HP Laptop LCD and 360 w/ HDMI?

[cornicon]

Would it be possible to wire an HP Laptop LCD screen from my old laptop to an Xbox 360 with HDMI? It seems like the whole reason people say that laptop screens will not work is that the console cannot output digital output. Since HDMI is digital would it then be possible to use a laptop LCD as the display?

[bassmasta]

Does it have HDMI IN? If it does, then it should work.
If not,

...
Why you cannot use these screens
These screens use digital signals to produce the image. That's why it's pixel-perfect. Video game systems output analog signals, like composite video, that your TV understands. Game system LCDs have the right hardware to decode the video and make it the digital signals the LCD understands. It's cheaper and smaller to make the motherboard talk directly to the screen than it is to use encoding and decoding hardware, but analog signals are more compatable (as you would need for a home console). Since the companies don't expect you to take those things apart and use the screens, they don't see a need for analog video signals. You could build a decoder board, but this is far out of most peoples' capabilities. (Decoder boards are complicated.)
...

Dont try. Its not impossible, just really difficult. Really REALLY difficult. Unless you know a lot about encoders, bit registers, multiplexers, shift registers, ADC, and how to fabricate really NICE looking circuit boards, just forget about it. You are better of just getting a composite LCD screen that was designed to hook up to a console. There are 2.5" LCD screens that are built into controllers, try and find one.

[tom61]

The sticky should be updated, since it just mentions analog. LCDs in laptops are driven by digital signals that are parallel, whereas HDMI is a serial stream.

[cornicon]

The sticky should be updated, since it just mentions analog. LCDs in laptops are driven by digital signals that are parallel, whereas HDMI is a serial stream.

I have an HDMI to DVI cable and Laptop LCD that was just laying around. On a scale from 1-10, how difficult would it be for me to use the laptop LCD as a monitor for my 360? Can I just do some easy wiring/soldering or would I have to make a board that cost more than just buying a small HDTV? The reason I ask this is because I have seen forums where people have converted their laptop LCD's to desktop monitors for a specific graphics card. And if what you say is true about the laptop LCD being a parallel signal and the HDMI being serial, is there any way to make a simple converter or would this be pretty tough? Is the real problem that the laptop screen is expecting an LVDS signal?

I know anything is possible but my question is it is really worth it to do this? I know there are a lot of questions but answer as many of them as you want. Thanks for the reply by the way.

[tom61]

On a scale from 1-10, how difficult would it be for me to use the laptop LCD as a monitor for my 360?

9.5, we're talking heavy electronic wizardy here.

I have seen forums where people have converted their laptop LCD's to desktop monitors for a specific graphics card.

Those cards have integrated circuitry just for running laptop LCDs.

And if what you say is true about the laptop LCD being a parallel signal and the HDMI being serial, is there any way to make a simple converter or would this be pretty tough?

Coming from a 360, very tough. Converting the signal from serial to parallel/LVDS isn't that hard, the problem is that most panels have specific timings and resolutions, which would need to line up 100% with what the device is outputting, otherwise you'd end up with a partial or corrupted display. The electronics to do the signal timing conversion and scaling would probably cost as much if not more than just buying an HDTV LCD of that size, and you'd have quite a bit of work ahead of you.

I know anything is possible but my question is it is really worth it to do this?

Sadly, no. Unless you find a cheap semi-universal controller that takes HDMI, it's just cheaper and easier to get a stand-alone monitor and strip it down.

Thanks for the reply by the way.

No problem.