4k laptop monitor compatibility with LCD control boards

Context: I am working on a project to turn a laptop in to a monitor-keyboard combination for a desktop computer so I can use it on a couch without any other furniture.

I have never tried anything like this before, so I am certainly inexperienced in this matter. To do this, I am putting in a USB keyboard and a monitor controller for the monitor in to an old empty laptop chassis.

But I am having a problem finding a monitor controller I am sure will work for a 4k monitor. According to resources I've read online, I need to look at the monitor and find a monitor model number and look up a compatible monitor controller that I know work for certain.

Most of the 4k laptop monitors I have seen have a 40 pin connector and according to a laptop screen seller I intend to buy from, the 40 pin format is standard and uses the same 40-pin eDP QHD+ interface (I could be wrong about this). Before I spend money on the actual hardware, I would like to be a bit more certain.

Question: If I get a 40 pin no-touch 4k LCD laptop screen and a 40 pin 4k LCD controller, will they be compatible? Meaning, is this interface standard, or is it just the connector standard and different screens use different hardware protocols or something?

Also, if the size of the screen matters for monitor controllers on 4k screens, I would like to know. (I want to use a 17.3" screen.)

Also, if I am approaching the monitor conversion incorrectly, I would also like to know.

Zarquan

Posted 2018-11-16T19:29:53.590

Reputation: 113

2You can never assume anything is "standard" in laptops. Even if the current 4K laptops do happen to be using the same display hardware today, that will be different tomorrow. Other than current component availability, there isn't really anything driving standards. – fixer1234 – 2018-11-16T23:53:59.263

1My hope is that the industry may have standardized displays from a bit of reading on line and the small number of 4k LCD controllers on the market. If they were all the same now, there would only need to be one controller. I got this impression from looking for LCD controllers, but I can easily believe that they are still as chaotic as they have ever been. – Zarquan – 2018-11-16T23:58:59.707

Answers

From my experience with buying LCD controllers, there is no standard. You will need to check with the controller's manufacturer/seller and ask if the make and model of your LCD is compatible with it.

Keltari

Posted 2018-11-16T19:29:53.590

Reputation: 57 019

So I can't just use any 4k video controller with a 40 pin input? That's a shame. That means (for my project) I will have to be careful as to what I choose to use. If no other answer shows up that contradicts you in the near future, I will accept your answer – Zarquan – 2018-11-16T23:53:42.987

While there are some standards when it comes to Laptop LCDs, they're not like standards that you're familiar with. They are not like HDMI or DisplayPort where they are highly standardized and automatically configure their settings (ie EDID) in an effort to make things compatible.

If you want to drive a laptop LCD, you will need a specific, custom, or programmed controller board to do so.

The good news is that a few years back, someone figured this kind of product would be a good idea, so you can probably find what you are looking for. Probably from China, and definitely on eBay and Amazon.

You'll want to find the specific model of the LCD in your laptop and order a board such as this one. My guess is that these things are programmable, and the people selling them burn the proper settings into the chip to drive the relevant LCD.

Here's an example of what they look like, from a DuckDuckGo search:

YetAnotherRandomUser

Posted 2018-11-16T19:29:53.590

Reputation: 1 494

If your goal is to control the desktop PC from a laptop, how about using a regular laptop to connect to the desktop PC over Remote Desktop or VNC?

T Scherer

Posted 2018-11-16T19:29:53.590

Reputation: 43

There are three issues with using those VNC or remote desktop. Latency, relying on a router, and not being able control the BIOS or GRUB. – Zarquan – 2018-11-25T08:30:17.487