Need some tips on using a powerbook display

**Syzygy** · 02-08-2006, 04:56 PM

I have three 15" powerbooks, all very broken except for their displays. These are really nice displays, they might be a little dim for use in a car, but they are such a waste just sitting there, even if only used at night it would be better than what they're doing.

I believe if the controller board for these displays is in the display itself then the video card is most likely sending a signal similar (or identical) to VGA or DVI. Do you think it would be worth trying to connect the displays to a VGA connector? (which would mean connecting the wires together arbitrarily until I get anything to work)

Any information on any possibility of these working would be greatly appreciated.

**Slowmo** · 02-08-2006, 07:09 PM

I think LCD controller is not in the display itself. It will have a flat ribbon cable that used pure digital signal from that controller board so it can not be hooked dirrectly to your VGA output. Plus it will also require a high voltage to drive the backlight.

**Motorcity** · 02-08-2006, 07:27 PM

how many times has this been covered????????????
there is no lcd panel out there that came from a notebook that can be connected to a computer without considerabl work and cost.
dammit people,

**Syzygy** · 02-09-2006, 07:40 PM

Originally Posted by Motorcity

how many times has this been covered????????????
there is no lcd panel out there that came from a notebook that can be connected to a computer without considerabl work and cost.
dammit people

I did quite an extensive search on powerbook displays, this included this forum, other forums, and google, finding nothing. I guess my mistake was thinking powerbooks might be different from other laptops.

But, you know, thanks for understanding.

Also, in response to Slowmo, it doesn't have a ribbon cable, but it does have a lot of small wires. Looked like there were about as many as were in DVI, but I guess that's to be expected. As as for the voltage, I can just use the small inverter which are in the powerbooks (they still work, I've tried).

**Motorcity** · 02-10-2006, 10:49 AM

No, lcd panels are lcd panels. Being from a Powerbook changes nothing. Any lcd panel will require a suitable controller to run it. If your panel is LVDS, you could opt. to use an LVDS enabled motherboard, such as a VIA Epia, or Commell. This will be a little cheaper, however you limit yourself to using that mobo with the panel. A vga only controller can be bought for about 150-190 depending on your panel. Post the exact make and model # of your panel, and I will give you more info.

**b8bboi** · 02-10-2006, 10:54 AM

Yeah you can make it work but you'll waste lots of time and money and still end up with a ****ty monitor (by our standard) that can't be extended very far, has no touchscreen, looks like **** during day time because it would wash out like a *****. Not to mention it would look huge and ugly and you'd need a lot of skills to fab it into your dash. Not worth it IMO.

**Motorcity** · 02-10-2006, 12:05 PM

Originally Posted by b8bboi

Yeah you can make it work but you'll waste lots of time and money and still end up with a ****ty monitor (by our standard) that can't be extended very far, has no touchscreen, looks like **** during day time because it would wash out like a *****. Not to mention it would look huge and ugly and you'd need a lot of skills to fab it into your dash. Not worth it IMO.

not quite. He can buy an lcd controller for under 200, which will let him use any pc and run any length away from it he wants. add another 175 or so for a decent usb touch kit, and for about 100-125 he can upgrade the brightness to around 400 nits, which is plenty in a car.
Ture though, is the fact that he will be up to his arse in fab work, but I for one would be glad to see someone take the time and effort (not to mention asctually spend the $$) to do an in dash 15" install.