New life for Dell Inspiron 4000 LCD screen?

[NWgeek]

I have an "old" Dell Inspiron 4000 laptop and I would like to make use of the LCD screen. I've been Google searching for LCD connections, and just about every combination thereof. I basically need three things:

1. The pin-out for the VGA video cable and which pin goes to which pin on the LCD screen

2. If there are any components that I need to get ahold of to "process" the VGA signal before it gets to the LCD connector. Do I need to build some sort of breakout box? Note: My soldering and breaboarding skills are enough to be dangerous

3. Any links that might discuss this process? Not sure if this has been discussed to death or not.

When I get this working, I will post the finished circuit [URL to JPG and discussion].

Thank you, in advance, for ANY links or advice

 

[csidano]

I know this isn't a helpful answer and not even an answer at all, but good luck I hope you are successful. That is a truly inspirational tech task. Great idea. Let us know how it turns out.

 

[SkipCox]

This is likely not a helpful answer either but most laptop displays use a thin cable connected to a zif socket.

Without an adapter to convert all this to a vga output, I doubt if this is pactical.

Skip

http://home.comcast.net/~skip9/index.html

http://scc.i8.com

 

[NWgeek]

Skip,

Thanks for the post. Still a bit frustrating to toss a seemingly "good" LCD display because of a CPU or other failure. I was trying to Google up a search on LCD hacks, but didn't get very far. I'm fairly dangerous with a low-wattage soldering iron and would be willing [dumb enough?] to attempt a wiring hack if anyone could suggest one

I've heard it mentioned in a few places that the video drivers for the LCD display are actually part of the proprietary motherboard? Good grief

BTW, I visited and bookmarked your site. Very informative. Got a good laugh out of the "How NOT to..." section for applying thermal paste.

Lynn

 

[AthlonPower]

The only thing i've heard someone do with an old laptop LCD is place it inside a car. I was at a Car Show once, and saw a Chevy Tahoe with a 13 inch LCD built into the center console. Pretty cool lookin too.

 

[micker377]

Put it on e-bay and get some money out of it!