Adding DVI input to a laptop display

[STEvil]

Anyone got a link to anyone doing this?

[Pipi]

AFAIK Laptop displays use a totaly different standard than DVI. THe bigger the resolution, the more wires you need. Displayport would change that so you could (technically) easily use a laptop screen on desktop. So it's practically impossible since AFAIK yo need complex circuitry to make it work.

[STEvil]

laptops have LVDS (Low Voltage Differential Signaling).. need dual link over 1400x1050 (or 1440x900) according to the wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low_voltage_differential_signaling

[karbonkid]

You can get DVI --> LVDS converter, mainly designed for use with the SGI 1600sw monitor - 3 I can remember off the top of my head:

- SGI Multilink adapter: crops up on ebay fairly often, expensive
- PIX-Link adapter: Designed by the SGI engineer responsible for the 1600sw, AFAIK, still in production
- PIX-Link (I think) PCI card - this plugs into a PCI slot to draw power, but doesn't need drivers etc.

I have also seen some cheap DVI-->LVDS adapters cropping up on eBay from Hong Kong sellers - was too much of a risk for me to take with an 1600sw, but might be worth a shot for a laptop screen...

[karbonkid]

Can't find any for sale ATM, but try messaging this guy:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250141566749&fromMakeTrack=true&ssPageName=VIP:watchlink:middle:uk

[STEvil]

This will need to be a hardware solution which does not need drivers or to be placed in a slot (unless it just needs power from the slot, in that case I can probably rig up an external power source..)

That one looks almost perfect except for not supporting DVI ;)

thanks

[karbonkid]

unless it just needs power from the slot, in that case I can probably rig up an external power source..

Yes, this is how the PCI adapter works. The company that manufactures it also provides the option of installing the PCI card inside a 1600sw, so it must be pretty easy to rig it up to an external power source



That one looks almost perfect except for not supporting DVI ;)

oops... but do you really need DVI? Granted, the quality is better, but you're not going to notice that much of a difference over VGA, especially not on a laptop screen...

[saaya]

all you need is an lcd controller card :)
then add a switch so you can select what lvds signal goes to the display of the laptop and there you go.

dont know if you can switch while the system is running tho, depends on the card and display i guess :)

[STEvil]

Yes I need DVI input.

Saaya - It would be nice to be able to switch without rebooting.. doing it blind would suck lol.

[mildseven7]

Support 2560x1600?

[STEvil]

Would need dual dual-link from what i'm reading so far.

Dont need it.

[mildseven7]

Do you know anyway for a Laptop with VGA miniSub output to a 2560x1600 LCD?

[saaya]

maybe thats possible with the matrox dualhead 2 go thing?

[mildseven7]

maybe thats possible with the matrox dualhead 2 go thing?

Nope , that doesnt work

[saaya]

usb videocard then?
there are some... for 2d only of course, and i think they support quite high resolutions

[mildseven7]

usb videocard then?
there are some... for 2d only of course, and i think they support quite high resolutions

USB Video Card?

Can u link it plz :yepp:

[saaya]

:google: :P

http://www.usbgear.com/USB-Video-Card.html
max res is 12x10 tho :/

this is 2 years old, i figured by now there would be a newer one with 16x10 and higher res support but nope...

[Cpl Ledanek]

how is that different from eVGA UV12-UV16 (http://www.evga.com/products/prodlist.asp?switch=10)?
Very curious about this product