HP Elitebook 2530P: Screen Swap?

[peli_kan]

As 2530p owners know, this laptop's most noticeable flaw is its screen's poor viewing angles and below average contrast. To remedy this, the stock TN panel, LG LP121WX3-TLA1, Samsung LTN121S3, or AUO B121EW07 (hooray panel lottery!) could supposedly be swapped out for a superior AFFS screen, such as the 12.1" Boe-Hydis HV121WX5-110 (Matte LED) found in the HP 2730p.

Has anyone ever carried out such a swap, and if not, is there any reason to assume that it wouldn't work? I've never replaced a notebook panel before so I'm far from familiar with the challenges that such an operation would face.

Here's a picture of the back of the stock screen:


Here's the Boe-Hydis screen, hv121wx5-110


EDIT: Evidently the AUO B121EW07 is compatible with both the 2530p and the 2730p. By extension all 2530p LED screens can be swapped with 2730p LED screens, and vice versa.

[peli_kan]

From the looks of it, I'll be the first to try this then. I'll get back to you guys with problems/results.

[mrkaizer]

How did it go?

[Bronsky]

I wanna know too.

[peli_kan]

It is happening as I type.

[peli_kan]

Well, that didn't work too well. The good part is that with the digitizer removed, the Boe-Hydis HV121WX5 panel fits the mounting bracket and screws in perfectly. The bad part is that the power inverter ribbon is both mounted on the left side (vs. centered at the bottom) and narrows from roughly 1/4-inch to 3/8-inch (vs. constant width). While this prevents the Hydis panel from being a simple swap job, I suppose I could hunt down a spare ribbon from somewhere.

The most troublesome part is the data ribbon. Though they're both roughly 1" wide, the Hydis' ribbon connector has 40 pins (stock panel has 20 pins).

Both panels use LED backlighting, so at least that matches. Since I can't solder to save my life, the 40-pin HV121WX5 is out of bounds.

Is there a LED-backlit Hydis which has a 1-inch wide, 20 pin data connector? If one doesn't exist, are there any IPS/PVA alternatives? The stock 2530p panel sucks the life out of me.

The photo below is of both panels, the Hydis on the right, the stock AUO B121EW07 on the left.



Here's the stock panel's 20-pin connector with the flap raised:


Stock panel, the AUO, showing the location of the ribbon going to the inverter:


Detail shot of the AUO stock panel's power ribbon:


If anyone has any suggestions, I'd be glad to hear them.

[nando4]

Suggest match the cable that leads from your systemboard to your LCD. It will be a high density connector on the systemboard end and (currently) 20pin on the other end. You want 40pin connector on the other. Then the swap would be plug and play.

http://www.pchub.com/uph/content/fq2..._cable%20.html

is a good place to peruse such connectors looking for another vendors cable as a candidate. FYI: I used a Mac HD cable at one stage when I swapped a panel that used a different 20pin connector. 2730P cable would be the first I'd be looking at.

2530P/2540P users will no doubt be quite interested in getting a decent panel swap-out solution.

[peli_kan]

The LCD cable used in the 2530p is pictured here:


The LVDS cable used with the HV121WX5 in the 2710p, and presumably the 2730p, appears here:


I'm no expert, but they look substantially different both where they connect to the systemboard and also where they connect to the LCD. I assume that with the LVDS cable, one fork of the LCD end goes to the inverter while the other goes to the LCD connector. The 2530p LCD cable on the other hand thoroughly confuses me; I didn't notice where all those ends went when I disassembled my 2530p.

I'm currently looking for 2730p owners who could perhaps get me the parts number for the cable used in their notebook. Until then, I'll read up more on how LCDs are installed.

[mrkaizer]

Thanks for the update! Too bad it hasn't worked yet..

[losdrivare]

Looking forward to any progress. My 2530p screen has a minor defect and I'm considering to get a new one. Might as well get something better if the price don't scare me off. Watching this thread.