What controller board to use

[ricoks]

Hey there all, I have a kinda NOOB question, so please don't flame. The search really didn't add any info for me. Here's my question:

I am looking at getting a bare 10.4", 8.4", or similar sized bare lcd that I can mount in my dash. Unfortunately, I missed out on the Allbrite that had me VERY excited while they were on Ebay a few months ago (anyone wanna sell theirs????). I am wondering how a person can tell whether or not a particular screen will require a controller board, or will need more because it is just a plain laptop screen?
and if it requires a standard controller board, which one???
I remember that for the Allbrite, there was a certain one that ppl were getting, but how did they know that was the one they needed???

I hope this makes sense, as I am watching a few on Ebay now, and would like to know what I will need to make it work. I understand some sort of controller board, just not sure which type/one!!!!

Thanks for the help
Ryan

[ricoks]

Is there anyone that has some helpful info for me???
This IS the place to ask, as you all have different solutions, just hoping one will work for me...........
For instance, if I find a broken lcd screen (desktop version), and take the controller board out of it, will it work with a bare screen that I buy. I have heard little tidbits about laptop lcds being even more 'bare', w/o any electronics, and would require a board from the likes of earthlcd ($$$$!!!)
This is the kinda info I was hoping to find. I assume that if a broken LCD has a board that I can take from it, and use that for a different screen, that would be optimal, but, don't know.....................
anyone????
Thanks
Ryan

[eCar™]

Is there anyone that has some helpful info for me???
This IS the place to ask, as you all have different solutions, just hoping one will work for me...........
For instance, if I find a broken lcd screen (desktop version), and take the controller board out of it, will it work with a bare screen that I buy. I have heard little tidbits about laptop lcds being even more 'bare', w/o any electronics, and would require a board from the likes of earthlcd ($$$$!!!)
This is the kinda info I was hoping to find. I assume that if a broken LCD has a board that I can take from it, and use that for a different screen, that would be optimal, but, don't know.....................
anyone????
Thanks
Ryan

Nobody is going to be able to tell you whether a controller from an unknown broken monitor is going to work with an LCD that you haven't bought yet. But I'd guess that the odds are heavily against a random mix of an LCD and controller working together.

When you find an LCD that you're interested in, post back. I'm sure people will help you find a controller that will work with it (if they can). I was lucky. ddogg_777 (mp3car member) took care of finding the appropriate controller for the AllBrite. But I'll help if I can.

[cdm]

let me put it this way.. if you thought finding 144pin memory for proprietary systems was bad enough, wait untill you try to find a controller for an lcd display..

[ricoks]

Well, then to get me started, It will probably be good to look for an LCD that will fit my needs first, right?? - THEN find a board for it.
How do I know that the lcd i find is usable? ie, just needs a controller board for it. Isn't there a difference between these lcds, and bare laptop lcds???
I assume there is, and that most of the bare lcds on eBay are actually for laptops, and not for use as we would, like that allbrite that everyone else seems to have!!!
(darn I missed that one!!)
How can we tell???
any leads to a good source of lcd's that will work???

BTW, for those out there, which is better for car use (10.4") VGA, or SVGA????
a lot of lcds seem to be VGA only, and not SVGA, but I assume that SVGA is better?????

Thanks for the thoughts and help, everyone
Ryan

[ddogg_777]

Ryan, I had been researching quite a long time when I got the Allbrite. My advice is to search for a lcd panel that has a very common pinout, such as Sharp, LG or NEC panels. I had always wanted the NEC NL8060BC26 because it was 800x600 res. When SinnerG found out that the Allbrite was designed with this panel, we jumped on it.

[ricoks]

Umm, yeah, I wanted to tooo. BUT, i missed the last one by not being by the computer, and it went for $26

So SAD!!!!

do you know how to know the diff between an lcd that we can use, and a bare laptop LCD, they are different, right??

Thanks
ddog


Ryan

[Superduck]

Unfortunately, I can't help much with an answer, as I'm in the same confused boat.

It seems to be one of those catch 22's. You need to know what Controller to get for an LCD. You don't want to get an LCD and not be able to find a controller to match. Same reversed. It sucks.
From what I can tell, there's three ways to do it.

1 - Buy a matched set from a supplier (Like EarthLCD)
- Good chance of everything working well
- Expensive.

2 - Wait and hope, watching Ebay like a hawk. Take a leap and buy either the LCD or the controller first, then hope to find the other. I vote for controller first.
- Possibly the cheapest method if you're lucky
- Might be a lost soul, endlessly searching for that exact model number...

3 - Buy a pre-assembled LCD, like a Datalux or W.H.Y.
- Possibly expensive too, though it seems cheaper than $EarthLCD$
- Could be messy to disassemble and mount.

Anyway, that's just what I've come up with after banging my head against a wall trying to figure out this game. It seems so silly to spend >$400 for an LCD and a controller when I could buy a 15" LCD for $200, brand new (I know the reasoning, it's still frustrating).

Well, hopefully someone can solve our dilemna with a magic bullet.

Good luck, share anything you find with us.


Kris

[eCar™]

Sorry. I couldn't resist rubbing it in a little. :P

[ddogg_777]

Go to www.lcdspecifications.com and search out the common 31, 41 pin lcd panels. Like I said, NEC, Sharp, LG, and others. Superduck has a point, it might be just as beneficial to find the lcd controller and then match it to the panel. Bare laptop lcd panels are a no-no unless they are supplied by the the aforementioned.