hi i havnt quite done it yet but i was wondering if anyone has any clue how to do this noob at the subject the lcd screen is from a dell latitude 433 thanks shane
Most bare LCD modules take a digital input, usually an LVDS type signal. Unfortunately, your videocard only offers VGA or DVI outputs. Either source will need to be converted to LVDS using an appropriate controller chip and board. Controller chips and their boards are tailored to match the signal characteristics of certain LCD module families, so it's difficult to source a so-called "universal" controller board. Controller boards are usually expensive, running in the $150-200 range, so they're not for everybody. Also, any LCD worth its salt is backlit, usually with the help of a cold cathode fluorescent backlight. This requires an inverter board to provide the necessary AC voltage and frequency. Finally, you'll need a power supply to power your LCD, for standalone use at least. This usually is in the 12 volt, 2-3 amp range, but as the power is delivered by the controller board, you'll need to conform to the requirements of the specific controller board. If it's a nice number like 12 volts, you could connect the LCD straight to your PC's power supply. So you need a controller board, an inverter board, and some sort of power supply. It's an expensive, tedious, but rewarding task. Just make sure you know as much as you can before putting down any money. Your first task, if you choose to do so, will be to strip off the plastic trim to expose the bare LCD. It'll be framed by a thin metal enclosure if you do it right. Now look for the manufacturer and part number of the LCD module, and report back.
