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Anyone interested in a Hi-def (1920 x 1200) mod for PB/MBP?
- Thread starter baxterbrittle
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I can't quite remember the part off the top of my head. It's a sharp 154 something xxx google sharp 15.4 wuxga I'm sure you'll find it. All you'll most likely need for you MBP is the panel itself and a take apart guide. These panels are all fairly interchangable and because you are already running a 15.4" LCD you just need to swap them over. You will most likely loose out on some brightness but is more than made up for in pixel size. The pixels are very small and make for fantastix viewing of images etc.. but is still very sharp making it easy to view small print etc... If your unsure check out one of the PC machines that run a screen like this and see for yourself - you'll have to imagine it running os x though. Pretty easy and I'm very suprised no one has tried it.
I dont know if any of us even considered doing such a thing...
Do you have any images of the connectors on the screen and/or ones you got from Apple?
and I dont think this is pshop; why would he waste time with that odd-@ss hybrid machine to trick us.
Do you have any images of the connectors on the screen and/or ones you got from Apple?
and I dont think this is pshop; why would he waste time with that odd-@ss hybrid machine to trick us.
bbrosemer said:
Photoshop? Why would I bother. For me (not being particularly skilled in photoshop) it would take longer to do it in photoshop than to build it. With the right parts it could be built by me in less than an hour! It's not very hard at all. It would take me 12 hours in photoshop. Name whatever you like and I will do whatever I can to prove this is a real machine.
RichP said:
the cable is standard fare lvds cable for a 1.67GHz G4 PB. The last ones they made for the MBP. The reason for this is earlier PB's had the same connectors as the later ones on the logic board but the connector is bigger at the display end than on the earlier ones. This new cable was introduced when they increased the res on the last revision PB's. Most likely the higher res displays require it. I don't know what the pins are for - but I don't need to for this mod. I just plugged the lcd screen in and it worked.
For a MBP it should be very easy for a PB it's a little more difficult but can still be done quite easily.
Cool, I found a Samsung and Sharp panel that both are that resolution and 15.4"; may have to try this out....
I did a search for this panel, and noticed this link...sweet!
http://www.lumenlab.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=7962
http://www.lumenlab.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=7962
mmmcheese said:
ROTFL!
I just was looking at similar stuff:
http://www.diyprojectorcompany.com/
BTW..I found a Toshiba panel that is compatible with the Sharp and Samsung, however I cannot find exact specs, and, I need to know the EXACT sharp that baxterbrittle used so I can make sure I get the correct cable lengths. (Im assuming the inverter and crap is the same)
Yeah I thought about the whole DIY projector thing - I've played around a little with projector panels but... I don't really remember what happend. Oh yeah I bought a nice projector and didn't see the need anymore but it's still something I like to play around with just cause it's fun.
Yeah um it's written on the back of the panel - I should have written it down somewhere. If I take the machine apart again any time soon i'll let you know what it is. I know it's a sharp 154xxx and it came from a dell and I think it's the only one that sharp makes that's a wuxga. Anyways they are mostly the same - for example dell may produce one model of computer and although identical have differnent panels in the (Apple do it all the time like samsung and lg) so they are mostly intercompatible. If you find a panel that you think may suit I can try to advise if you can give me a link or picture. I'll try and get a number/picture of mine asap.
Cheers and goodnight - it 4 in the morn.
RichP said:
Yeah um it's written on the back of the panel - I should have written it down somewhere. If I take the machine apart again any time soon i'll let you know what it is. I know it's a sharp 154xxx and it came from a dell and I think it's the only one that sharp makes that's a wuxga. Anyways they are mostly the same - for example dell may produce one model of computer and although identical have differnent panels in the (Apple do it all the time like samsung and lg) so they are mostly intercompatible. If you find a panel that you think may suit I can try to advise if you can give me a link or picture. I'll try and get a number/picture of mine asap.
Cheers and goodnight - it 4 in the morn.
thank you sir; yeah, I found the dell that uses those 3 screens; I guess they are completely interchangeable.
I have pics on the way of the my macbook I JUST disassembled, in the interest of research...
edit:
Here are some images, enjoy!!!
(I sure hope I can get this thing back together in one piece)
Here is the connector that attaches to the mainboard:
and the mainboard where it connects (silver rectangle)
the back of the screen; just change that white plastic film, and you could have a colored apple logo!! (the other part, the one you can touch from the outside, is clear)
the screen/backlight back
some various numbers on the thing
the inverter:
screws that hold the screen in:
I have pics on the way of the my macbook I JUST disassembled, in the interest of research...
edit:
Here are some images, enjoy!!!
(I sure hope I can get this thing back together in one piece)
Here is the connector that attaches to the mainboard:
and the mainboard where it connects (silver rectangle)
the back of the screen; just change that white plastic film, and you could have a colored apple logo!! (the other part, the one you can touch from the outside, is clear)
the screen/backlight back
some various numbers on the thing
the inverter:
screws that hold the screen in:
connector to the screen:
Few other pics:
Seems like in the MBP the screens are screwed in, not just pressure fit as in the powerbooks.
baxterbrittle: anything look the same, different?
Few other pics:
Seems like in the MBP the screens are screwed in, not just pressure fit as in the powerbooks.
baxterbrittle: anything look the same, different?
Sorry for a flood of info, but here is the possible specs on the panel the MBP uses:
http://www.cmo.com.tw/cmo/english/product/showproductn.jsp?size=15.4#1
http://www.cmo.com.tw/cmo/english/product/showproductn.jsp?size=15.4#1
what about a 17" PB G4? ( 1.5GHZ MODEL )
this seems like the perfect mod for it. but it also seem slike a perfect way to destroy my warranty and potentially my powerbook.
this seems like the perfect mod for it. but it also seem slike a perfect way to destroy my warranty and potentially my powerbook.
i really would be tempted to do this on my 17" powerbook. 1440x900 is sufficent, but if im gonna have this big of a laptop. may as well have big real estate lol!
i still want a macbook though!
i still want a macbook though!
This is quite intriguing, and something I hadn't thought of before... Does anybody know of 15.2" panels in a resolution higher than 1280x854, since I'd like to keep a machine that shuts and has wireless antennae (though I guess you could bodge some in one of the gaps in the lower case - I guess it wouldn't work too well because of the aluminium though).
I don't think many panels are actually in 15.2".
Concerning all this excitement... a few years back when I had my Compaq X1050 I tried to do this very upgrade (from 1280x800 to 1920x1200). I first ran into problems with the LCD inverter... and then I *believe* I ordered the right inverter off eBay and I still had problems with it.
I remember talking on the X1000 forums about it and someone gave a good explanation of why it didn't work (there WERE X1000 computers that could be configured with 1920x1200 displays, but apparently something in the graphics department was different).
But yeah, I never got the upgrade working. However, if anyone pulls this off with their MBP 15.4"... I'm totally doing the upgrade myself as well.
Concerning all this excitement... a few years back when I had my Compaq X1050 I tried to do this very upgrade (from 1280x800 to 1920x1200). I first ran into problems with the LCD inverter... and then I *believe* I ordered the right inverter off eBay and I still had problems with it.
I remember talking on the X1000 forums about it and someone gave a good explanation of why it didn't work (there WERE X1000 computers that could be configured with 1920x1200 displays, but apparently something in the graphics department was different).
But yeah, I never got the upgrade working. However, if anyone pulls this off with their MBP 15.4"... I'm totally doing the upgrade myself as well.
As far as the pictures go they are very similar to my machine. I will take it apart and give you all pictures etc... of how it was done. However I am finishing up the semester at school at the end of this week and have heaps and heaps of work to do - hope you can hang out till then. There seems to be enough interest to warrant that. These are my thoughts on the matter:
MBP 15" - Easy as you like. Swap the panel over and enjoy. However I cannot guarentee that but from experience (I was working for an Apple service dept when I started this) that these things are mostly interchangeable. For the guy whom had issues with the compaq trying ther same mod - I can't really comment on why it didn't work - maybe the video card wasn't up to it?
PB 15" - I know it works I have one. Mine is the very first AlBook and the 9600 graphics card handles the display fine. The displays on the 15's are screwed in. As far as Airport goes - I haven't tried it yet but I don't see any reason why you can't use the antennae assembly from a MBP it is in the clutch cover after all and thats attached to the screen which is all from the MBP. If anyone can take pictures of the diversity board ant assembly it would be much appreciated. There are ways of making it latch but I'm trying to work out the best one.
PB17/MBP17 - The 17's should both be as easy as the MBP 15" as the panels are the same size. I haven't tested this so can't confirm. But if you research the panel you are looking at getting make sure the connectors are the same you shouldn't have too many issues. Most panels are relatively interchangable but check your connectors first. Also I'm not sure about the very first 17" as they used a different graphics card that may not be capable.
There are some higher res panels for the 15's and 17's that basically came in the last models. These should work fine in the older mahines so long as you have the right lvds cable. Which can be ordered from Apple service centres. Just get a screen and lvds from a DL PB G4 15 or 17 and pop it in.
As far as iBooks etc... goes I don't know. There are some sony panels that are better but I don't know enough about them to comment.
I will post more pics and info ASAP - but I have to get this other work done first. Sorry.
MBP 15" - Easy as you like. Swap the panel over and enjoy. However I cannot guarentee that but from experience (I was working for an Apple service dept when I started this) that these things are mostly interchangeable. For the guy whom had issues with the compaq trying ther same mod - I can't really comment on why it didn't work - maybe the video card wasn't up to it?
PB 15" - I know it works I have one. Mine is the very first AlBook and the 9600 graphics card handles the display fine. The displays on the 15's are screwed in. As far as Airport goes - I haven't tried it yet but I don't see any reason why you can't use the antennae assembly from a MBP it is in the clutch cover after all and thats attached to the screen which is all from the MBP. If anyone can take pictures of the diversity board ant assembly it would be much appreciated. There are ways of making it latch but I'm trying to work out the best one.
PB17/MBP17 - The 17's should both be as easy as the MBP 15" as the panels are the same size. I haven't tested this so can't confirm. But if you research the panel you are looking at getting make sure the connectors are the same you shouldn't have too many issues. Most panels are relatively interchangable but check your connectors first. Also I'm not sure about the very first 17" as they used a different graphics card that may not be capable.
There are some higher res panels for the 15's and 17's that basically came in the last models. These should work fine in the older mahines so long as you have the right lvds cable. Which can be ordered from Apple service centres. Just get a screen and lvds from a DL PB G4 15 or 17 and pop it in.
As far as iBooks etc... goes I don't know. There are some sony panels that are better but I don't know enough about them to comment.
I will post more pics and info ASAP - but I have to get this other work done first. Sorry.
thanks for your info thus far! I found a replacement screen shop not too far from me, so i may head there next week and pick something up.
Question: What inverter did you use? Was it specific for the screen you bought, or did you just use the Apple one you had from the busted screen?
Question: What inverter did you use? Was it specific for the screen you bought, or did you just use the Apple one you had from the busted screen?
RichP said:
Standard inverter. Let me know how you get on. If in doubt ask and i'll try and give you a s much info as possible. Oh and I'm starting to think it is a toshiba screen not a sharp. I think the standard screen was a sharp. Guess i'll know when I pull it apart again.
baxterbrittle said:
baxter, I'm thinking you're right about the Sharp. You said it was a Dell screen, right?
All the Dell screens on eBay are Sharp models (except the 17" ones, they're LG).
I'm thinking about picking up one of the cheap ones on eBay (that have some kind of "border effect") to try out before paying $200+ for a good screen to find it doesn't work
But if the guy above tries it out on his MBP and it works, then I'll just jump right into happiness