Plasma display mod for case ??

[FruitLooPs]

I was wondering if it has been done before, or if it is possible.

I know people do it with LCD's but I have a large monochrome plasma display (from a "portable computer")

Its the screen from this machine: http://www.fortunecity.com/marina/reach/435/compaq3.htm

The computer (the Compaq3 80286 :D )that it came from was from an auction that my friend bought it for $5.

so its no real loss, but we got bored of trying to get win3.1 goin on it so...

We gutted it - i've got the screen at my house, its in almost perfect condition.

It has a power output to a 12v ide type connection (cept its a red plug instead of whiteish).

And the actual display output is via a ribbon of cables (about 20-30 individual wires of them i think) that goes to a connection not unlike one of the chunky FDD connectors (the fat ones). :o

So basically i was just wanting to know if anybody has seen this sort of thing done before. And i've never done anything like this before, but i expect we are missing a crucial bit of circuitry or something ?? or does it just go straight to the parallel port. :(

We still have the piece of circuitry that it connected to, but that connected to the motherboard of the computer via some wierd connection - so I have no idea how we get it to display a picture now.

[p01s0n_p1e]

it has been done

1st: that thing blows, go buy a laptop off trademe for $5-$10 (i mean a bunged laptop, but the screen still works)
2nd: go find a place which will sell you a tvout- laptop screen controller (the crucial bit, the controller is the thing stuck onto the mobo of the pos)
3:hax the controller + screen into front bezel/side of case/ wherever.
4: run winamp visualisation nonstop on that and show off at lans.

whole deal should set you back around $200

there is an excellent source of this kind of thing in the case modding section in the [H]ardocp forums, the thread is called LCD FAQ or something (yes i know i said lcd, check it out anyway)

helpfull?

[FruitLooPs]

yeah sounds good thx man.

Looks like i need one of those controllers - i *think* we still have it. It was a sony one - a little piece of circuitry, but how do i use it ?? its got like 4 connectors that came off it.

Or if thats not the right thing, do you need to get a specific controller for the type of screen you have ? or is there like a generic one that will work ??

(i ask this because, the screen is so old we would never find the correct controller for it - it was made in 1987 :o )

[chopsuwe]

The general gist of the hardforum thread is you will have to get a controller form earthlcd for around $200 US ($500NZ) and hope for the best. There is no garintee it will work even with a current moddel screen.

[p01s0n_p1e]

did you not read my post

"go buy a laptop off tradme for $5-$10" (probably exagerrating price a little)

for a number of reasons this is the better idea
1: you will get a much better picture
2: it means you will have a) half a laptop to beat the living **** out of
and b) some desk-laptop-thing to beat the living **** out of

capiche? :eek:

[Belaguez]

As already stated the cost factor will be the controller card you'll have to buy to run the Laptop Screen.


If your so inclined you could just buy a LCD 4inch screen designed for use in fancy cars that takes a simple RCA video cable as its input. I have a link to a dealer somewhere at home that I can give you if you like once I get back from work.


Not sure what they run in NZ but probably the same as the controller is gona cost you since its such a specialty item.

[p01s0n_p1e]

i would be extremely interested in this link, please post :D

[Belaguez]

Here ya go, I'm to lazy to see if theres a distibutor in New Zealand but honesly I think $96 US for one of those is a damn good deal and probably cheaper than the controller


http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showprod.cfm?&DID=7&CATID=44&ObjectGroup_ID=303

[FruitLooPs]

That certainly does look good ... Hmmm pitty i'm short of $$$ :(