A place to post about promising finds, these components HAVE NOT been tested and the monitors are UNVERIFIED as strip friendly. For those of you who are intrepid you may want to check these deals out and report back to us so that we can add them to the database of known components.

I found 2 deals on 14" monitors today, good specs but they may have the FFC issue.

http://www.bassotech.com/priceWATCH/produc...itors/mo141.htm

and another great deal:

http://www.pcdirectsource.com/Item.cfm?ID=1305

Best Buy is selling a 14" MAG with pretty decent specs for $229.00 with a $50 mail in rebate. I'm going to pick one up tomorrow morning. The website says sold out, but they've got 'em in the stores. Oh, and the rebate is good until the end of February!

Looks good, I wonder what the response time is...

Well it took a lot of digging, but I finally cracked it. There was no info on the MAG website.. first I thought it was a discontinued model or something, but it turns out the model number Best Buy has listed isn't the same as the manufactorer. The MAG LT 456s is actually a Proview PL 456s. must be an OEM thing.

Anyway, all the specs are here.

Also, since it seems like the most relevant info you're looking for, the response time is 50ms

Awesome, be great to see how it strips...if you're planning on doing a lot of gaming 50ms will be a little slow. Basically you might see blurring. You may also see it in fast action scenes in movies. It is a great starter panel though and for everday watching will probably make a nice projector. Let's us know when you get it!

Well, I picked one up.. it looks good and I tried watching some fast-moving high action stuff on it and didn't notice any blur (at 60Hz) however, I have decided to return it.

Here's why. Looking at DIYLabs.org yesterday, I noticed they're having a big sale, but I also noticed that they have the Panelbook 550 available for $159. Granted it doesn't handle as high a resolution, it does however include the RCA and S-Video inputs. I've been running Snapstream's PVR software for a few months now at 800x600 on my TV, and it looks great, so I think I will be happy but TV doesn't even handle that high of a resolution.. so I dunno.. I'm trying to decide what to do

oog, I've seen the 550s sell on ebay for $25 in perfect working condition. I found a review on another forum:

"I am using infocus panelbook550ls and 3000lumens OHP.The resolution of this panel is not good. you can watch movies with screen size 50" not more than that"

Hope this helps..

oog, Turns out your mag is a good diy panel, I found this today.

"went and picked up the mag 14" today from best buy...

single-edge ribbon
total time to disassemble less than 2 hours

from a totally noob perspective; very easy to work on/ in, reasonably inexpensive LCD for the first-time DIY'er (like me)"

SO, hang on to that thing!

Yeah, I decided to keep it afterall..

Agreed, it is EXTREMELY user friendly for stripping

I stripped this in about 20min. the connection to the panel seems very strong compared to others I've seen.

Here's some pics:


This is the fully stripped panel.


Notice the connection to the panel, 6 small ribbons, and the board is covered with a thin clear plastic, this could be glued or screwed (through the clear plastic) to the side-wall of the projector.


This is the main control board(s) of the LCD. the backlight board can most likely be disconnected from the main board with no fuctionality loss. Notice the small connector at the top, this snaps into the board that is attached to the panel. Finally, the adjustment buttons... These could very easily be de-soldered and replaced with (or just add on additional) small momentary connect push-buttons that come through the projector's outter shell, to provide dynamic control over all aspects of the panel during projector use. This is what I plan to do, by using the small push-buttons available from radio-shack or other places. alternatively, you could use the button strip from the monitor itself, although since the two parts are not connected, they would have to be wedged together between something so that the buttons would work.

All in all I think this was a very good purchase. it supports up to 1024x768 and refresh rates from 60-75Hz Hope this helps someone..

Also, after stripping I hooked it up to the PVR computer, just to see how it looked, and everything worked beautifully, even without each individual part being seperately grounded as they had been when it was assembled.


Now I just can't wait to get the rest of my parts and start watching a ~6 foot picture! Unfortunately for me, my project is on hold until I accumulate some funds, that's the worst thing about my job, too much time off!

NICE WORK! Be careful with those edge connectors, they will break and your panel won't work.

Oh yeah, nice avatar man!

Curious to know about this one:

HITACHI 15" TFT LCD PANEL
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...9&category=3698

Fine panel. What you don't have: Power supply, VGA input (lvds conversion?), schematics to make conversions etc. It's sad that we can't get these panels with needed associated circuitry. The costs for adapting laptop displays/monitor 'bare panels' etc is too high.

http://www.displaze.com/Html/Products/Driv...ds/DVI-1280.htm

Also of note is the lack of detailed specs; contrast, response, pitch.

There are 14" XGA monitors at Bestbuy right now for ~$180 complete that are known to be DIY friendly.

New 15" HP monitor $100 after rebate. Not been stripped so no information. The price says $49 but the second rebate requires the purchase of a computer.

http://www.shopping.hp.com/cgi-bin/hpdirec...de=P9618C%23ABA

About the HP/Compaq monitor, IMHO I doubt any mail-in rebate will apply if someone only buy the monitor, and no computer at all. Anyway, even at $149 it seems to be a good deal for the price, but were you able to find more detailled informations about this monitor's capabilities in terms of image quality? I wasn't.

And what a pity for us european not to be able to get your damn low US prices :-(

Once I'm decided on the parts I need to buy I think I'll try to find someone in the US to get my orders shipped to, and to pay him to reship everything at once to me...

Yes there are 2 $50 rebates offered, one requires the purchase of a computer though. So the only applicable rebate is a single $50, making the price $100.

Rebate Page


The $50 rebate just for buying a monitor says that it does not include the fp15 and fp17 models. Still a good price though.


"Save $50 with purchase of qualifying Compaq MV, FS or FP series monitor (except FP15 or FP17). Save even more with purchase of qualifying Compaq Presario desktop PC model ending in NX or RS."

I am confused, the Compaq fp15 15" lcd WILL or will it NOT make a good DIY monitor. Darn good price of $100 after the $50 rebate that will take 4 to 6 weeks to arrive.

Since I use only MACS I won't be able to use the monitor if it is not strip friendly.

Thanks for your help.

Its simply untested.My guess would be to buy it and try,If it wont work,Ebay it and prolly make a profit.

Sure you can use this monitor with your mac, unless your mac is ancient. All newer macs, (late G3 and up) are vesa standard.

Brainchild, LOL yes mine is kind of ancient Power mac G3 beige. I guess I can use the VGA to what ever the mac standard is called adapter and then I would be able to use it.

Or go out and buy a PCI vid card that will output VGA.

Also, please send me a reply regarding the email I sent you Monday.

are you dave?

Yes I am.

im new i just bought the plans today and i was wondering if the lcds on ebay that r stripped for like 80.00. would work?

Link?

im alittle confused? is that a yes or a no

Brainchild would like a link to click on so he can see the monitor you are talking about.

Judging by the price sounds like you are looking at a Laptop monitor, that's a no go because they have no control boards (that re in the laptop body). If you are looking at a stripped monitor then make sure it has all the circuits to make it funcion and has no Flexible Flat Cable issues (FFC issue).

Provide the link to what you are bidding on so we can help you better knowing what kind of LCD you are talking about

Best!

Hello
Does anyone have any experience with the Sampo LME-15S1. The specs didn't look too bad, but I was wondering if this has been tried.

And this is where I refer you to the FAQ. Article #2

http://www.lumenlab.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=199

I was looking at getting the BenQ FP591.
I searched the forums for it and didn't see anywhere anyone has talked about it.
I was looking to see if it might have the FFC issue, but will probably get it anyway.
I might be the guinne pig for this one.

Hello all, I just ordered the system from the following link at Best Buy.
The package includes a Prosonic 15" lcd tv/monitor, dvd player, and small stereo setup. All for $344 (with $5 discount) and free shipping. Deal is good until Feb 28.
Not the greatest specs on the LCD, but good enough for a first run with this hobby.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id...75&type=product

I should receive it in a couple weeks (back ordered). I will take pics and post a follow up of how it performs and what the guts of this panel look like.



UPDATE:
Just canceled this order with Best Buy. They double posted the transaction as "pending" to my credit card (tying up twice the funds) Then, informed me via email that it would be an additional 23 days of backorder, no guarantees. I got out before the ride got moving....

Hmm, for some reason I can never get the bestbuy site to load up properly on the computers at school, half the time it says "can't find server" and then when it can findthe server, it just loads the text and red X's the pictures. This time I was able to get there, and read a bit, but couldn't see the picture...

Anyway, looks interesting, let us know how it works out!!

I haven't seen anything about the following on the NewEgg site, does anyone know about stripping/ffc issues with these?

NEC/Mitsubishi V50LCD $309, contrast 500:1, response time 25 ms

BenQ FP591 $309 cintrast 450:1, response 16 ms

AOpen F55JS $299 Contrast 400:1, response 25ms

ProView PL566s $255, contrast 300:1, response 30 ms

14 in MAG 456s owners; are you happy with it? I went to Best Buy who had two in stock for $299 with $50 rebate making it $249. But, compared with the other monitors it appeared washed out and blurry. Actually was the poorest-looking screen in the display. I tried for about 10 minutes at the controls of the display model to try to get the vibrant colors found in the other monitors to no avail. Went to another Best Buy and their display model also looked poor. Any comments?

I can't believe that people are bidding above $175 for non-working MAG 456s on Ebay. $75 yes, $175 no.

TigerDirect has a BenQ with 16 ms 450:1 for $299. Seems like a much better monitor. Don't know about stripping though.

Has anyone thought of taking apart a Sony PSOne lcd for use in a projector? It is 5 inches diagonal and the reviews give it high praise for clairity and color, when used as a PSOne monitor. It is supposed to take NTSC video from a DVD or VCR through an RCA to 1/8 in connector cable. They are on close-out sale for $50 at a local store.

Yes. This was discussed in in the public forums:

http://www.lumenlab.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=145

Thanks. I didn't know that this was the same one. Back it goes, or maybe it will be a good lcd for my digital camera when a tv is not available. It has a 30-day return policy. Plus, I don't know whether it works without having it connected to the PSOne console, which I do not have.

I'm still trying to get that Proview PL456s (MAG LT456s) 14" but the local store keeps selling out every time a shipment comes in. Going fast for $179. I passed up on the display model with three always-on pixels for a 10% discount.

I was thinking that maybe a monitor manufacturor would send a LUMENLAB designee a broken sample (at the very least) of one or more of their currently available 15 inch models so that we can assess strippability without incurring cost to us, and risk of divorce. If the monitor works and is reasonably priced, we might possibly run out to BestBuy or wherever and purchase a new one.

So, since the Planar Systems' headquarters is local to me, I wrote them an email about our hobbie (not mentioning LUMENLAB) and about obtaining monitors (broken or otherwise) to check for FFC problems. Below is the reply. Are there members who have contacts with other manufacturors?

> Thank-you for your interest in Planar products. Unfortunately, we do not
> have any of the extra screens available to sell or to give away.
Normally,
> if we have a defective monitor we fix them and sell them as refurbished,
of
> course, for a lower price. Right now, you can find all of our refurbished
> products on ubid.com. Any of our 15" monitors would meet your
requirements
> that you listed.
>
> Your hobby sounds like it is very productive and a lot of fun. If you
have
> any additional questions about our products, do not hesitate to ask.
>
> Best regards, Kristi

Hummm,
I think you might want to email her back I checked ubid and found none of the lcd's we are looking for.

Did you explain what FFC is? When she said all her brand would work that made me uneasy.

I didn't see any on UBID either. I just figured she meant that that is where Planar sends them when they do become available. Also, I don't take stock in her comment that they all should "work". I did mention what FFC was and that we had to move everything clear of the lcd so that we could shine a light through it from behind. Her comment was probably in connection with the very broad specs that I said we were looking for: less than 50ms, at least 300:1 contrast ... I'll pursue this further with her.

Maybe if we can find repair manuals they could help us figure out strippability issues. I'll ask her about getting a hold of repair manuals as well.

Anyone try this panel?
8.4 Inch, XGA with 300:1 c/r

http://www.sunrise.co.uk/press/8.4_inch.htm

NEC actually has a 6" 500:1 XGA, I've found them at the low price of $900/pc used hehe. The only problem with bare panels such as this (aside from cost) is getting the LVDS controllers and other circuitry you need. It can get ridiculously expensive.

An NEC site actually advertises the same 8.4 inch panel with a c/r 0f 500:1

How can the estmate of c/r vary so much???

http://www.ee.nec.de/products/display/040_...276BC16_01.html

A couple of new monitors on the scene:

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp...3A37802%3A37806

This one is $199 but the contrast is 200:1, still might be a good starter panel.

And this one:

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp...3A37802%3A37806

Again these haven't been stripped, but they have big cases which might bode well for stripping.

UPDATE: The X3G-Naga II is actually 400:1 contrast so this is a great panel for the price. I'll get one and strip it so we can know for sure. Walmart's listing is wrong.

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp...3A37802%3A37806

13.3" 
TFT
1024 x 768
200 cd/m2
400:1

From: http://www.sceptre.com/Products/LCD/x-index.htm

OK I ordered it, should be here next weds-fri. I'll strip it and take some pix. If this thing strips it would very good for us as it's smaller than the lenses we're using, XGA and high contrast. 35ms response isn't shabby either and $199 is a great deal. If it is good to strip I'll try to get in touch with the manufacturer about a power buy. The smaller panel also means a smaller projection and more efficient light usage.

brain,

check out the specs on this 15" from sceptre 500:1 15/10 ms dont know if its available here or not,
Peter

http://www.sceptre.com/Products/LCD/Specif...c_x5sNagaII.htm

Best price I can find for those is $309, and it might not strip...

Hey there Brainchild! If you do get that monitor and it strips well please let me know .That would be one I might could afford to get after frying mine.
I just read further and saw you had already ordered one and mentioned a power buy If that works I'm in I'll be watching this thread for updates.
Thanks for the hard work!

Sure will, I'll make a post here as soon as I get it.