Gateway Profile 2 screen

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.homedesigned (More info?)

JW wrote:

> Anyone know of an adapter kit how to config one for using a profile 2
> screen with reg computer?

Hmmm not having taken one of these apart I can only provide educated
guesses.

Two possibilities here.

1, It is a pretty standard VGA monitor or perhaps a Digital monitor using
one of the standards you find on the back of modern graphics cards (DVI-D).
Most likely it will have a different connector to the logic board, but in
the case of VGA, 20 mins with a half decent scope (and someone who knows
what to look for) would identify the pins and you could then attach a
standard VGA cable (this would be a lot easier if the box powers up and at
least gets as far as POST)

2, (the most likely one I am afraid) The monitor uses the same method to
interface the TFT and the graphics card as Laptops. That is a LVDS (Low
Voltage Differential Signalling) connector speaking a language pretty
specific to that particular panel. With LVDS panels you need a panel
profile that has to loaded into the controllers firmware...all in all not
easy to achieve. You would spend more money and time than the cost of a
half decent desktop TFT monitor.

You can tell if it's an LVDS connection by counting the wires (there would
most likely be 40)

VGA will probably have somewhere between 8 and 14 pins, and I'd expect to
see some effort in using screened cable for the analogue VGA signal.

DVI-D will be something in the order of 20-30 pins

Then of course you have to consider the supply, most likely there is a
single supply going up the neck of that beast. Again if the thing still
powers up then that needs to be measured, TFT's are more current hungry
than people expect and if the supply is say 12V then expect to have to
supply 3A or more. Maybe there will be two supplies (one would be at 5V and
one a bit higher)

But if you get unlucky then the inverter for the backlight is going to be in
the base, if so then you are going to have to dig that out and supply power
to that as well. (being carefull, there isn't much current on the output of
the inverter....but enough voltage to bite)

That is a pretty unlikely scenario though, manufacturers like to keep the
cables from the inverter to the CF lamp nice and short so usually the
inverter is hiding somewhere in the bezel.

Have a count of those signal wires, and get back here.

W

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.homedesigned (More info?)

Ok scratch that. I just found out that the little 21-pin connector is a
PanelLink connector (www.siimage.com). This means you need a PanelLink
transmitter to send the signal to the monitor. Drat.

--chris