Help with possible project monitor

[deadpool18]

Unfortunately, I bought an HP Touchsmart all-in-one media center PC about three years ago.  Needless to say, as soon as my extended warranty was up, either the motherboard or video card died.   

Here is the unit I am talking about:

http://www.amazon.com/TouchSmart-IQ770-19-inch-Processor-SuperMulti/dp/B000NX1UNU

Since HP could care less now that it is out of warranty, I am stuck with a very expensive paperweight.  None of my local shops are interested in fixing it since the parts are hard to come by.

So, I was wondering if there was a way of disconnecting the touchscreen monitor from the motherboard and connecting it to another PC for Mame or a Jukebox, or something!  I think HP used a proprietary connector to hook it up to the motherboard, but I haven't disassembled it enough to verify that.  If it is a unique connector (I'm almost positive that it is) could it still be wired somehow to another motherboard or video card?  I'm quite ignorant when it comes to wiring things like LCD's.  This thing would be great for some sort of arcade project since I'm pretty sure that there is nothing wrong with the monitor.  If anyone could help me out so I feel like my investment isn't totally wasted, I would greatly appreciate it!!! 

[Astrofrog]

Deadpool,

  Are you sure your LCD isn't bad, can you see anything on the display even faint (backlight working)? Anyway you have to hookup an external display i.e. HDMI, DVI etc.? I don't know much about that model. Back in 2000 we had a crapact that was an LCD all in one (Yep latest) dead, plug it into an external monitor and worked fine, Boss said it needs a new video card. That new video card was outdated and only sold by some side business of Compaq, $380 for a card, needless to say it was the LCD. Glad the Boss wasn't spending my money.

 I did see (EBay) and exchange info with a guy in China that sold LCD converters some were even for touch screens. Your probably going to have to tear it apart to get the Panel number and see if you can purchase a converter.

[Blanka]

Most LCD's interface internally with DVI too. The cable is just different (band cable for example). Check benheck.com , that guy rips LCD's out of everything and hooks it up to his gadgets. There's even an navigation LCD from a crashed Audi Q7 hooked up to be used again. That guy just combines everything.

[deadpool18]

Thanks for the feedback.  I'll see if I can get on the Ben Heck forum.

Yeah, I can get the HP splash screen, so I know it isn't the backlight or LCD.  The computer has a mini vga out in the back, and I get the same image on an external monitor.  It is definitely either the video card (which I think is soldered to the motherboard) or the entire motherboard.  I really just want to gut the thing and reuse the base (which is really cool) and the monitor.  I just have no clue how to rewire the connector.

[MonMotha]

Most LCDs I've seen for laptops and such are NOT DVI.  They are an LVDS based interface (LVDS is a generic thing used for lots of stuff, but it has somewhat more specialized meaning with monitors).  Some of the very new ones are Displayport.  I actually don't think I've ever seen one that was DVI, but I'm sure they're out there.  DVI is electrically somewhat similar to the LVDS system, but it's totally incompatible.

You can buy video cards with a compatible output, but they won't be cheap as they're intended for special-use "embedded" applications.  You can also get outboard converter boxes to turn DVI/HDMI or Displayport into the LVDS interface, but again it probably won't be overly cheap.  The connector used for that LVDS interface is standardized, but there are two pinouts that are not fully compatible, so watch out.