Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum

Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: UFO on August 29, 2015, 10:04:24 am

Title: Utilising Laptop Screens
Post by: UFO on August 29, 2015, 10:04:24 am
Hey all,

I have several redundant laptops that I am clinging on to in the hope they may become useful in some way in my MAME projects.

The motherboards have gone in a couple, but I was wondering if the screens could be up-cycled in some way.

Do any of you know of any useful tutorials or resources where the screens have been given a new lease of life in some other projects? Otherwise, these things are going in the bin!

Thanks chaps...
Title: Re: Utilising Laptop Screens
Post by: solar on August 29, 2015, 10:24:13 am
I've seen iirc were lcd driver boards so you could use them with the pi etc...not sure if it matters what lcd you use or if its just requires matching / hooking up the correct pinouts but could be worth looking into.
Title: Re: Utilising Laptop Screens
Post by: woosdom on August 30, 2015, 08:22:43 pm
I have a few laptop screens also. let me know if you find any useful info
Title: Re: Utilising Laptop Screens
Post by: DudeRegular on August 30, 2015, 09:24:16 pm
You will need a board to drive the monitor if you are not using the laptop guts. Check out the following:
http://imgur.com/a/OyW13 (http://imgur.com/a/OyW13)
from this reddit thread

https://www.reddit.com/r/DIY/comments/2yc0pd/recycled_laptop_screen_as_a_second_pc_monitor/ (https://www.reddit.com/r/DIY/comments/2yc0pd/recycled_laptop_screen_as_a_second_pc_monitor/)
Title: Re: Utilising Laptop Screens
Post by: matsadona on August 31, 2015, 02:55:07 am
Yes, this is absolutely doable. However my experience is that buying a controller (even though cheap from China) is more expensive than buying a second hand desktop monitor...
Still I have done it for a small 8,9" screen I use for a Raspberry Pi. The controller board is almost as big as the screen so it will be some challenge for me to fit it as planned though.
Title: Re: Utilising Laptop Screens
Post by: UFO on August 31, 2015, 04:04:37 pm
Hmmm... thought this might be the case - i.e. way too much investment for not a lot of return...

Its a shame - they fit the bill for so many things. In fact, I seem to have more trouble finding an old CRT TV than I do an old laptop!

Thanks for the info though chaps - I'll look into it... :applaud: :applaud: :applaud: