I rescued the 12.1" TFT from Clamshell iBook, and I am looking for docs. It is made by IBM under part# 03L5090. It has a 20-pin connector and a 5-pin inverter power connector.
The 20-pin gives me the impression that it might be a LVDS interface. How would I verify that? Could it be TMDS? I want to use it for a digital picture frame. Thanks.
thanks
Coert
I believe that they're LVDS (I don't think TMDS can handle the amount of bandwidth required for 800x600@24bit?) .. but if you do a search for the part number on the web, you'll probably find data sheets for the actual module.
All apple laptops since the first G3 have been LVDS. LVDS is cheaper but only works for shorter cable runs. TMDS is used for external cabling such as DVI and ADC. TMDS actually has more data bandwidth than LVDS, especially with the new dual channel version for really huge displays.
Thanks for the replies.
At least three different LCD panels that were used in the iBook G3 clamshell (IBM, LG, Samsung). These are said to be not compatible. I have been unable to find any significant info on the LVDS connector used on the IBM 03L5090. Any hints?
argh, double posted, see next comment
Just to clarify, that's since the first G3, not including the first G3. PB3400/Kanga doesn't use an LVDS LCD.
I've yet to find any LVDS-LCD equipped Apple portable that wouldn't accept alternate OEM LCDs, so I'm surprised to hear this. I've swapped and replaced and messed about with perhaps 40 or so LVDS LCDs over the years and I've found that if the cabling fits, and the original and replacement LCDs share the same rez then they have always just worked.
dan k
Yea I always forget about that one. I don't really consider it a G3 since it was jsut an ugly hack.
There isn't any good reason for it not to work, but there is a reason. When apple first started using EDID, they decided that if the driver didn't recognize the EDID code from the display that it would not work. This caused the display to work breifly and then die on startup.
However outside this rare circumstance they should all work OK.