Are Laptops LCD panels swappable?

[marcellodj]

Yes, i know, the question sounds stupid, but i mean using a spare lcd panel with standard 30 pin lvds connector to test on the fly laptops mobos.

Just connecting the screen, turn power on the mobo and see if the magic happens, then turn off, thats all.

Can i damage the motherboard?

Thanks.

[Wizard]

Re: Are Laptops LCD panels swappable?

Incorrect.

Do research on LCD panel to make sure pinouts is same. I have seen very different pinouts even the connector is *same*.

Cheers, Wizard

[yyonline]

Re: Are Laptops LCD panels swappable?

In my experience...they're swappable - to a point.

I've replaced higher resolution screens with lower resolution screens, no problem.

Lower resolution upgrading to higher resolution doesn't always work. Sometimes the data cable doesn't have enough pins to send the entire resolution. Sometimes it does.

And as Wizard said, sometimes you run into one that uses some completely different standard. That said, I'm seeing less and less of this. It seems most of the newer laptops are mostly standardized. Older laptops are hit and miss.

I've only done this with laptop LCDs. I've never tried it with a panel out of a standalone monitor or anything. Personally, I've never damaged anything, but I wouldn't say I have enough experience to say it's safe to do all the time.

[marcellodj]

Re: Are Laptops LCD panels swappable?

Thanks friends for quick replies;
it was clear to me that low-res panel might work bad if attached to an hi-res video out eg svga vs sxga+.

As stated by me, i want only use a spare lcd panel to TEST if mobo are WORKING.

Thanks again,
M

[yyonline]

Re: Are Laptops LCD panels swappable?

Thanks friends for quick replies;
it was clear to me that low-res panel might work bad if attached to an hi-res video out eg svga vs sxga+.

It's the opposite, actually.

It's important to note that for a laptop, or any LCD, the image is scaled (resized) to the native resolution of the LCD screen. So, in a sense, the LCD is always getting a signal in its native resolution, even if it has to be resized on the way to getting there.

A lower resolution panel is actually more compatible. The video card will usually detect the lower resolution, and drive the panel at that resolution.

The problem comes when it detects a higher resolution panel, and tries to drive the panel at a higher resolution, but the data cable doesn't have enough wires, and it can't send all the data. I've seen varying results including no picture, garbled picture, and one case a striped picture where every other line worked.

I work on a lot of laptops, and replacing screens is something I do on a about a weekly basis due to drops, etc. Customers often ask if it's possible to upgrade resolutions, change to glossy, change to matte, etc. Whenever I upgrade resolutions, I almost always have to change the data cable that goes between the panel and the video card to one with more wires. This isn't always doable, as some model laptops simply don't have such a data cable. For laptops where there was an option of a higher resolution panel from the factory, it's just a matter of finding the right cable.

If I had to venture a guess, I'd say that a non-widescreen panel will have higher compatibility. Some older laptops might not know what to do if you hook up a widescreen panel.

[kc8adu]

Re: Are Laptops LCD panels swappable?

i have noticed that most 15" wxga panels are swapable.
diffrerent surface treatments,brands,ect but drop in compatible.

[Wizard]

Re: Are Laptops LCD panels swappable?

That's interesting. But prudent to check the PDF papers.

Cheers, Wizard