Due to a number of threads in recent memory asking about this subject, I feel it necessary to make this post.

These screens WILL NOT work:
You cannot use these screens so stop asking.

Game Gear
Sega Nomad
iPod / MP3 player
MP4 player
JuiceBox
Digital Camera
CD Player
The New York Stock Exchange building
Game Boy
Nintendo DS
Watch
Game and Watch
VideoNOW Player
Laptop LCDs
Clocks
The majority of portable DVD players
GP2X (about the one thing it doesn't do)
Printer
Any other integrated device I forgot.

These screens WILL work:

Pocket TV with video input
PSone screen
Hip Gear controller
Most stand-alone car rearview camera LCDs
Any other screen that was designed to accept analog video signals

Special Cases
These will work, but need simple supporting hardware.

Game Boy Advance - video input cartridge, but you need to leave the entire game boy intact
Game Gear - Needs the TV tuner. Only works with some systems.
Sega Nomad - Accepts analog RGB, most older game consoles output RGB.
Nintendo DS - You need the GBA video input cart. The entire DS must be together.
PSP: The PSP screen can be hacked to accept RGB, but you may need a board to decode composite or s-video to that point.

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.)

Long story short: Unless your screen came with all the hardware necessary to take composite, component, or S-Video signals, don't bother.
Foxx373 has some good advice about using integrated screens:



More info at http://www.portablesofdoom.org/screens.php

If there are any more questions, or you think a revision to the list should be made, post it here. Do not send it to me in a PM!!

I have been tiniking though, A good source for screens that would work could be auto salvages. Those screens in the back seet of SUV's and high end minivans (you know all the things stinking soccor moms drive and don't really need) are complete systems including rca inputs and could be got at auto salvages pretty cheap

Just to add to usable screens, some dvd player screens work (I know you said most won't work, but you didn't specifically say that some would, something most n00bs wouldn't catch). And with the dvd player screens, you're pretty much on your own to whether or not they will work, you'll have to take it apart and check. And be sure that you are smart enough to be able to check the traces for the input, its really hard for others to check using pictures.

You can add to screens that will work.

2.5" Ebay car screens.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... &rd=1&rd=1

You might want to say that a portable DVD player screen can be used if it has composite video inputs, but most of the other hardware will have to be intact (mainly everything but the optical drive).

Thats what I said. My screen that I got out of a dvd player had a separate board for the screen, and it had composite in. So I didn't need anything but the 3x4 board for the screen.

Sega nomad screen accepts analog rgb signals.
a whole lot of portable dvd player screens work
also, I bet the new york stock exchange building has vga input!

To help people with their searches, you might mention that the Zenith LCD screens for PS2, GameCube, and XBox are pretty much the exact same thing as Sony PS1 LCD screens.

woah, ive been quoted... and for once its something usefull.

Wow I can't believe it. I think there's a portablizer in my area who gave up, 'cause today at Buy n Sell City (former Cash Converters under new management) I saw a Super Fun Joy Stick Player Game Player 3,000 AND an XBox Hip Gear screen. I felt it fate, so I bought the Super Joy 3 for the reasonable price of $10 (didn't have enough for the Hip Gear).

What I wanted to ask, is now that I finally have the SJ3 and am officially going to attempt a portable, which is thinner, Hip Gear or portable TV (although I understand they vary?), and I guess also, which is easier to work with?

Hipgears are generally smaller and easier to work with because they are widely used.

If any people are into bigger screens, you can now get digital photo frames for a lot cheaper (under a hundred for a 7" screen). I note this because many of them are even offering RCA video inputs. I haven't cracked one open myself to see the circuitry, although it would be easy I'm sure to mess with. And plus, hell I'm the bulky type I'd love a 7" SNESp

Which photo frame has inputs?

I believe you can take the PSP off the list of unusable screens.

hmmm... you have gameboy listed... does this include advance?

*edit*
whoops... didnt see it listed down in the "will work but..." section...
any tips on where i can find the video imputr cartrage i need?