x61 or x60 --> SXGA screen

Hi Guys,

I know this has been discussed one too many times. But the purpose of this thread is very simple; and that is to consolidate what is needed for each model to be able to put in an SXGA screen.

There quite a few threads, but it's not always clear cut as to what is needed for each model.

*** Calling Erik and other experts to please help consolidate this. ***

Purpose: Install a BOEHYDIS HV121P01-101 or HV121P01-100 LCD module in any of the x60/x60s/x60t/x61/x61s/x61t notebooks.

Here we go:

Model -- Requirements

x60 -- Modified BIOS, Harness Cable.
x60s -- Modified BIOS, Harness Cable, Assembly Panel modification (Bezel is very thin on the x60s)
x60t -- Requires an entirely different part no with the digitizer and all. Can't just put the LCD in here. But if wanted to, it can be done. No BIOS or Harness needed.

x61 -- No BIOS needed, No Harness Cable Needed. Just Plug and Play.
x61s w/ Ultralight Screen -- BIOS needed, Harness Cabled needed. Assembly Panel / LCD Lid modification (Bezel is very thin on the x61s with UltraLight screen)
x61s w/o Ultralight screen -- BIOS needed, Harness Cable needed. No Assembly Panel / LCD Lid Modification.
x60t -- Requires an entirely different part no with the digitizer and all. Can't just put the LCD in here. But if wanted to, it can be done. No BIOS or Harness needed.



This is what I have gathered so far in all the reading that I have done. Do I have the above right?

Thanks a ton!!!

 

IIRC, the X61s units that shipped without an Ultralight screen use the same lid assembly as the X61.

 

Oh

I thought the whole point of x61s was the Ultralight screen and a slightly smaller chassis?

You are saying there are x61s w/o the Ultralight screen?

 

My X61s was shipped with a normal screen.

 

Thanks for the confirmation lead_org. I modified the initial post to reflect this info.

Am I on par with everything else that I have mentioned?

Thanks!

 

i'm not quite sure where to start on this one.   there are a lot more details that go into this mod than a simple panel, jumper harness, or LCD housing assembly.   none of the above is a bolt-in change and everything requires extensive cutting and taping to work.

on top of that, i've stopped fabricating cables.   the overseas "manufacturer" on ebay who copied my cable doesn't appear to be offering them anymore.   that tends to throw a wrench in the gears.

the HV121P01-101 assembly is too thick at the top to fit correctly without cutting off a large part of the stainless steel display frame.   electrically it's the same as the -100 but the physical frame is different.   i've used them before in a pinch but wouldn't recommend anyone try what i tried.   honestly, i wouldn't even recommend this panel.

regarding the tablets, they require different bezels depending on the display FRU used.   the X61T SXGA+ panel is direct-bonded glass and the X60T SXGA+ panel is foam-taped polycarbonate.   each require a specific bezel if upgrading from an XGA panel.

to make the whole thing worse, these SXGA+ panels are becoming near impossible to find.   when you do, they're $300+ US and in questionable condition due to the CCFL backlights.

 

Hi Erik, thanks for getting over here and providing your expertise.

Would you say that out of all of those models listed above, the x61/x61s (with regular screen) is the easiest of mods and just plug and play?

I have been doing a whole bunch of searching and came across this thread here: [FS] FS: X61/X61S SXGA+ LCD Panel - SOLD - RedFlagDeals.com Forums

If you read his last post all the way at the bottom, you'll see he says it's plug and play installing the LCD module into an x61.

Is that not true?

I have found two vendors that carry these panels and it'll run me about $250 just for the LCD / panel. I also saw one post where someone is trying to sell his on another forum; have a pm out to them so I'm waiting to hear back.

That plus, I figured ~$300 - $350 for the x61 off ebay and I'll have a nice SXGA notebook for $550 - $600.

I'm looking for the easiest way out w/o the BIOS hack, Harness or having to shave the screen.

Thanks for your time and help!!!

 

no, it's not a plug-and-play installation by any stretch of the imagination.   i've built eleven of these systems so far (both X60 and X61 variants) and know with 100% unequivocal, definitive certainty that that panel as it came from BOE Hydis will not plug into the factory X6x display cable without shorting +3.3V to ground and frying the system planar.   for that panel to work in a notebook, it would need 13 out of 20 pins remapped.   in short, that guy is blowing smoke.

on top of that, the ears you see sticking off the sides of the panels need to be carefully trimmed.   the only proper way to do this is to separate the stainless frame from the plastic so that each can be cut individually.

note that the seller doesn't show what's on the back of the panel, how it's connected, or it actually installed in a system.   he also doesn't show the BIOS revision.   without proof of his claims, i'm hoisting the BS flag on this one.

 

OMG! So, this means I'm done? My dream of making a SXGA notebook is shot? :cry:

It's time to put a fork in it?

 

or just get a X60/X61 tablet with the SXGA+ screen.

 

Hey Lead_Org. Sure sounds like those are my only options.

I had actually bought both an x60 SXGA and and an x61 SXGA off ebay. There was problem with the x60 so I returned that. And the x61 was too grainy for me. And from all the searching I did, it sounds like that is a given with the x61 Superview Coating and the glass bonding, yada yada, they did with the x61 panels.

The x60 had a nice screen. The white wasn't as white on the x60 as compared to the x61 and the text wasn't as sharp. But then again, it wasn't grainy. Which is a big plus.


I guess I'll have to continue to scour ebay for an x60 SXGA to show up.

I tell you though, I'm heart broken by this.....

 

i think these cables can be still sourced from Chinese website.

 

O O o o o o !! You got a link for me?

I know that i.thinkpad guy on ebay, like Erik said, used to have 'em. I sent him an ebay message and he said he'll let me know if he can whip one up for me. But who knows when that might be.

Thanks a lot!!!

 

i just re-read the URL you linked and that guy has a tablet, not a notebook.   in fact, if you look at the photo you can tell it's a tablet both by the chassis size and the BT module plugged in where there would normally be a fingerprint reader.

so, i was both wrong and right at the same time and apologize for the mixup.   his claims are true but he's not referring to a notebook being plug-and-play, only a tablet.

 

Yup, you are right! Having seen your post, I went back and re-read the thread as well. And he actually says in his first post that he ended up getting an x61 t.

What threw me off was his last post where he just references x61 w/o the t and I took it to mean the x61 notebook.