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Can I turn my lcd laptop monitor into a desktop monitor?
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yesyesuk
Junior Member
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28. June 2006 @ 00:42 |
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now that's the spirit ... ;-)
I agree that the best solution would be a DVI-to-LVDS converter, ideally in one chip... :-)
However, I read that one can't buy DVI chips due to the integrated DRM.
In general DVI and LVDS are very similar (both serial differential signal loops) but DVI (TMDS) is transition minimised, which means bits are swapped around. What we would need is a DVI receiver chip with the correct output to feed the LVDS transmitter chip.
The other option I'm persuing at the moment is to tap into the output of a GPU and feed it directly to the LVDS transmitter chip. I bought a few nVidia graphic cards on ebay but none of them uses an external DVI transmitter chip that I can replace with the LVDS transmitter off the laptop mainboard. And the design of the GPU chip itself doesn't allow for wires to be soldered onto it... ;-)))
The frequency the panel was running on when still in the laptop was about 68MHz. The LVDS tansmission frequency then is 7 times that. So we're talking rather high frequencies to fiddle with which makes things slightly more difficult. Since LVDS also transmits H and V sync I hope the panel will sync to several different frequencies. I haven't yet found any info on that though.
I would prefer the DVI-to-LVDS option as this would make the whole thing more universal and not limited to one modded graphics card.
@avatarek: are you in the UK?
yesyes
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steve03
Newbie
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28. June 2006 @ 04:26 |
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So I guess the "easiest/cheapest" solution (if you're determined to use a Laptop LCD on a desktop) would be to acquire a broken/cracked desktop LCD (perhaps e-bay) and strip the DVI to digital circuitry out of it and interface to the Laptop LCD...although at this point, I have to agree with ByteDawg and others that although it's possible, it's becoming completely impractical.
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yesyesuk
Junior Member
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29. June 2006 @ 03:59 |
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OK, after some more research I have the following information:
#1#
pinout for my the LVDS cable of my panel (Samsung LT141x4-156)
http://yesyesserver.co.uk/display/141x4_156-pin.pdf
Samsung only provided the pinout for 20 pins although the cable has a 34 pin connector. I guess the other 14 pins are for backlight?
#2#
datasheet for the LVDS transmitter used in the laptop the panel is from (Texas Instruments SN75LVDS83)
http://yesyesserver.co.uk/display/sn75lvds83.pdf
#3#
I found a DVI receiver chip (Silicon Image SiI 163B).
http://yesyesserver.co.uk/display/SiI-163B.pdf
If I see this correctly I take the DVI receiver, connect a DVI cable to the receiver's input, the receiver chip converts the signal back to 18bit parallel data, I connect that to the LVDS transmitter's input and out comes the LVDS signal I need for my panel. I'm aware that that does not include any screen adjustments (colour, brightness, contrast, geometry, ...) but I hope this can be done in the graphic card driver.
Does anyone think that could work this way?
The problem now are:
- where to get the DVI receiver chip from?
- where to solder the 2 chips onto? ;-) The pins are a bit too close to each other for a stripboard. Has anyone seen like prototype boards for this kind of chips to buy somewhere? I've build electronic circuits in the past but that's my first project in years and I'm a little out of date what's available these days and where....
Chris
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yesyesuk
Junior Member
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29. June 2006 @ 04:09 |
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This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 29. June 2006 @ 04:31
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ek166
Newbie
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24. July 2006 @ 15:56 |
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Liston all you need to do this is an analog to digital convertor. i did this for my laptop screen and it works great the problom though is it will run you about $90. I got mine on ebay, with a tv tuner as well. If you want to see some pictures of this email me at i'manidiot.com edited by ddp and ill show the pictures or show where to get one. on ebay they ran anywhere from $26 to $72.
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 5. December 2006 @ 18:03
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isvflorin
Newbie
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28. October 2006 @ 10:34 |
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hi guys, after reading the posts i decided to give it a try
well, thing is...
i have a amilo 1650g laptop with cracked wxga display (the panel actualy works, but the polycarbonate substrate is cracked and under the cracked areas it apear big black spots)
i have a wuxga 15,4 display from n old dell that is functional
i tried to swap the cracked wxga with the wuxga from the dell, but the system does not recognize correctly the wuxga display and the image is distorted
is there a way to make work the wuxga on the amilo1650?
the system recognisez the display as 1600x1200 instead of 1920x1200 ,
and if not can I use the wuxga on a desktopcomp. with dvi output by pin to pin rearrangement?
sorry for my bad english, i'm from romania
i'd apreciate the help
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Hubert
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29. October 2006 @ 06:44 |
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isvflorin: You won't be able to plug your LCD display on a DVI output. That is because LCD display use LVDS (LDI) technology instead of TMDS (DVI). They are both digital but there are a lot of diferences between them. So it would be good if you would find a converter between them on the internet or try to make one yourself.
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isvflorin
Newbie
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29. October 2006 @ 06:52 |
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hi, thanks for the post,
do you have any ideea how to make work the wuxga on the amilo 1650?
is it possible to manully write the necessary info of the display into the bios of the graphics card?
or: from what I know the dell bios recognises the wuxga correctly so it should have the necessary data, but how to obtain the specific bios and how to modify the one on the fujitsu??
it would be more then great to make work the wuxga on the amilo
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upal0000
Newbie
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5. December 2006 @ 05:17 |
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Hello ppl,
i was goin through all the posts here as i was expecting to find something to use my old Laptop LCD as a desktop monitor. I have
a Fujitsi Laptop.When i openned the the LCD(Model: NA 19017-C401)
i found it has a 20 pin connectin terminal that is connected to the
board through wires. Is there any way to find if it is DFP or DVI input?And how can i find the pinout?
Again i have an nVIDIA RIVA TNT2M64 32MB AGP card. It has 26pins(13pins in 2rows)open on board. What are these pins? Are these DVI or DFP output?
where can i find these pins configuration?
Any information about these will be appreciated.
With Thanks
Upal
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mcdshaun
Newbie
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11. December 2006 @ 11:42 |
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Been interested in this topic for some time now, and just recently found this thread. After some more research I found this DIY kit.
He also 2 ebay listings, if I'm reading them correctly 1 is a kit for turning your laptop monitor into a TV and the other is for using your laptop monitor as a vga
Feedback for the ebayer appears to suggest that it works great... Has anyone tried this? Does anyone see a flaw in these auctions?
Go easy on me here if I misread these, its my 1st post.
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compmoddr
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13. December 2006 @ 13:29 |
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Hi, i'm new to this thread and i see that a previous message uses the same kind of cable output from their lcd screen from their laptop. I have a Samsung LT133X1-106 which came from a Dell Latitude CPi. i believe (from much research on the net) that the connection is called a '3M MDR connecter'. i also understand that if ur video card from ur computer supports dvi, that means it supports digital output? i am not sure about this, but i have an ATI 9800 Pro. wondering if there has been any recent updates on this topic or if anyone could help me...any help is welcome...
thanx-Andrew
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Hubert
Newbie
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13. December 2006 @ 14:11 |
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Originally posted by compmoddr:
Hi, i'm new to this thread and i see that a previous message uses the same kind of cable output from their lcd screen from their laptop. I have a Samsung LT133X1-106 which came from a Dell Latitude CPi. i believe (from much research on the net) that the connection is called a '3M MDR connecter'. i also understand that if ur video card from ur computer supports dvi, that means it supports digital output? i am not sure about this, but i have an ATI 9800 Pro. wondering if there has been any recent updates on this topic or if anyone could help me...any help is welcome...
thanx-Andrew
If you have a DVI output on your graphic card, then there should be no problem. A 3M MDR connector is standard connector for DFP (digital flat panel), which uses TMDS technology (as well as DVI) to transmit the data. For the pin assigmnet of both connectors, try wikipedia or google, and type DFP (or DVI) connector.
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compmoddr
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13. December 2006 @ 14:15 |
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thanx hubert...i will keep this forum updated if i can get it to work or if i run into any problems
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compmoddr
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13. December 2006 @ 14:29 |
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well i'm finding info on the cables, but what i am not sure about is what pins correspond to eachother so i can connect the 3M MDR cable to a DVI cable/connector..if anyone has info on this, please post...
thanks-Andrew
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compmoddr
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13. December 2006 @ 14:42 |
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i think this is very useful...but unsure where to get it...i will try the number tomorrow to see for prices and see if it is worth my time and money to get it. =)
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yesyesuk
Junior Member
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13. December 2006 @ 22:42 |
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Originally posted by mcdshaun:
Been interested in this topic for some time now, and just recently found this thread. After some more research I found this DIY kit.
He also 2 ebay listings, if I'm reading them correctly 1 is a kit for turning your laptop monitor into a TV and the other is for using your laptop monitor as a vga
Feedback for the ebayer appears to suggest that it works great... Has anyone tried this? Does anyone see a flaw in these auctions?
Go easy on me here if I misread these, its my 1st post.
Hi and thanks for that post. I was just about to start this project again when I saw your post. I ordered one of these converters. For that money it's not worth putting hours and hours of work and development into the project when a better version is already available for a few quid. I'll post here when I received and tested the converter.
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stress1
Newbie
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14. December 2006 @ 03:00 |
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Hello to all,
After reading from page one till the end of this thread I've decided to join. I will admit my concepts/ ideas may be diffrent but they have the same principle which is using a LCD screen/panel into a stand alone lcd monitor.
This is where I am at,
Tearing up the house for old 'junk', I found:
4 PDA's (b/w, (2)12bit, and an unknown).
3 Cell phones (motorola razr (color), palm trio, nokia b/w)
2 LCD PC Monitors (1 screen got punched in....., the other turns on but instantly turns its self off (bad power inverter board. Just too lazy to fix. Come on it was free...)
5 Laptops (1 doesnt power, 1 cracked lcd, 1 out-of-date battery wont hold charge color TFT screen, 1 WAS 'still in use' by me and the other, well lets just say if I need it I will use it... (I dont think my girlfriend should mind, I mean I did get her it...)
I have also put a few emails out for anything anyone has laying around. Will ask around work and anywhere else I think I can find something usable....Also Checking ebay!!!
So Im thinking... Start from what is similar (Also what will give me the least shock of my life, hahaha.) and get a screen from one thing and make it work on another. Then once I see what is needed to get a few of the screens to work on one thing, move to another thing and get the screens to work on that thing.
After I have sucessfully made a various screens work on diffrent units then start to elimite (take away) parts one by one and see what effect it has (resistors, chips, wires...)
Once I have the bases then try to adapt to a standard Desktop PC video card. There will be steps added in as I go...
SO:
Laptop is easy to get/ load software on so it will be the main focus at the moment. I will at first attempt get a screen from one of the Palm pilots to work on the laptop.
Where to start? Well I will need to decide what laptop to use and what pda to start with. I will also disassemble all the 'junk' I have and eliminate parts that have nothing to do with the screen. Bag each componet so not to get things fixed up. First before anything I will need to purchase or locate my volatage regulator so I wont have to buy power cables for everything. Then just make a univeral 'adapter' that will let me charge everything up without the need of buying 25 diffrent power cables.
I have also got to think about how I can make changes to wires comming out of lcd to input of laptop with ease. I will spend the rest of the day thinking of ideas.
Let me know what you think about my plan and any idea you might have. I really think if you move in tiny steps you can cut everything down to the bare needs. We may also have the componets we have an not know about it.
~stressdaninjalo@yahoo.com
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pinn2
Newbie
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19. December 2006 @ 19:28 |
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Hi Guys
I've read this thread from the beginning and understand there are a lot of issues involved in this kind of project.
I have an old Sony Picturebook C1XN that is effectively non usable these days (too slow, Win98, etc...), however the screen because of it's resolution (and form factor) would make a perfect in car display.
I also have another machine where the screen is cracked but semi functional (I removed the screen to check the cabling).
After reading this thread I've realised this project is outside the scope of my capabilities, however if someone would be willing to undertake it they can have the broken picturebook to work on and keep it afterwards.
Any takers?
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compmoddr
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19. December 2006 @ 19:43 |
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ya...haha, onli if, i sorta gave up on my laptop lcd to work with my computer after i emailed various companies including bell (and even after telling them i was a student) still got turned down my all the negative responses. i've decided to tackle a new kind of project...make a somewhat replica of an imac using an old panasonic crt monitor case and my 19" samsung lcd along with my various components. hoping that will go all well, and havn't yet decided whether to post a log here at afterdawn or on any other forums i use often.
Happy modding-Andrew
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Kreyon
Junior Member
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20. December 2006 @ 14:45 |
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Originally posted by pinn2:
Hi Guys
I've read this thread from the beginning and understand there are a lot of issues involved in this kind of project.
I have an old Sony Picturebook C1XN that is effectively non usable these days (too slow, Win98, etc...), however the screen because of it's resolution (and form factor) would make a perfect in car display.
I also have another machine where the screen is cracked but semi functional (I removed the screen to check the cabling).
After reading this thread I've realised this project is outside the scope of my capabilities, however if someone would be willing to undertake it they can have the broken picturebook to work on and keep it afterwards.
Any takers?
Pinn,
Nice Offer, But take a look into the card suggested a few posts back (offered on ebay) and for a few bucks you can make a car screen, I am ordering a few after the holidays to make screens for my truck and my wifes car, 14" monitors go for $800 before installation, you can make one from a laptop monitor with one of those cards for about $100-$200 dependng on any casing or mounting costs. if the monitor is intact and just has the wire coming out to a nice connector it can be real easy, you can get the card and a radio shack hobbie case to mount it on the back of the pannel, and then mount it in your car in some way, you are all set!
when I dissassemble laptops for work, I take the panels off clean and save em, they have all different types of mounts on them and connectors, some are better for possible roof mounting and some for other types, you will have to see what you have and how it will work. (Just thought about it and if someone has a swiveling panel from a newer notebook/tablet that would be an excellent screen for a central mount that could swivel to any position!)
ok now, stress1 - sounds like a good time! I wonder if you will be able to figure out how to work with the touchscreen part of the PDA display.
if you have a working laptop and a working pda, you can connect them via usb and share the laptop's screen to the pda and then place special icons on the pda's touch screen to make the laptop do things like play music or even start and stop cd/DVD playback. this would work kind of like a remote control for the laptop. it may even be possible to do this via bluetooth enabled devices but I am unsure. it would be cool to have a wireless remote to the hidden laptop! and by using a different screen sharing software you could effectively pan and scan you way through the interface to use it as normal!
in the case of useing it as a remote screen you could use a laptop with a broken screen and hide it under the seat, and the pda screen would still function as normal!
Keep up the Great Ideas All, and keep exploring!
and on the 7th Day God Created Man, and he looked around and Said to God, "Where the HELL am I supposed to plug in my Laptop?!?"
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pinn2
Newbie
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20. December 2006 @ 15:01 |
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Kreyon
I'm not sure if you're familiar with the Sony picturebooks?
They had a very small letterbox/widescreen format with a very high resolution for their day. The C1XN had a res of 1024 x 480 in a screen only 7" x 3" (ish), the C1MP had the same form factor for 1280 x 600.
The form factor is perfect for 1.5 din spacing, if you let me know how you get on I may well try it.
Regards
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Kreyon
Junior Member
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20. December 2006 @ 15:40 |
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Pinn,
SOunds like a great little monitor for the dash! I will deffinately keep you informed.
cheers!
and on the 7th Day God Created Man, and he looked around and Said to God, "Where the HELL am I supposed to plug in my Laptop?!?"
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compmoddr
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20. December 2006 @ 16:56 |
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ok, one other thing...those new lcd picture frames that they are selling around for dirty cheap....do those work? are the screens salvageable from those?
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yesyesuk
Junior Member
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31. December 2006 @ 09:37 |
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mcdshaun, I'm forever in your debt ! :lol:
With the converter from ebay I finally GOT IT WORKING!!
The converter kit could use some small design changes to make it flatter so it would fit inside the plastic casing around the panel. I had to cut out a few areas on the back of the plastic casing to be able to close it.
But that's nothing a little DIY can't solve... ;)
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mike82y
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3. January 2007 @ 10:41 |
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Hey yesyesuk!!
nice job over there!! it sure looks great!!
Do you use any Messenger tools? maybe we could have chat there?
I want to do the same like you did but i am not sure where to start..
Happy New Year,
Mike
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