Forums | MacLife

tedbragg · 2004-12-30 7:25 pm

Is there a way to wire a typical Apple LCD display (like those from the WallStreets, G3 iBooks, etc) to be used on a regular DVI vid card on a desktop?

This would require some soldering, I'd imagine...but what all would be involved?

I'd like to get an LCD monitor for my desk, but I can't see shelling out $400 for a 15" display. A parts site has PB and iB screens for $150. Sure I could get it off eBay at that price, but where's the fun in that?!?

big_smile

General_K · 2004-12-31 12:48 am

I sure wouldn't pay $400 for a 15" flat panel display. You can get a pretty nice 17" for that much money.

As for your question about using a laptop display, I have no idea. confused

Mac_Addict58 · 2004-12-31 2:34 am

Well, if you had a Mac laptop with a decent display that took a fall down the steps, or went over Niagra Falls in a barrel, and the only thing that survived was the LCD, why throw a perfectly good lcd out.

Take it all apart, look at how the lcd connects to the graphics card (in a book the graphics card is build into the logic board) It is probably a ribbon cable or something. I have never taken a book apart, You would need to know exactly which wire goes with which for a connector. I don't really know if this is possible, but I am sure there are plenty of people arround hear that do. A 12 inch lcd can have some uses, great for hooking up to a server or something. Another Thing, is the Display would have to be connected to the orriginal graphics card, by DVI for it to work with a DVI card, a VGA to DVI converter (analog to digital) would cost alot and would make it worth wile buyign a decent lcd.

Also a good flat pannel CRT display can be found in a 17 or 20 inch size for arround the price of a entery level LCD and can produce a better immage.

TheUltimateMacUser · 2005-01-01 8:28 pm

Using the display from a 'book for any computer other than that model 'book would be very difficult and expensive. The video signals differ from manufacturer to mannfacturer.

That being said, it could be done (possibly) but it would be mucho expensive.

The Cynic · 2005-01-23 1:52 am

a VGA to DVI converter (analog to digital) would cost alot and would make it worth wile buyign a decent lcd.

*cough*
and that was an expensive one.

dv · 2005-01-23 10:43 am

The real problem is that you have to wire for more than just thie video signal. The Wallstret PB, at least, uses two seperate video ribbon cables. One is the video cable, which is a handy-dandy twenty-pin deal that goes form the motherboard straight to the LCD. The other is the video-inverter cable, which actuslly uses an intermediate circuit oard besides, and controls backlight power, and probably some other things. (12 pins)

You'll need those pinouts, plus the inverter board, plus the proper AC/DC adapter, then futz with the enclosure (displays come bare - you'll need to get case plastics too, then mod them - or at least make like a picture frame or something. Finally, in the end, you get a 14" 1024x768 LCD that's 6 years old.

If you're going to spend that much money on an LCD Screen, you might as well let it be less of a headache. (Samsung makes, iirc, most of the LCDs that Apple uses in their laptops.)

Mac_Addict58 · 2005-01-30 11:05 pm

that explanes that

Forums | MacLife

#1 2004-12-30 7:25 pm

How to use replacement notebook LCD as desktop monitor?

#2 2004-12-31 12:48 am

Re: How to use replacement notebook LCD as desktop monitor?

#3 2004-12-31 2:34 am

Re: How to use replacement notebook LCD as desktop monitor?

#4 2005-01-01 8:28 pm

Re: How to use replacement notebook LCD as desktop monitor?

#5 2005-01-23 1:52 am

Re: How to use replacement notebook LCD as desktop monitor?

#6 2005-01-23 10:43 am

Re: How to use replacement notebook LCD as desktop monitor?

#7 2005-01-30 11:05 pm

Re: How to use replacement notebook LCD as desktop monitor?

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