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Anyone interested in a Hi-def (1920 x 1200) mod for PB/MBP?
- Thread starter baxterbrittle
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WSXGA+ with 256MB Radeon X1600?
Forgive me if this is already covered ground...
twwheeler does your MPB have the 256MB or 128MB video card?
1680 x 1050 is the resolution of both the 17" MBP and a 15.4" WSXGA+ display, but the 17" MBP is only available with the 256MB ATI Mobility Radeon X1600.
Is it possible that in order for WSXGA+ to work on a 15" MBP it may need the 256MB graphics card?
The fact that 1680 x 1050 is supported by other mac hardware, seems like it may have a better chance of working...
twwheeler said:
Forgive me if this is already covered ground...
twwheeler does your MPB have the 256MB or 128MB video card?
1680 x 1050 is the resolution of both the 17" MBP and a 15.4" WSXGA+ display, but the 17" MBP is only available with the 256MB ATI Mobility Radeon X1600.
Is it possible that in order for WSXGA+ to work on a 15" MBP it may need the 256MB graphics card?
The fact that 1680 x 1050 is supported by other mac hardware, seems like it may have a better chance of working...
getgreg said:
Nope, there's no way a X1600 wouldn't support 1920x1200. GMA950 with shared memory can support it.
As we've said earlier, Windows supports the resolution fine (until recently for me =/ ), so it's not an issue of not being supported by the computer, but rather by the OS.
Try Leopard
I second the idea of trying Leopard to determine if that alone would correct the resolution problem. It would be amazing if we didn't need any complex procedure and instead just needed to install a new OS.
Is anyone out there apart from vv-tim still actively working on this? Does anyone have a 10.5 CD to try booting with?
I'm just about to purchase a new laptop and I am pulled between a 15" MBP and a Dell Latitude 820. The latter has the advantage of natively supporting 1920x1200. Both are about the same weight and size. I would love to run OSX but not at low resolution.
Sooo...if someone could solve this in the next few days that would be great.
I second the idea of trying Leopard to determine if that alone would correct the resolution problem. It would be amazing if we didn't need any complex procedure and instead just needed to install a new OS.
Is anyone out there apart from vv-tim still actively working on this? Does anyone have a 10.5 CD to try booting with?
I'm just about to purchase a new laptop and I am pulled between a 15" MBP and a Dell Latitude 820. The latter has the advantage of natively supporting 1920x1200. Both are about the same weight and size. I would love to run OSX but not at low resolution.
Sooo...if someone could solve this in the next few days that would be great.
How about giving Omni's callisto a shot? I am not 100% sure of its ramifications, but I believe it allows you to inject EDID info into the OS. This should include color requirement info. It also has something to do with ATI drivers or something, but I am unclear if this program forces or requries specialized ati drivers, but I don't think it does and rather just forces some things to work.
http://omni.starchaser.org/callisto/
To get your edid use
http://entechtaiwan.net/util/moninfo.shtm
Download is on the top left (doesn't look like a download link.)
Monitor info is a windows program, so boot in windows, run it and copy the edid info to a text file accessable to the mac side. Just make sure to remove the lines from the left side.
http://omni.starchaser.org/callisto/
To get your edid use
http://entechtaiwan.net/util/moninfo.shtm
Download is on the top left (doesn't look like a download link.)
Monitor info is a windows program, so boot in windows, run it and copy the edid info to a text file accessable to the mac side. Just make sure to remove the lines from the left side.
In Mac OS X 10.4.7, when the following commands are executed from the terminal, DisplayProductID and DisplayVendorID are displayed. (decimal number)
Is something useful?
ioreg -l | grep 'Display.*ID'
>>baxterbrittle
Could you confirm whether to be displayed with your PB G4 when it is possible?
Is something useful?
ioreg -l | grep 'Display.*ID'
>>baxterbrittle
Could you confirm whether to be displayed with your PB G4 when it is possible?
Just bought a Latitude D820
Well, I had to bite the bullet and buy something so I got a Latitude D20 with a WUXGA screen. In the event that anyone here gets this dilema solved, I'll buy a WXGA screen for it on eBay and sell it.
That way, I'll have my WUXGA screen available for the MBP.
By the way, did anyone see the article linked from Digg suggesting that Apple might reveal its new notebook line at the Paris Expo on Sept 13? I've been waiting for an Ultralite from Apple as long as I've been waiting for a high rez display. If they do release an ultralite line of notebooks I wonder what impact it will have on this project. Can you imagine a WUXGA display in an ultralite frame?
Interesting...
Well, I had to bite the bullet and buy something so I got a Latitude D20 with a WUXGA screen. In the event that anyone here gets this dilema solved, I'll buy a WXGA screen for it on eBay and sell it.
That way, I'll have my WUXGA screen available for the MBP.
By the way, did anyone see the article linked from Digg suggesting that Apple might reveal its new notebook line at the Paris Expo on Sept 13? I've been waiting for an Ultralite from Apple as long as I've been waiting for a high rez display. If they do release an ultralite line of notebooks I wonder what impact it will have on this project. Can you imagine a WUXGA display in an ultralite frame?
Interesting...
vv-tim said:
I just perused the files, the bad news is that it doesnt work on x1000 generation ATI cards, which includes us.
The good news is that it mentions editing some files to change monitor and boot resolution stuff, you may be able to do just do some file editing and get it to work. I cant find the files on my comp that it mentions, but I am on a PPC machine right now and they may not exist in this version of OSX
vv-tim said:
Actually with an external display you probably can. Performing and Archive and Install may help but it is doubtful. OS X installs the bulk of all it's drivers into all installs. Thats why just about any machine (thats supported) can run off a single install. I boot off my external raid box that was installed on my quad and my display works perfect. However I don't think we should rule anything out. The Leopard DP makes no real change to my system but my display already works so not sure if it will change anything either. It certainly didn't give me brightness control or detect my display any better. It still basically shows up as an unknown display type - but with correct resolutions because of the sense lines.
any love for 12" pbs?
I've read through the thread, and saw the previous question about 12" powerbooks, but it doesn't look like a conclusion was reached. My 12" pb has a big dark spot on the lcd, so I'm thinking of replacing the screen, and while I'm at it why not increase the resolution too?
So, what do I need to look out for when buying a replacement screen? I would like an SXGA+. If someone could point me to a specific LCD model that should work that would be awesome.
I've read through the thread, and saw the previous question about 12" powerbooks, but it doesn't look like a conclusion was reached. My 12" pb has a big dark spot on the lcd, so I'm thinking of replacing the screen, and while I'm at it why not increase the resolution too?
So, what do I need to look out for when buying a replacement screen? I would like an SXGA+. If someone could point me to a specific LCD model that should work that would be awesome.
I thought this thread was getting a little long and maybe a tad off the original topic so... https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/230455/
Try this on a 17" Powerbook?
Given the success already on the 15" Powerbook, has anyone tried this on a 17" Powerbook?
I'm seeing 17" WUXGA (1920x1200) LCD panels for a Sony VAIO on Ebay for under $300.
Similarly, how about on a 17" iMac? Perhaps one of the G4 or G5 iMacs. Would be super cool to have a 17" iMac with the same resolution as the brand new 24" model.
Given the success already on the 15" Powerbook, has anyone tried this on a 17" Powerbook?
I'm seeing 17" WUXGA (1920x1200) LCD panels for a Sony VAIO on Ebay for under $300.
Similarly, how about on a 17" iMac? Perhaps one of the G4 or G5 iMacs. Would be super cool to have a 17" iMac with the same resolution as the brand new 24" model.
freddyflinty said:Given the success already on the 15" Powerbook, has anyone tried this on a 17" Powerbook?
I'm seeing 17" WUXGA (1920x1200) LCD panels for a Sony VAIO on Ebay for under $300.
Similarly, how about on a 17" iMac? Perhaps one of the G4 or G5 iMacs. Would be super cool to have a 17" iMac with the same resolution as the brand new 24" model.
Have at it
I don't have a 17" to try it on.vv-tim said:Have at it
I'm actually thinking about it. A couple concerns:
1) How do I make sure the WUXGA LCD I get from Ebay has the right connectors, cables, etc?
2) Does the surgery itself require glueing the LCD into the bezel and a lot of other difficulty or it is pretty straightforward (albeit time consuming)?
Thanks!
freddyflinty said:
Not sure on the 17's but on the recent generation 15's the connectors are pretty standard. Most any display from a newer Dell or other mainstream laptop should work, but someone did take a shot of the connector earlier in the thread. FWIW, every Dell that I tried did have the same connector, and there are only a few makers of these panels.
As for the installation: it's mostly tedious, but one thing that makes Apple unique on all the laptops I've dismantled is that they glue/stickytape the LCD to the inside of the bezel - it's screwed as well, so there's no issue with putting a new one in and having to re-glue it, but it was a little scary taking it out the first time.
I'd love to try a 17 myself, but I don't have one - I have the displays, but not the machine. I'd expect if it were Intel, you're going to see the same issues that the rest of us have.
twwheeler said:
Very tempting indeed. What are your thoughts on a 17" G5 iMac? I think I can pick one up on Ebay with some screen damage for around $500-$600, spend another $300 on the display, and for under $1k have a fast and compact iMac with 1920x1200. Only disappointment would be the lack of a DVI connector and extended desktop on the G5 models.
freddyflinty said:
Rev C iMac would be the only PPC iMac to attempt this with as they moved to LVDS cables on the Rev C. Your on you own after that however because nobady has tried it although I am sorely tempted. You can still run external display using screen spanning doctor but only VGA - Does work quite nicely with a Dell 24". With the Core Duo imacs I think you will still have the same probs as we're having but then again maybe not. The panels in the MBP's are quite a new panel but I believe the panels in the iMacs are the same ones they have been using for a while (technoloically speaking). It may work but we won't know until somebody tries. I say give it a shot.
EDIT: one thing to note is te iMac actually use 2 connectors for the inverter/backlight how this will affect the transplant? I don't know, my guess would be that you would use one and leave the other disconnected. The laptop display probably wont be as bright though.