 wouldn't have worked in the T540p to begin with, since the T530 and AUO B156HW01 V4 used an LVDS connection, whereas the T540p and all of its displays use eDP.

 

Indeed.

However, the specs of the new panel are inferior to those of the old one which was my point.

 

I'm planning on doing the same thing as well. But my stock screen is HD instead of FHD. Will I have issues in terms of the lcd cable capability?

 

I'm wondering how you knew the screen from screencountry was going to be that one? I want to do this but I find those sites infuriatingly vague given that I'm going to have to drop a hundred bucks.

 

Hi, just found this discussion, and like some other people here, I'd really like to see how you did that.