I am in the process of building an LCD and was focused on the laptop LCD's due to their resolution (for example, some hydis and dell models that run 1600x1200 in a 15" panel.) In order to use these, the easiest way I have found is through this guy... vga/dvi to lvds converters! These things are hard to find, but I have found a few domestic resellers here in the us. Also, you can order one from germany from 80 EUR for the crttolcd1 (about 100 dollars) and also under 200 dollars for the UXGA converter (DVI input). It also features a serial or USB configuration menu. So here are the prices for a 1600x1200 15" LCD setup.

UXGA LVDS converter $200
UXGA Screen (Ebay) $200
Power supplies $20

HOWEVER.... notice the specifications on those notebook/tablet pc lcd screens... (if you can find them.) You will see that most range from 40ms to 25ms response time!! So what do we want... resolution or response time.... Does anyone know of any UXGA 15" panels supporting 25MS response time or lower??

Also, please note that this LVDS interface will not support EVERY notebook panel.. There are other notebook lcd technologies (such as TTL) and also different connectors. This does support the hydis 1600x1200 15" panel though ^^

Great info, never seen lvds that cheap.

Can you get a confirmed price and shipping cost on a single CRTtoLCD-3 model (the uxga one), in other threads we have been baying for one of those. Even if its only available in the US thats not a problem i can always paypal a mate and get him to sent it to me in the uk.

I should get a confirmed price tuesday-I'll let you guys know. THink it would be worth sacrificing a 40MS response time for UXGA resolution??

No, not for now, but in the future there will be uxga screens that that size with a faster response time, havent a controller means we can get a xga screen for now then upgrade later

i am figuring that the technology is there now to make hi-res low response time screens at 15" or lower but here is why they don't:::

For laptops:
It would take up way too much power!!

For desktops:
There would be no point when you can run a bigger screen at the same res-the market is not there.

Yup that is what my research is pretty much comming up as, infact they could be doing a heck of a lot mroe than they are now, if you can get xga on a 1inch lcd pannel (see one of the other posts on this forum) then that could easily be multiplied up so a 15inch screen should be able to whip crt silly on resolution (can you say 2048+!!) and the response time should be equalliy be sub 16ms, its just a question of the market (as you say about laptop uses and i think the monitor users is mainly because the business market doesnt need more than xga which means the home market would have to be picking up the higher res areas, the trouble is there is most normal users dont care about much higher res than that and those of us that do will not give up on our CRT monitors, i know sure as hell i wont for a while, i just baught a new iiyama and i love it).

Can you still let me know though, this is still pretty much the most cost effective solution in the UK (lcd pannels are soooo expensive over here!!)

I have looked into this area a bit, but give this a read if you are thinking about using another video driver (another computer or NTSC/PAL converter)

http://www.eio.com/lcdconnect.htm
http://www.geocities.com/p9019/lcdpanel

I have come to the conclusion that it is very expensive in the end. I think that you are better off just getting the LCD panel, than trying to set up a monitor from a LCD laptop. It seems that you have to be very good as an electrician and have dexteritous hands to set up one as a monitor. In addition, the cost of one of those converters for UXGA is ouch...~$700(US).

I have been eyeing the ebay webpage, if this is similar items that you had in mind: http://computers.listings.ebay.com/Screens...ocustoverrideZ1

If you are up to the task of re-wiring a LCD laptop panel as a monitor, I would like to know about your experiences.

If its as much as $700 then i wont bother, but i'm happy to go up to say $350 if the unit is worth it. Basically as i was saying above, its quite expensive (relatively) to build this projector in the uk anyway, so even if it ends up being £50/£100 more expensive to do it this way round i'm happy to do this as it gives me upgrade options and makes it a little future proof.

But yes your links are correct, doing it this method is a pain in the behind, hard work and probably a lot of blood swet and tears, i belive it is worth it though.

The goal of this is to see if we can run UXGA, SXGA, WUXGA, and WXGA for cheaper than the traditional way. I can say right now that the SXGA converters are right at 100 dolllars plus shipping for a decent model (LCDTOTV1) AND hopefully, the uxga converter will be at a decent price also... I have been through many converters and yes, many are 500+.. However, the RTTOLCD seems to be a very nice product (that is very hard to find!) Here are the problems that will be faced..

1. Getting a converter at a responable price.
2. Being able to strip a laptop screen.
3. Having the sometimes proprietary connectors converted if needed
4. Intoducing and model-specific LCD low level signal controls

Problems 1 and 4 are in the process of being solved whereas 2 and 3 will be a gamble... We can get WUXGA screens off ebay for 250 dollars (WUXGA is 1920X1080 if I can remeber) But then again, problems 2 and 3 would be a major issue and would have to be solved. Anyone with any information or questions PLEASE POST

CRTtoLCD-3-JILI is a highly integrated TFT flat panel interface adapter that allows the use of standard VGA (15-pin), DVI & Video (NTSC/PAL/SECAM) sources with LVDS flatpanels up to UXGA resolution. It includes all the necessary functionality to create a full featured TFT monitor. From a single 12V power supply, the CRTtoLCD-3 generates all the voltages required by a TFT panel and it includes power sequencing features and backlight support. The highly flexible architecture of the CRTtoLCD-2 panel interface allows it to adapt to virtually any TFT panel. A variety of cable adapter kits are available on request.

Highlights:

- easy connection of flatpanels (e.g. TFTs, Plasma) to standard VGA(15-pin), DVI and S-Video/Composite-Video interfaces
- unparalled picture quality up to UXGA
- Standard Kontron panel interfaces:
JILI-interface up to 2 x 24 Bit double port LVDS with automatic panel detection
& JILI40-interface up to 2 x 24 Bit double port LVDS
- including MS-Windows based serial-OSD for configuration and adjustment
-prepared for future upgrades of panel-file-database via webdownload
Find more graphic news and display interface information under www.kontron-hh.com

PLUG & DISPLAY!

Excellent work, let's get it working.

Goliyth, yup thats the pannel that comes up trumps atm, there is one other (dont know the details cos its nearly 1am and i have no idea if i kept the bookmark here or at work! will try and find it again), its price and availability, the sxga one you say is 100 + shipping? so i cant imagin this one being too much more (150?) and a screen you will be able to find for between 100-250 on ebay, this is a doable thing IF we can get these parts.

Also as a seperate note, from what i can tell as long as the screen we get is lvds (not lvds/ttl or some other derivation) it should be fine, i think the vendors/manufacturers have just been a little lazy with their compatability chart. Anyway, if it gets to october time and no ones done it i should be able to afford this card and a monitor to test this on (fingers crossed). I really do have high hopes for this method, i am fully aware though it is not for the feint hearted.

PS. I think i might have to nick one of the dec 1000's we have laying around at work, strip it and mount it direct into the box with this control board, digital tv anyone

The 100 dollar SXGA was from a europe shop for 80 Euros (about 100 dollars.) I cannot say as to what the UXGA would cost, as it does have many added features and is a much powerful card

Brain,
If someone can get these working, maybe you could store them in your shop?

I know I'd go for a high res, small panel!

Sure, keep me up to date.

Ok i'm working on a possible solution but as moneys short it wont be till crimbo time i get it sorted, the place still only sells to companies so i'll see if i can blag it through where i work for one, as for a large bulk order does lumenlab count as a company? would you be able to purchase units like that if i where to set up a deal? (Very early in precedings i know but it'll give me something to work with when talking to these people).

Yep

Never got a reply from the inquiry that I sent.. If anyone knows where to find these then plz tell-- Still looking..

This place offers the controllers...haven't checked on the price yet.

http://www.signetlcd.com/ia_applications.html

Me neither, it seems unless you pin them on the phone most of them realyl cba with the average layman, which is kinda sucky cos i'm used to trying to help people try and find solutions to their situations with where i work.

I have aquired a 15.4" WUXGA Lcd out of a broken tashiba laptop and would be interested in finding a controller for it. I tried contacting apollo displays but they say for insurance purposes they cannot sell to end users. If anyone knows of another source for wuxga lvds controllers it would be greatly appreciated or if anyone wants to try to aquire some from apollo here is their address.


http://www.apollodisplays.com/vampower.php

I believe the best product they offer is the Vampower 11 series.

i asked them too and they said the same.