Hi. electrical engineer & college proffesor here.
Working on the same project. here is the deal. tou CAN use a laptop screen on a standard PC. Configuring it to work with you analog VGA card is possible, but VERY VERY impracticle. here is what I reccomend for cost efficiency and ease. I know you want to keep it cheap.
if you dont have a main board yet (or if you do and have all the parts and pieces, IE chip, memory, etc) purchase a EBC 552 pc card. everything is built in including a TFT controller. then its just an issue of making a connector and matching the pins. these cards are made for AMD, Pentium, and VIA Cyrix, so you can buy the to match the CPU and memory you already have. they go for about 100$. kind of expensive, but its the closest
to plug and play as it gets. you'll easily spend 100 in parts and pieces to make a standart VGA card work....and you might end up burning something up.
I'm curious...what kind of interface are you going to use?? mouse, keyboard?

good luck.
voodoosi@hotmail.com
let me know how it works out

wow, thats awesome. not bad, where do i go to lookinto buying one? havent found a retailer online yet. only been searchin a few mins. cant buy it anytime soon, no money! ack!

i had originally envisioned a touchscreen, but i could stand a number pad. or i have seen some people crack open a keyboard and use the controller to make their own keypad.

thanks for the help man.

later

http://www.iei.com.tw/products/pdf-l...uch-screen.pdf

IEI makes hundreds of models

including NAS for Iomega

He he. Touch screens are cool.

Re: use laptop screen on a pc??
 

Hi, I have a colour LCD from an old IBM Thinkpad (370C i think) and the screen model is Toshiba TLX-8063S-ZZA, does anyone have any information on this screen?
I would like a pinout for the connector/s that is has and possibly a timing diagram and/or information for interfacing it to a PC :)

Thanks in advance for anyone who can help :)

Where to find Nexcom Embedded Controllers
 

:confused:

Anybody any idea where to get these Embedded Controller boards voodoosi is talking about in his post.

Also does anybody have any experience with these boards?

A re-seller in Canada would be nice but the States works, too.

Thanks

:confused:

i havent found anywhere yet either mrIT. i'll email him though. my funds for this project have run thin, but i have a new job now, i may be able to start on it again.

later

NexCom EBC 552
 

I already emailed them and here is their answer:

Dear Mr. :

The embedded controller card you are interested in, our EBC-552, can be purchased directly from Nexcom here in the U.S. Below I have provided you with a quotation for small quantities of this product, from 1-10 pieces. If your volume is higher than this, please let me know and I will provide you with an alternate pricing quotation.


EBC-552 (P/N: 1E00055200) 5.25" form factor Pentium grade embedded controller supports all Socket 7 CPU up to 400MHz, Intel Low Power CPU Supported, Max. 128MB SO-DIMM SDRAM, on-board PC 104 connector and 32bit PCI connector, with ESS ES1989 Audio.

I do not like the price though.
:mad:

Digital Video Motherboards
 

In another post I read that digital output motherboards could work, too.

How?

Converter Cards
 

how much was it guest?

i dunno if that would work or not MrIT.

i still havent learned much about that card mentioned before. i think that would be my best way of going. everthing is included. all you have to do is get the pinouts of the digital output on that card and the pinouts of a laptop screen and then see if you can fry anything.

later

NexCom EBC 552 and Controller Coard
 

The NEXCom Card is $338US.

I found another card CRTtoLCD

http://www.dr-berghaus.de/

$338!? nevermind that.

later

there is a thread about connecting laptop LCD to PC on this adress:

http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showt...&threadid=6176

please read it, any help would be apriciated!

i think there would be a way to do it, by taking raw digital signal from video card before D/A conversion!
stoko!

Hey guys, first post here :)

Nice work so far, I'm feelin it.

Maybe you'd wanna check out this post and this one.

I'm working on a full writeup, but I'm hella busy right now.

:biggrin: I hope this schematic diag. can aid u guys. Prepare ur Hardware Interface Programming skills guys. Better install C/C++ now! U need to develop a controller software to manipulate signal passed thru the Parallel Port.

CB-Byte

I have an older toshiba LCD out of a 430 model toshiba, it has close to 40 pins for the connector at the lcd it's self but if you have the harness and invert and all other components between the LCD and the laptop video card it may be usefull because laptop video card has either 28 or 30pins out I do not remember and it is in a box somewhere, what I wondered is if I hack a DVI cable wich has 28 pins could you mess with it that way, kind of a trial and error way, or see if you can get schematics on how laptop video cards have their pin's setup????? ya know what I mean??? maybe you can just hack a DVI cable and that would work?????? who knows?

Well, curiousity kills, if i were U, i'll try messing up with the dvi but not on my pentium 4, maybe on my 486... :biggrin:

Well I found this forum on google but I thought you guys might be interested in a few things I have been finding.

1. To frank with the tiny tiny lcd screen. A guy called Drew made this http://bigasterisk.com/toilet/PythonToilet2.html it is has an lcd which scrolls news headlines etc. Drew made a custom module and then ran the lcd with python. I thought this might be able to help you with your mp3 jukebox project.

2. For other people wanting ways to convert laptop screens for computers I have found a couple of things, which gives me hope.

I have an old Compaq LTE Elite 4/75. Doing a quick server on google got me this http://mobilix.org/compaq_lte475cx_en.html which lists the video card in the computer. Google than brought me to the mother lode check this pdf out http://www.cdynamics.com/support/man...it/Wdfpmc2.pdf . It seems to contail everything anyone could want to know about the board in the laptop I have.

I am still not sure who makes the screen as yet however this page http://www.woe.onlinehome.de/e_lcddata.htm and this page http://www.rtdusa.com/appnote/108_lcd.htm

This gives me some hope that these things can be converted with a little elbow work.

Tom

(edit) I found this http://wwss1pro.compaq.com/support/reference_library/viewdocument.asp?countrycode=1000&prodid=11|LTE+Elite&source=194061-001.xml&dt=13&docid=8814 which goes into some depth about the laptop I am pulling to pieces. It also points out which components are which and talk to some degree about how they work.

--
"Microsoft aren't evil, they just make really crappy operating systems" - Linus Torvalds

New blog at http://www.kid666.com/blog (mostly cooking and IA :P )
Visit http://www.kid666.com

Do you guys know this site?
 

GOT A PC FULLY WORKING WITH 2 dell 15 inch LAPTOP LCDs
 

hi guys , I've been admiring your quest for the "unavailable" :)

I'm here to tell you that I have a fully working PC with 2 LCD's ripped out of dell laptops.

they are both 15 inch ... VERY NICE WIDE ANGLE. :biggrin:

i'm buying another PCI RADEON 7000 dual display to run dual card quad LCD. :))))))))))))))))))


the way i did it was a bit tricky but very doable.

ALL LCD's are produced with the ANALOG pinouts on the PCB ... they are just never really used on laptops... i just soldered wires on them and fed them out :)

when you look at an analog connector :


1 RED 9 NC
2 GREEN 10 GND
3 BLUE 11 ID0
4 ID2 12 ID1
5 GND TEST 13 HS
6 GND 14 VS
7 GND 15 ID3
8 GND


the following pins do NOT need to be wired : 4,9,11,12,15

that leaves 1,2,3,5,6,7,8,10,13,14

now the best way i found was to use a DVI/VGA converter adapter(they go for about 9.99 canadian)

crack it open
now all that should remain is a black cable, a red cable and 2 small PCB boards.

NOTE that pin 1thru 8 are not used !!! which is all the DIGITAL SIGNALS pin outs.

now if you look , all i did was explain the inner core of a DVI/VGA adapter.
true however. now just connect the cables using the DVI input from a video card (or can be purchased for 7.99) and WIRE it back to use your laptop screen.

NOW ALL SCREENS USE DIFFERENT COLOR CODE ... the best way is to follow the wire on to the LCD BOARD and use common sense and feel (this is where i spent most of my time ...) there you will find the unused pinouts and the necessary used ones..


HOPE THIS HELPS ...

for the technical aspects of the computer.



AMD ATHLON XP 2200+
MSI KT3 ULTRA w/RAID w/SOUND
PCI ATI RADEON 7000 32 meg DUAL DISPLAY
*2nd ATI RADEON 7000 32 meg dual display
2x60 gig MAXTOR RAID 0
40x BURNER
6x slot DVD
GENERIC CASE WITH A POWERMAX 432 watt POwer supply with dual fan


I should have pictures in by next week , GF took the DIGI cam to go sightseeing !! :mad:


Bonebox
if you want to email ....

harddrive109@hotmail.com
MSN MESSENGER IS THE SAME
ICQ is 17550529

SWEEEEEET!!!!
yeah, please post pics when you get some!!

maybe write us a guide?

later man.

yeah man
this is awesome!

fully working guide
 

i am writing all the technical info , how to , and pictures into a single document ... the model is for 1 LCD, if you want more ... just repeat :P


THe second card is finally in , and the 2 other screens are connected, had to re-write the dual display dirvers once again to allow the desktop to be split in 4 ... completed @ 5am EST.

Booted, on boot, got 4 POST screens :))) pretty wicked.
had the WINDOWS logo in the middle of the 4 .. :/ hope i'm not stuck with 4 desktops (or 2 when extended)


SSSSSSUUUUUCCCCCCCCCCCCEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS




The desktop is split evenly on all 4 screens!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is f*cking awesome...... watched a movie ... was really amazing




I have a 12.1 inch TFT that my buddy came home with last nite , he doesn't need it .... does anybody need it ?

eh?

thin borders eh?

awesome!

how long did it take u to mod it?

Seriously?
 

Bonebox if you're completely serious then you deserve some kind of freakin' medal. :cheers:

no kidding!
 

That all sounds fanfuckintastic, I've been trying to do something like this for a looooonnng time. I'm just wondering what what the model numbers on the dell laptops and/or LCDs are.

Anyway, can't wait for the guide and pics.

Sorry for the late reply
 

Sorry for the late reply guys, the girlfriend dragged me to the cottage with her family (my in-laws) B-o-o-o-r-r-r-r-i-i-i-i-n-n-n-n-n-g-g-g-g-g

LOL

in any case,

I am completely serious, it's been working great except for one thing, like someone mentionned , the borders are not that thin (quarter inch each)
so i have a big half inch gap in the middle. It's not that bad when playing a game or what not or watching a movie but when reading a document or webpage(this one actually TEEHEE ;)

the screens that i used were common screens used by bell.

I'm currently trying to locate 4x16.1 inch screens used in the SONY grx570 laptops...

my friend and i will have a website up soon showing mine and his (the little f*cker got his hands on 4 mac wide screens of the powerbook G4) 17 inch 16:9 comp.

One thing i wanted to ask ... since i'm not comfortable trying it and risk frying my screens ...

DO YOU GUYS THINK IT WOULD BE SAFE TO RUN THEM ALL OFF THE SAME "AT" power supply ?

i have a 250 watt lying here ,,... in my opinion , 5 volts is 5 volts and 12volt is 12 volt :P

GIMME FEEDBACK GUYS!!!!!!!!!!!!

p/s
 

Is the power supply connected to the m/b and drives of your computer?

You may want to setup a separate p/s that would supply power to all the screens. 4 screens will not go near 250Watts, but together with the m/b and drives I'd be cautious...

I think we are all waiting for the guide from bonebox.

Anyway, could you just post like _one picture_ (pref hundreds) of your modded dell screens to begin with.. :confused:

I am really getting anxious about this and I can't say that I am a sucker for this project until I see something that looks do-able.. :rolleyes:

Since noone has managed to do this without +$300 external controllers before.. it would be truly amazing to see this work! :nod:

G

I've got my screwdiver, diagonal cutters, soldering iron and hammer ready! Let's see some pictures!

(The hammer (of course) is for when things go horribly wrong)

thats what i'm talkin about. cant wait for the pics/guide!

later

Using a laptop screen for Car DVD Player
 

Does anyone know how you could take a laptop screen and use it as a screen in your car for a mobile dvd player? Impossible?

I'm calling bullshit on bonebox. it's been over a week and he hasn't come back with a single pic, not to mention a "guide." How about simply the model numbers off the laptops or lcds? Nothing? don't jerk us around. If it can be done, I'd love to see it. If he has done it, I greatly appologise. I will most certainly eat crow. But come on man!

i dunno.. i wrote and asked him how the guide was coming along.. these are the details i got...
_________________________________________________________

hi, it's almost all done ... PDF though.

The first things you are going to need is :

4x DVI-to-VGA adapters

i opted for the ATI RADEON 7500 64 meg DDR PCI.
got 2 of those.


once you have that , you will only be requiring 2 more things...

a sh*t load of patience :P and a good power supply, i recommend AT format since you can easily convert it.
_________________________________________________________

still not convinced.. we want PICTURES! model numbers of the screens that you say work... and soldering schemes...!

I've always wanted to use my old Compaq laptop screen on my pc but would not know where to start.

I did a google search some time ago and found a very good LCD Tutorial that was posted in pc clubs forum http://www.pcclub.com/forum/arcmessa...&threadid=2611 this is how its done, but the only hard part is the parts and how to find them cheap, to find a cheap converter board is like looking for a needle in a hay stack (I've been looking for some weeks now)

The Tutorial is quilt well written but does not go in to a lot of detail on parts and how to make/set up but it's a start (I've tried to contact the author but he has not replied its been 4 weeks) anyways how this helps.

gotta call it again
 

a haiku:

bullshit call I, yes
bullshit again on bonebox
he does not know shit

thank you.
in all seriousness, where is the proof my man? I think you might be a hack. Why would you tell everyone you know something you don't? trust me, it's not making you look any cooler.

Prove me wrong.

just curious, guest, why dont you register?

later

it's not about anonymity
 

have no fear everyone, it's not about anonymity.

I just stumbled upon this forum one day, and I was excited by the original post, as I think we all are, from boner, ahem, I mean bonebox. I have two projects going, one in my living room, and one in my car, and I intend to use a flatscreen with touchpanel for both of them. They are both cool media-center/ entertainment box/ whatever you want to call them ideas, and the problem is that I don't want to spend 1500 bucks for 2 lcd's and 2 touchscreens (that will work under linux) from a place like ELO. one of my projects is a lot like www.dashpc.com (i'm using the dashpc software as well), so I'm probably not going to ever describe it in as much detail as that guy, but you should all check out the site cause it's definitely rad. so you can see where using a spare lcd or a cheap one would make me happy.

as for my home media center project, perhaps if anyone is interested I will describe it or something, but right now I'm in the process of upgrading it to use the MythTV software (www.mythtv.org), and I'm trying to figure out how to get my X10 voice activation to work with it, in a very limited way, like being able to say "tv on, channel 34." I already have voice activated lighting in my house, using the same hardware/software mix. However, I'd like to get a touchscreen lcd going that I could put behind the bar in my living room, so I can just hit that at parties/etc. when the music is loud and people talking make it hard for the x10 to pick up commands.

See, I am a programmer, so I like to hack code, and this is what I do in my spare time. My problem is that I don't know much about electricity/electrical engineering, so I was REALLY hoping for some help, but haven't found anything good yet.

I figured some good old fasioned prodding might do the trick when it comes to bonebox, but I'm pretty convinced that his tutorial or whatever won't materialize. of course, I'm not just trying to be a jerk, I would love to see it happen, and I would gladly admit that I was wrong about the whole thing.

Anyway, the only reason I didn't register is becuase I have so many damn forum/email/security/IM/hosting/you-name-it accounts, but I guess I can keep track of one more.

overall though, great forums!