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Hardware and Software

posted: 7/23/99

Can I wire a laptop monitor to a desktop motherboard?

QUESTION

Here's my system:

• Intel Pentium II 233 MHz Desktop
• 4.3 GB hard drive
• 160 MB RAM (32 + 128)
• CD-ROM drive
• CD-RW drive
• SoundBlaster sound card
• ATI All-in-Wonder (Sony VAIO OEM with front AV jacks) video card
• 56 Kbps modem
• 15-inch CRT
• Windows 95
• I think the dust inside is growing its own colony . . .

Okay, this one will probably get thrown out but please hear me out! It might be simple, but I can't seem to find the answer anywhere.

Is it at all possible to wire a laptop monitor to a desktop motherboard? Is there any configuration possible? If you care to know what I'm doing, read on . . .

I'm putting a Windows box into my car to make an MP3 player. A monitor would be nice, but paying $500+ for a 6" screen is beyond my wallet's capabilities. Maybe an old, cheap, used laptop monitor? Full-screen Winamp visual plugins would sure look nice in my dash at night . . .

ANY info would be helpful! Thanks . . .

--frankie jr.

ANSWER
When I got this question, I immediately contacted our friend Emre. He's doing the same thing in his car and this is what he had to say over three ICQ messages:

"It's possible, but not likely to happen. A standard VGA signal is analog and most displays are digital, which means you need a converter. It also means you need one specific to that display--if you can find one you're golden. I've seen a few but they require a lot of knowledge of the LCD panel to work. What's more, powering the thing is a bitch.

The other alternative is to use an NTSC display, which sucks ass IMHO, but some people like it. It means a $100 6" screen and somehow getting a 60 Hz interlaced picture from the 'puter.

I'm still debating which I should use, but they're all the same category: an ASCII character display. They have varieties that go from 16 chars X 1 line to 40 chars X 4 lines. Some are backlit, and they are inexpensive (~$20) and easy to install (instructions available on the Web, a bit of soldering, and a DB25 connector). The plugin for Winamp is free to display tons of info."

So, hopefully that helps. The laptop display is a longshot in my opinion. You may want to look into an ASCII display, since they are so cheap.

Why is is that no one makes a small analog compatible LCD panel that's cheap too? Anyone know of one? Let me know at rob@geek.com.

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