How to connect separate LCD screen from old laptop to a new one as an additional one?

kad3t · Jul 18, 2009, 06:32 PM

Hello!

I have a little bit of a problem with a separate laptop LCD screen... But let's get to the heart of the thing first! I happen to own a separate WXGA (1280x800) LCD screen from my old G4 Mac notebook. It has all the cabling in place and not damaged (pictures included - two cables on the left side of the screen & one on the right). I was wondering if there's a way of connecting it to my current DELL laptop PC (XPS M1530) to use as a second screen? I belive that there's got to be a way of doing it, the question is though - how & is it worth my bother?

So, to summarise if anyone would know the way of doing it relatively cheap I'd appreciate any help or guide. Thanks in advance!

Ow, I almost forgot to add that my laptop has free HDMI, IEEE 1394a, analog VGA, S-Video & USB ports available for the (hopefully succesfull) connection & I use both Windows 7 RC & Ubuntu Linux.

kad3t

BlueMak · Jul 18, 2009, 07:37 PM

I know nothing about these things. I GUESS that you could place a vga connection there, but if it is possible and how, no idea.

Mac Daddy · Jul 18, 2009, 07:43 PM

Different interfaces and connections to be honest you are wasting your time.

Cheers

kad3t · Jul 18, 2009, 09:08 PM

Hey!

Thanks for the intrest you took in my question guys! Somebody mentioned to me that it wasn't worth the money I'd have to put in the parts to make it work as I could get a cheaper & better quality/resolution external LCD screen for the price of parts & since I haven't got any extra sockets on my motherboard available direct connection was unavailable...

Looks like I'm back to were I started from & should just forget about the whole idea.
Thanks again!

kad3t

swimtech · Jul 18, 2009, 09:23 PM

FYI...

The larger flattened cable in your left photo is the LVDS cable which carries the video information and the plastic connector with just two wires coming out on the right is the connector to the high voltage side of a DC/DC converter specific to driving the backlight of the LCD - also known as an inverter.

Theoretically, you could attach the LVDS wires to the appropriate pins of your external video (VGA or DVI) connector matched properly. The difficult parts are getting reliable documentation on the LVDS cable lines to match to the pins of the external video connector, then custom making the connector itself, and getting another high voltage (DC) source to power the backlight of the second display.

Yeah, it's too much trouble - but thought it might be nice to know what the cables are for.

kad3t · Jul 18, 2009, 10:02 PM

It is doable then... Well, it makes not much difference though as I was really looking for cheap way to uttilise that screen into something usable. Since it's expensive and (most importantly) difficult to assemble I think I'm gonna part with the idea (mainly due to lack of technical skills).

Thanks!
kad3t

Jul 18, 2009, 06:32 PM	#1
kad3t DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 3 Rep Power: 0	How to connect separate LCD screen from old laptop to a new one as an additional one? Hello! I have a little bit of a problem with a separate laptop LCD screen... But let's get to the heart of the thing first! I happen to own a separate WXGA (1280x800) LCD screen from my old G4 Mac notebook. It has all the cabling in place and not damaged (pictures included - two cables on the left side of the screen & one on the right). I was wondering if there's a way of connecting it to my current DELL laptop PC (XPS M1530) to use as a second screen? I belive that there's got to be a way of doing it, the question is though - how & is it worth my bother? So, to summarise if anyone would know the way of doing it relatively cheap I'd appreciate any help or guide. Thanks in advance! Ow, I almost forgot to add that my laptop has free HDMI, IEEE 1394a, analog VGA, S-Video & USB ports available for the (hopefully succesfull) connection & I use both Windows 7 RC & Ubuntu Linux. kad3t Attached Thumbnails

Jul 18, 2009, 07:37 PM	#2
BlueMak HH's Asteroids' Dominator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Hellas->Macedonia->Thessaloniki Posts: 13,465 Rep Power: 349 System Specs	Re: How to connect separate LCD screen from old laptop to a new one as an additional I know nothing about these things. I GUESS that you could place a vga connection there, but if it is possible and how, no idea. __________________ The people who are regarded as moral luminaries are those who forego ordinary pleasures themselves and find compensation in interfering with the pleasures of others(Bertrand Russell)"You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five years because they didn't wear a veil,You know, guys like that ain't got no manhood left anyway. So it's a hell of a lot of fun to shoot them." - Lt. Gen. James N. Mattis This is slavery, not to speak one's thought. [Euripides-The Phoenician Women (c.411-409 B.C.)] http://www.macedonia.info/FALLACIESANDFACTS.htm *Sic semper tyrannis.*

Jul 18, 2009, 07:43 PM	#3
Mac Daddy DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 7,950 Rep Power: 79 System Specs	Re: How to connect separate LCD screen from old laptop to a new one as an additional Different interfaces and connections to be honest you are wasting your time. Cheers __________________ "My mom said the only reason men are alive is for lawn care and vehicle maintenance." - Tim Allen

Jul 18, 2009, 09:08 PM	Thread Starter #4
kad3t DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 3 Rep Power: 0	Re: How to connect separate LCD screen from old laptop to a new one as an additional Hey! Thanks for the intrest you took in my question guys! Somebody mentioned to me that it wasn't worth the money I'd have to put in the parts to make it work as I could get a cheaper & better quality/resolution external LCD screen for the price of parts & since I haven't got any extra sockets on my motherboard available direct connection was unavailable... Looks like I'm back to were I started from & should just forget about the whole idea. Thanks again! kad3t

Jul 18, 2009, 09:23 PM	#5
swimtech HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: North Carolina Posts: 4,040 Rep Power: 124 System Specs	Re: How to connect separate LCD screen from old laptop to a new one as an additional FYI... The larger flattened cable in your left photo is the LVDS cable which carries the video information and the plastic connector with just two wires coming out on the right is the connector to the high voltage side of a DC/DC converter specific to driving the backlight of the LCD - also known as an inverter. Theoretically, you could attach the LVDS wires to the appropriate pins of your external video (VGA or DVI) connector matched properly. The difficult parts are getting reliable documentation on the LVDS cable lines to match to the pins of the external video connector, then custom making the connector itself, and getting another high voltage (DC) source to power the backlight of the second display. Yeah, it's too much trouble - but thought it might be nice to know what the cables are for. __________________ It's not so much getting your way that matters or not - what matters is how you go about getting it.

Jul 18, 2009, 10:02 PM	Thread Starter #6
kad3t DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 3 Rep Power: 0	Re: How to connect separate LCD screen from old laptop to a new one as an additional It is doable then... Well, it makes not much difference though as I was really looking for cheap way to uttilise that screen into something usable. Since it's expensive and (most importantly) difficult to assemble I think I'm gonna part with the idea (mainly due to lack of technical skills). Thanks! kad3t