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mod project: retro fit MBA screen to the unibody MB?

Hi All, so I got the panel and the custom cut bezel.


But here is the bad news: it doesn't really work :-(

Well, actually, it does work 5% of the time. When I connected the panel, 95% of the time nothing happens - screen is completely blank. And the LVDS cable gets extremely hot!! (If i don't turn of the MB in less than a min, i think that the heat might be hot enough to burn!).

For the 5% of the time that works, the screen may produce a very loud whine. It seems that the voltage going thru the cable is wrong. I've searched a bit on seeing how I can change the power setting via firmware hacking, alas, I wasn't elite enough to find any info :-( So if any of you out there can help out, please do!

Here is a picture of the panel, and when it was working. Note, this was taken when the plastic protection sheet was still there.
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attachment.php


On a side news, the custom cut bezel from frontpanelexpress came. The quality of the cut is really nice. I am very pleased with it.
Here is an image of it:
attachment.php


Notice on the back, I've taped out a portion of the top frame, so that the exposed electronics wouldn't short circuit itself:
attachment.php



Here is how the laptop looks like right now, I'm liking the retro look:
attachment.php


A metallic vinyl sticker reproduction of the "Macbook" type logo has been ordered. As far as I know, last gen MBP's type was also some sort of sticker. So when the vinyl sticker arrives, the laptop should look OEM.

With the glass gone, the glare is significantly reduced, so at least not all is lost :)

Hopefully, in the future someone can shed some light on how to control the power going thru LVDS. For now, I am going to do couple other small mods to this MB.

I want a glowing red Apple, and also since I've done the additional Hard Drive mod, I still have room for a speaker - maybe I can add a teeny bit more bass unto this little machine.
 

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cryonic49 said:
Hi All, so I got the panel and the custom cut bezel.


But here is the bad news: it doesn't really work :-(

Well, actually, it does work 5% of the time. When I connected the panel, 95% of the time nothing happens - screen is completely blank. And the LVDS cable gets extremely hot!! (If i don't turn of the MB in less than a min, i think that the heat might be hot enough to burn!).

For the 5% of the time that works, the screen may produce a very loud whine. It seems that the voltage going thru the cable is wrong. I've searched a bit on seeing how I can change the power setting via firmware hacking, alas, I wasn't elite enough to find any info :-( So if any of you out there can help out, please do!

Here is a picture of the panel, and when it was working. Note, this was taken when the plastic protection sheet was still there.
attachment.php


attachment.php


On a side news, the custom cut bezel from frontpanelexpress came. The quality of the cut is really nice. I am very pleased with it.
Here is an image of it:
attachment.php


Notice on the back, I've taped out a portion of the top frame, so that the exposed electronics wouldn't short circuit itself:
attachment.php



Here is how the laptop looks like right now, I'm liking the retro look:
attachment.php


A metallic vinyl sticker reproduction of the "Macbook" type logo has been ordered. As far as I know, last gen MBP's type was also some sort of sticker. So when the vinyl sticker arrives, the laptop should look OEM.

With the glass gone, the glare is significantly reduced, so at least not all is lost :)

Hopefully, in the future someone can shed some light on how to control the power going thru LVDS. For now, I am going to do couple other small mods to this MB.

I want a glowing red Apple, and also since I've done the additional Hard Drive mod, I still have room for a speaker - maybe I can add a teeny bit more bass unto this little machine.
Click to expand...

for some reason, the pics aren't showing up
 
Yup they're up, it's looking good, I'm sorry to hear about the display not working, I wish I could be of more assistance, I love these little projects, it brings out the DIYer in me :p
 
balls.

That bezel looks amazing! How much was it?

Sorry to hear about the air screen not working all the time - maybe sometime soon you can get the power issue fixed.

You are my hero :D
 
How much time (including the wait for the parts) and money has this cost you so far??
 
I don't mind the black bezel particularly... but yours looks much better with the aluminum colour! Great project, shame it didn't quite work out (yet??? :D).
 
the bezel costs about $75 total. Shipping included. It actually costs about $55 to cut, but I wanted beveling on the sides, so it cost ~$25 extra.

I am quite pleased with the workmanship of frontpanelexpress, so if any of you have some DIY or modding projects, I definitely recommend on checking them out.

Another company to look out for is emachineshop - they can do a lot more than just panel cutting and they can even mill aluminum blocks! Although emachineshop is several times more expensive.

I've learned a whole lot through the project, so I am happy even though i spent wads of cash :)

I am planning to make my my own Mac-esque pc gaming rig soon. Console sized, but big rig power.
 
cryonic49 said:
the bezel costs about $75 total. Shipping included. It actually costs about $55 to cut, but I wanted beveling on the sides, so it cost ~$25 extra.

I am quite pleased with the workmanship of frontpanelexpress, so if any of you have some DIY or modding projects, I definitely recommend on checking them out.

Another company to look out for is emachineshop - they can do a lot more than just panel cutting and they can even mill aluminum blocks! Although emachineshop is several times more expensive.

I've learned a whole lot through the project, so I am happy even though i spent wads of cash :)

I am planning to make my my own Mac-esque pc gaming rig soon. Console sized, but big rig power.
Click to expand...

You must have a lot of time and money on your hands... ;)
 
Hey, sorry to hear it isn't working... Best of luck at figuring it out though. Wish I could help, but you're clearly more qualified than I am, haha.

The Mac looks fricken' killer though. Well done. Looking forward to seeing that gaming rig too!
 
Still it would be possible to remove the glas front, keep the MacBook display (even though it's not quite as good as the MacBook Air display) and then use a custom bezel to get the all aluminium look and a closed case, right?
 
off topic, i know, but does anyone remember the post about a month ago that involved a user purchasing a macbook air and a unibody macbook, swapping the screens, and returning the air with the macbook screen in it?
 
Hakari said:
off topic, i know, but does anyone remember the post about a month ago that involved a user purchasing a macbook air and a unibody macbook, swapping the screens, and returning the air with the macbook screen in it?
Click to expand...

Yes, it was in the MBA forum.

He said he had the GENIUS do it. I don't quite buy the story because I don't think Apple would do it for one, and two I don't think they would accept the return of the macbook air after they swapped screens.

He made a long post about it giving donuts or something to the workers after all was done.

I don't buy it though.
 
haha, that's interesting.. He must have some inside connection or something...

I recently ordered a complete MBA display assembly for really cheap on ebay, we'll see how it pans out.


EnderTW said:
Yes, it was in the MBA forum.

He said he had the GENIUS do it. I don't quite buy the story because I don't think Apple would do it for one, and two I don't think they would accept the return of the macbook air after they swapped screens.

He made a long post about it giving donuts or something to the workers after all was done.

I don't buy it though.
Click to expand...
 
Has anyone tried to just remove the LCD from a MBA and use it in the MB?

Does it have the same connectors, voltages, etc?
 
hayduke said:
DAMN! My work will basically buy any laptop that I need and I think the new MBs are the perfect size/performance point for me, except I'm not convinced the screen is any good. I was thinking I could just upgrade it in a few months if I was really dissatisfied. Total bummer. What to do...
Click to expand...

What do you mean you aren't convinced the screen is any good? What does that even mean? Have you used other brands of laptops? Apple consistently uses very high quality screens.
 
econoline06 said:
What do you mean you aren't convinced the screen is any good? What does that even mean? Have you used other brands of laptops? Apple consistently uses very high quality screens.
Click to expand...

The MB doesn't have that great of a screen. Normal maybe, but not good. The MB/MBA have very good screens especially compared to other notebooks, but you pay the price premium.
 
raysmd said:
Has anyone tried to just remove the LCD from a MBA and use it in the MB?

Does it have the same connectors, voltages, etc?
Click to expand...

Well, I have a feeling that this is EXACTLY what this whole thread was about. I may be wrong though.
 
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