Testing/getting power requirements for LCD screens?

[drjayphd]

So I've determined what I'm going to do with the working, but caseless SNES and controller (as seen here). SNES laptop. Snagged a downright Paleolithic laptop from a thrift store for $10, but I don't know if it works, as they didn't get the power supply or anything else. I was just planning on gutting it anyways, so all I care about is if the screen works and how much power it needs. If not, well, there is the eBays... But how would I go about testing it if I can't turn the computer itself on?

[bicostp]

Chances are you'll need to buy a screen. If it's a really old laptop the screen may not be color, or if it is color it may be digital or the crappy passive matrix kind. If it's color and it's old enough then there's a chance the screen is analog RGB. What model laptop is it, and can you post a picture?

[drjayphd]

It's a Toshiba Satellite T2135CS. Sounds like these are the specs...

Color Dynamic-STN dual-scan SVGA Display (T2130CS/T2135CS))
Display Area: 10.4" diagonal
Resolution: 640 x 480
Dot Pitch: .33 x .33 mm
Contrast Ratio: 20:1 (typ), 15:1 (min)
Simultaneous Colors: 320 x 200 resolution / 256 colors, 640 x 480 resolution / 256 colors
Color Palette: w/o dithering: 8 colors, w dithering: 226,981 @ 256 colors
Brightness Control: No
Contrast Control: Right side of display
Response Time: Rise time / 210 ms (typical), fall time / 90 ms (typical)

Haven't cracked it open, but here's a pic:

[marshallh]

There is a 100% chance that the lcd interface is entirely proprietary and is of no use to you.
Even if it did work, the screen will have a terrible refresh rate which equates to smeary motion.