Thinkpads Forum

so i wonder if i do find a compatible screen (maybe it just needs to be the same size and same 30pin or 40pin connector?), would it also need the inverter of the replacement screen or i can also use the old panel's/original inverter? (both are Ccfl)

I've done some screen upgrades on T500 units with various LG Philips WUXGA aftermarket screens, and a SHARP WUXGA aftermarket screen. My experience with them is as follows:

LP154WU1-TLA2 - A glossy screen. Works fine.
LP154WU1-TLC1 - A matte screen used in Dell Alienware MX15 Area 51 gaming laptops. DO NOT USE this screen if you have ATI graphics due to incompatibilities, as I have described here. 60 hz only.
LP154WU1-TLC2 - A matte screen used in HP laptops. 60 hz only. Otherwise works fine.
SHARP LQsomething - A matte screen used in old Dell 15.4" laptops from 2002. 60hz and 59hz (??) refresh rate options. Brightness stepping is off as the T500 and W500 interpret this to be an LED-backlit panel! Otherwise, works fine.


It seems you want a screen upgrade for additional brightness? A new screen won't do this, unfortunately. All WUXGA screens that are plug and play with the T500/W500 are comparatively dim, because of the high pixel density and single CCFL backlight. Even though these screens are rated with slightly higher nit brightness than the stock WUXGA screens, the difference is negligible and probably diminished already by the age of the LCD.


If your original screen works fine, I would leave it as is and learn to appreciate it, and the unit as a whole, for what it is: a 12 year old near-obsolete laptop that is still functional for basic tasks, provided with a 64 bit OS on an SSD and 8GB of RAM.

ok, but some Ips panels would be better then? (with some haxing)

There are no IPS panels that are compatible with W500. You're likely to be on your own in trying to make any such thing a reality. You remind me that the 15.4" Macbook screens are IPS, but no one has ever installed one in a ThinkPad AFAIK.

well, i was thinking about something like this:
viewtopic.php?p=772446#p772446

but is that 520 only then or what would be so different with 500?
(and it would be like 180 vs 220 vs 300 nits then?)

You are getting much too ahead of yourself!

It would help you to start with some research on the various ThinkPad models and the tech that they use in their times. The ThinkWikis and Notebookcheck reviews of the various laptops are good resources for this. As for the thread you linked, careful reading of that thread would suggest some answers to you... W520 uses 15.6" 16:9 LED backlit screens. W500 uses 15.4" 16:10 CCFL backlit screens. In addition to that, they are fundamentally different computers, represented by many other differences.

the topic is about a screen upgrade, not about who goes where LoL

and if 15.4" ips panel has like a Wled backlight(with somekind of SLVS or FPD-LinkIII interface), then would that need the original screen's inverter and something else too and would that stuff even work on w500?

TPFanatic wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 09, 2020 6:48 pm

There are no IPS panels that are compatible with W500.

Good luck with your IPS mod.

well, i probably found a TLA2 screen, so i can just plug that one in and it wont blow any fuses on the mb?

it probably didn't blow any fuses, but how can somekind of black dust/grease get into the back of the screen? (there are some weird black/gray spots inside the screen that do not look like any pixels at all)

Small insects.

screenshot wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 09, 2020 8:09 pm

and if 15.4" ips panel has like a Wled backlight(with somekind of SLVS or FPD-LinkIII interface), then would that need the original screen's inverter and something else too and would that stuff even work on w500?

There were some successful notes on such mod with 16:10 15,4" T61p w/ RGB LED (still TN) screen. You need to scan german forum though. It needed HUGE amount of time, money and skill. The screen was AFAIK transplanted from some DELL system. There were no 15,4" 16:10 IPS screens available.

Easiest and cheapest way is to try to find SHARP screen from Dell D800 and D810. They are substantially better than stock panels.
Phillips WUXGA would also work in W500, and is way better and brighter than stock.

TPFanatic wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 14, 2020 9:56 am

Small insects.

Horrors! But common horrors, unfortunately...

Is there a way to install a brighter backlight?

TPFanatic wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 09, 2020 5:23 pm

I've done some screen upgrades on T500 units with various LG Philips WUXGA aftermarket screens, and a SHARP WUXGA aftermarket screen. My experience with them is as follows:

LP154WU1-TLA2 - A glossy screen. Works fine.
LP154WU1-TLC1 - A matte screen used in Dell Alienware MX15 Area 51 gaming laptops. DO NOT USE this screen if you have ATI graphics due to incompatibilities, as I have described here. 60 hz only.
LP154WU1-TLC2 - A matte screen used in HP laptops. 60 hz only. Otherwise works fine.
SHARP LQsomething - A matte screen used in old Dell 15.4" laptops from 2002. 60hz and 59hz (??) refresh rate options. Brightness stepping is off as the T500 and W500 interpret this to be an LED-backlit panel! Otherwise, works fine.

Hi, I just got a W500 for thinkpad reasons and it looks amazing until you see the screen. It's just unusable. Can I actually just buy one of these panels and drop-in replace it? Panelook says "Discontinued". And do they come with their own backlight?

TIA.

apojoga wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 03, 2023 3:40 am

Hi, I just got a W500 for thinkpad reasons and it looks amazing until you see the screen. It's just unusable. Can I actually just buy one of these panels and drop-in replace it? Panelook says "Discontinued". And do they come with their own backlight?

Seems like some of them have issues that could cause you grief.
The decent ones I put in boldface, while the problematic ones I'll strikeout.
And yes, they come with a CCFL backlight.

TPFanatic wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 09, 2020 5:23 pm

LP154WU1-TLA2 - A glossy screen. Works fine.
LP154WU1-TLC1 - A matte screen used in Dell Alienware MX15 Area 51 gaming laptops. DO NOT USE this screen if you have ATI graphics due to incompatibilities, as I have described here. 60 hz only.
LP154WU1-TLC2 - A matte screen used in HP laptops. 60 hz only. Otherwise works fine.
SHARP LQsomething - A matte screen used in old Dell 15.4" laptops from 2002. 60hz and 59hz (??) refresh rate options. Brightness stepping is off as the T500 and W500 interpret this to be an LED-backlit panel! Otherwise, works fine.

axur-delmeria wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 03, 2023 10:08 am

Seems like some of them have issues that could cause you grief.
The decent ones I put in boldface, while the problematic ones I'll strikeout.
And yes, they come with a CCFL backlight.

Thank you, that's good news, I appreciate it. I'll give it a shot. Will probably go for the matte one.

apojoga wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 03, 2023 3:40 am

TPFanatic wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 09, 2020 5:23 pm

I've done some screen upgrades on T500 units with various LG Philips WUXGA aftermarket screens, and a SHARP WUXGA aftermarket screen. My experience with them is as follows:

LP154WU1-TLA2 - A glossy screen. Works fine.
LP154WU1-TLC1 - A matte screen used in Dell Alienware MX15 Area 51 gaming laptops. DO NOT USE this screen if you have ATI graphics due to incompatibilities, as I have described here. 60 hz only.
LP154WU1-TLC2 - A matte screen used in HP laptops. 60 hz only. Otherwise works fine.
SHARP LQsomething - A matte screen used in old Dell 15.4" laptops from 2002. 60hz and 59hz (??) refresh rate options. Brightness stepping is off as the T500 and W500 interpret this to be an LED-backlit panel! Otherwise, works fine.

Hi, I just got a W500 for thinkpad reasons and it looks amazing until you see the screen. It's just unusable. Can I actually just buy one of these panels and drop-in replace it? Panelook says "Discontinued". And do they come with their own backlight?

TIA.

Which display ThinkPad-W500 did you get: the 1680x1050, or the 1920x1200? I am suprised to hear your remark in either case, as I have used, and I like fine, both options; however, the latter is superior, and, if you've not tried it, you might consider.

I have the 1920x1200. The detail is great, it's just the backlight I suppose. A white page looks yellow and dim to the point I have to turn off the lights to see anything.