[ale] Latop displays as external monitor

[Alex Carver]

On 2015-09-27 11:02, Vernard Martin wrote:
> I've noticed that in general, you can get much higher resolution
> displays in smaller form factors in laptops than on desktop displays.
> For some projects that I'm working on, I'd love to take one of those old
> 1920x1200 15.4" laptop displays and place at VGA or DVI connector on it.
> 
> Any of you more electronics oriented folks either 1) done this before or
> 2) have any suggestions on how to about doing this? I figure I can't be
> the only person that has thought about this before....
> 
> 

You're not the only person V. :)

Whether you can do it depends on how the specific display/laptop combo
was designed.  In many cases the DVI/VGA interface is actually embedded
in the motherboard along with all the drive electronics and the
connection to the LCD itself is essentially the raw LCD control signals
(rows, columns, etc.)

However, if the laptop's LCD panel segment has all the drive electronics
behind it (rather than on the motherboard), it is possible that they
then used a DVI/VGA interface on the motherboard and are sending that up
the cable in the laptop's hinge.

First step would be to open up the shell surrounding the LCD itself and
look at the back of the module.  If the controller is back there you can
get a data sheet for the chip and find out how it's driven.