retrofitting 15.4" LED backlit LCDs?

So Dell offers their XPS M1530 with the 15.4" LED backlit WSXGA+ panel, alongside two other CCFL backlit options. This leads me to believe the connectors are the same.

Also, checking with AUO, Chi Mei Optotronics, Samsung, LG Phillips datasheets:

auo.com/auoDEV/products.php?sec=notebook&func=info&product_id=89&items_id=2
auo.com/auoDEV/products.php?sec=notebook&func=info&product_id=89&items_id=2
samsung.com/global/business/lcdpanel/productInfo.do?upper_fmly_id=601&fmly_id=611&partnum=LTN154P1
samsung.com/global/business/lcdpanel/productInfo.do?upper_fmly_id=601&fmly_id=611&partnum=LTN154BT
www .cmo.com.tw/cmo/english/product/showproductn.jsp?size=15.4#0
lgphilips-lcd.com/homeContain/jsp/eng/prd/prd300_j_e.jsp (click the LP154Wxx models)

The external dimensions of the CCFL and LED lit panels are identical @ 344.0 x 222.0 x 5.8 mm (6.0 mm and 6.5 mm for the Samsungs, 6.2 for the Chi Mei's).

Interfaces are the standard LVDS for both the CCFL and LED panels as well. Supply voltage is the same as well (3.3v).

Looks like smooth sailing?

Sorry about the copy and paste links, the forum won't let me post links until I have 15 posts.

 

You first.

 

What is the question?

 

How to retrofit a WSXGA+ LED backlit LCD into a Thinkpad chassis.

Here's more clues....this is a 45 page thread on performing the swap the other way around (WUXGA panel from a T6x into a Macbook Pro).

forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=207751

 

If I were to venture an opinion, I would say no, but that's a guess on my part. As far as I know there's no WSXGA+ LED screen, only WXGA+. You may wish to post this over in the forums on ThinkPads.com. They're a bit more hard core over there and someone there has more likely attempted this.

If it were me, I'd just sell the ThinkPad you've got now and get something with the LED you desire. By the time you pay for the screen and swap it out, if it works, I don't think you'd be saving all that much. Plus doing it will likely cost you your warranty.

 

Yes, we have a some very adventurous members at TPF! Have you seen the X61sxga+ that one of our moderators built?

erik talks about it a little on page 2 of this thread in TPF, and Mark featured it on LenovoBlogs at Mad Modding: Project X61sxga+ where erik goes into detail about what he had to do to build it.

 

If I had some degree of insight knowledge about inverters and cabling etc. I'd do it. I'm used to solder, have fun with modding and have some degree of knowledge about eclectronic. The prev gen MBP screen costs $260, given I could sell my WUXGA screen at Ebay that shouldn't be much of a loss. Though I have an Dell Inspiron, but I think the WUXGA panels are also the same as in some Thinkpads.

I just however can't gather information about the different components, inverters and cabling systems.

 

Somebody retrofit the x200s led screen into the x200. =)

 

I posted in the T400/T500 forum, no one knew what an LED backlit panel was.

Found some more information, the Dell M4400 has been released with two new panels, a WUXGA 15.4" 2-CCFL, and a WUXGA with RGB LED with 100% color gamut. The 2-CCFL inverter card is bigger than most, and I'm not sure it'll fit in the bezel. The RGB LED one seems to be "missing"...there's no part numbers anywhere, but I had a Dell tech that gave me some part numbers. There's a Samsung RX392 panel and a LG HT009 listed as replacement parts for this machine.

 

Wow... I'd definitely try to retrofit the WUXGA RGB LED 100% color gamut into my W500 if it was possible! I am hating the Samsung WSXGA+.

 

If you're referring to this thread, that's not quite what was said. You just didn't get an answer to your retrofit question. The two people who responded knew what an LED backlit panel was - one just has an agenda, and the other has an LED T400.

 

One caveat, I checked the LG-Philips site, the RGB LED screens take about twice as much power as the CCFL lit ones (the 17" RGB takes 13.5w, while the CCFL takes only 7), so it definitely doesn't have the power savings of the white LED ones. My T43 would consume about 17w at idle, and adding another 5 to 6w would probably drop my battery life a full hour.

 

Anyone gets this done w/o too much pain or money...Please keep us updated.

 

I asked what the question was because you aren't being very specific with what you want to do, what panels you are referring to, what connectors you are referring to, etc. Into what machine are you trying to slap the LED panel into? A T500 or T61 or something else? Are you referring to the connector at the motherboard end or the screen end? I don't see why Dell offering multiple resolution options would mean that the cable is the same, just about every manufacturer offers options, they just use different cables. Most connectors at the panel end look the same, but the number of wires and what is carried on the wires are different. If you do the research that Erik did into white papers, you may be able to solder together a suitable connector (see the link that Nonny linked to). Uhh I don't remember where I read this, but I do remember it being discussed that resolution options are going to be carried on the panel instead of the cable as was done in previous generations. But if I read it somewhere 90% chance it was on the thinkpads.com forum.

 

BUMP
Has anyone had any luck actually putting a wsxga LED-backlit into an XPS 1530?

Seen any good on-topic links? Please post. My Samsung panel is slowly killing my eyes.

==== Edit ====
Whoops, just realized this was the Thinkpad group. Heck retrofitting any notebook will do. Any luck?

 

Anyone know Dell part numbers or manufacturer part numbers? I'm not a voltage wiz, but I can frankenstein a PC well enough.