LCD Upgrade - T Series / R Series

I am hoping someone can provide some guidance. This post is to seek advice regarding to LCDs and resolution.My R61i is aging but a truck and I would like to keep it! It's a 7650-DHU with15.4" 1200x800 native display, GM965 graphics and X3100 Accelerator. Specs say the controller & SW will drive more than WUXGA resoltution.

Are there upgrade options to boost the display resolution. I would like to know if WUXFA is possible and practical. This generation of ThinkPads are like tanks and I highly prefer to squeeze a few more years out of it.

Just upgraded to SSD, SATA II (Thanks Middleton!), 802.11n, and am replacing the T2370 with a T9500. If I can go to WUXGA without letterbox it would be ideal and this hog probably will last me another 3 years at about 1/3 the cost of a new mode thatl I would like.

If anyone can advise, my questions are:
a)Will any of the alternatives in resolution; WSGA, WSGA+, WUXGA leave me with a letterbox at native resolution? (Would prefer the same aspect ratio.)
b) What manufacturer are recommend/best?)
c) Will an upgrade/replacement require any other hardware upgrade, such as a new CCFL?
d) Will BIOS need to be patched/customized to work properly?
e) Will custom firmware or drivers be required?
f) Anthing else to consider before diving in

 

There is no WSXGA LCD offered on the R61, but I believe the WSXGA+ and WUXGA will both work in the R61. It's a straight swap, meaning you won't have to swap the cable or inverter to get it to work. The WUXGA will give you the most resolution, but the WSXGA+ are generally considered to be the better of the two LCDs. They're brighter and have better contrast, particularly the LG version of the screen. The part numbers are listed in the HMM. If you're a bit skittish about doing it, hit the training and support site linked in the sticky to see how to do it. With patience, it's not that hard.

 

Yeah you can basically buy a WSXGA+/WUXGA screen from at T61/T61p or T500/W500 and install it. I upgraded the WXGA screen from my T500 with a LG/Philipps WSXGA+ once from a T61 and it all worked perfectly (only needed to replace the inverter since its different for CCFL and LED lcds).

There is a list of the models with part numbers and specs on thinkwiki here.
TFT display - ThinkWiki