Been lurking for a couple of weeks, got my Samsung Syncmaster 151MP off of Ebay yesterday. Stripped it this evening, don't think I had any major problems.

Main board connects to the LCD screen. 5 other boards come off the main board, the video/audio inputs, the backlight controller, the menu/power button panel, headphone jack board, and the IR remote board.

My question is if I don't hook up the menu/power button board and the backlight controller, will the LCD screen still work? I figure I don't need the buttons since I've got an IR remote control and I certainly don't need the backlight controller.

You lucky devil! I've got a 150MP... would kill right now for a 151!

Other than the ability to accept high-def signals, these monitors are almost identical. You can check out my PLOG to see how I mounted everything.

I also got my LCD off Ebay, but mine didn't come with the remote, so I didn't add the IR receiver. I kept the backlight power board on (figured it couldn't hurt). But since the backlight power and menu buttons aren't part of the power -> tv tuner -> controller board -> LCD circuit, I'm guessing you're okay leaving them out.

If someone else feels differently about this, PLEASE chime in.

Gosh Dweez, now I feel guilty. It was on your recommendation in your post that I bought it! Sorry man, I got it off of eBay and was lucky to get it myself, some guy sniped in the last 10 seconds and came within 50 cents of my high bid.

Actually, when I stripped it down, it wasn't all that similar to the 150 you have, several components and the layout were different. It was a pretty easy strip.

My concern is that the board with the buttons has the ground wire on it, and without it it wouldn't be grounded properly. Also, the power button is on it, if thats not connected, will the unit stay in the permenantly "off" status? I guess I could hook it up and find out, but I'm concerned about the ground.

Thanks.

lol... don't worry about it. I'm glad you found one!

Hmm... guess they did a little more to their design than I thought. Good point about the menu buttons. Now that I think about it, it probably won't power up without them, and I *did* screw the grounds into my case.

I'd suggest mounting it all anyway. It can't hurt, and there's going to be some time when you just want to reach over and use the menu buttons on the case (even if it's just to switch inputs)

Yeah, I'll probably do that. Right now I've got pencil to paper trying to figure out how I'm going to accomodate that large video board.

Thanks for the help.

Don't rule out a "double decker" design like mine. I don't know what the dimensions of the 151MP boards are, but when I laid out all of mine in front of the LCD, I realized they would extend PAST the focal point of the triplet lens.

Good luck... can't wait to see your solution.