Page 1 of Can a laptop tft be modified to make a flat screen monitor for my PC?

Just wondering really, if it is possible to chop up a laptop screen, add a monitor lead, and PSU, so that it will run on my PC. Got access to all I need I think!

I would think that it is possible, but has anyone tried this, successfully or not?????

In theory yes (once you define "chop up LCD"), in practise not something I would even contemplate doing too many small connectors on the body of the assembly itself.

Theres usually 2 connections on a laptop LCD screen, one is the actual ribbon cable for the data & the other the inverter for the backlight.

I suppose thats going to tempt fate & one of my users is going to crack their laptop screen now. :(

This item was edited on Thursday, 5th August 2004, 13:27

When I said `chop up`, all I meant was remove the screen section from the base of the laptop. All I assumed that I would need to do is connect the data cable to a monitor lead, and obviously apply power, which I thought that I could use the laptop psu for.

Is there a diagram anywhere of pinouts etc???

I know that really I should just buy a tft monitor, but I like trying things like this, just to see if I can do it???

IBM LCD screens (Hitachi, LG Samsung etc) have a subminiture connector for the ribbon cable that carries the picture information direct from the graphics chip on the motherboard, no idea of the pinouts alas, they may also carry low current power for it (seems unlikely to my way of thinking).

Another ribbon cable connects from the motherboard from there to a inverter PCB that sits inside the LCD surround. The LCD has a 2 pin plug & lead that fits in the inverter board, providing the backlight.

Again while its possible you may be better off buying a dedicated oem LCD panel, if this is the plan to kill a few (& imminent) winter nights. I have seen them advertised on places like CPC (Farnell), RS etc but not cheap.