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Steve_S

Steve_S

Yoda
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Has anyone found an inexpensive and simple way to connect a laptop LCD panel to a standard VGA port? My laptop has died, and it has a beautiful 15.4" widescreen LCD panel on it. I'd love to remove the panel and connect it to my HTPC by either VGA or DVI.

I admit I'm lazy and haven't investigated the issue since last year. So I'm posting here to save the effort. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif
 
It'd take some serious rewiring.
 
Hi Steve,
I have had a bunch of Apple G3s apart and they had ribbon connectors between the monitor and main body of the laptop. Seems you would need to track down the white papers on the LCD to be able to solder a VGA (or DVI) connector to it correctly. I think it would be easier to fix the computer, no matter what is wrong with it. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cryin.gif
 
Well, the video chip is bad. And it's integrated into the motherboard. And the motherboard is 98% of a laptop. See where this is heading?

I can get a new mobo for around $400. I'd need a couple small bits to go with it and a new lower case for unrelated reasons. I'd spend around $600 and would still own a 3-year-old machine. While it's still a very good computer, I could get an equivalent new replacement for about double the money, with warranty and all new parts.

I wish the chip could be replaced, but I completely disassembled the laptop today and it's very much integrated as the service technician told me it was. I'm not that skilled with a soldering iron even if I knew where to get a new chip.

I could probably get the pin outs for this monitor. It's the same 15.4" panel that many laptops use today. I guess I was hoping for an adapter of some sort but so far I haven't found anything. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif
 
I found that screen as well, but it's five year old information. LCD panels have changed tremendously in that time! Still looking...
 
Were it me, Steve, I'd eBay the monitor. Sold an old laptop a few years ago as parts and got a surprisingly large amount of money for it. Take the cash and put that towards a good LCD or new laptop.
 
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