Replacing iBook LCD

[funkywhat2]

I was wondering if it's possible to replace a clamshell iBook 12" display with a display from a snow iBook 12". There's something about OS X at 800x600 that kinda gets me down...

 

[applemacdude]

I think it has to do with the graohics chip ratehr than the screen

 

[jamdr]

Hope this helps.

I think it depends. The maximum resolution of the clamshell iBook LCDs is 800x600. If you replaced that with one from the snow iBooks (which wouldn't be cheap), I don't know if your graphics card would be able to handle the higher resolution. The first few models of clamshell iBooks only had 4MB of video RAM. The first snow iBook (released in Summer 2001) had 8 MB of VRAM, and could support the 1024x768 resolution. So I would draw the conclusion that you need at least 8MB of VRAM to run at the higher resolution. There was, however, one model of the clamshell iBook that had 8MB of VRAM (the ones with FireWire). So if your iBook has FireWire, then it probably could support the higher resolution.

 

[funkywhat2]

I think it depends. The maximum resolution of the clamshell iBook LCDs is 800x600. If you replaced that with one from the snow iBooks...

Thanks. I'm a bit cash strapped, but I've seen good prices on used screens from the snow iBooks, and I'd love to move to OS X. The 'Book has FireWire, I'll have to check and see how much VRAM it has.

 

[whocares]

I think it depends. The maximum resolution of the clamshell iBook LCDs is 800x600. If you replaced that with one from the snow iBooks (which wouldn't be cheap), I don't know if your graphics card would be able to handle the higher resolution. The first few models of clamshell iBooks only had 4MB of video RAM. The first snow iBook (released in Summer 2001) had 8 MB of VRAM, and could support the 1024x768 resolution. So I would draw the conclusion that you need at least 8MB of VRAM to run at the higher resolution. There was, however, one model of the clamshell iBook that had 8MB of VRAM (the ones with FireWire). So if your iBook has FireWire, then it probably could support the higher resolution.

You need just over 2 MB of RAM to address a 1024*768 display in 24 bit color:
1024*768*24 = 18,874,368 bits = 2,359,296 Bytes = 2.25 MB

So the graphics card can physically handle it. The firmware would more likely be a problem...