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Macintosh Portable Display Interchangability

Brooklyn

Well-known member
Hi, I have a 5126 with a broken display ribbon cable.  Is it possible to fit the more common 5120 non-backlit display?  The connector on the logic board is similar but not the same.  Are pinout diagram available for

this connector?

Otherwise, if someone has a spare backlit ribbon cable I’m interested...

FF8961E4-497C-4318-8CAD-004450796ED7.jpeg

1D58E9EE-062A-47F4-B480-0E75B3785BFE.jpeg

 

bibilit

Well-known member
Unfortunately not. 

Your only chance is to find another cable, but pretty sought after. 

 

techknight

Well-known member
this is a very common problem. I dont have time these days unfortunately, but someone needs to model and clone this cable, as it can be run through some of the flat flex PCB services in China. 

I did create a cross chart between the two displays, but I need to dig it up. I use a non-backlit display to test backlit portable boards as I only have 1 backlit portable that I dont want to keep taking apart to test these boards. 

 
Last edited by a moderator:

AlpineRaven

Well-known member
I second that one of mine is broken as well - Ive thought about soldering up bypass wires - theres roughly 3 wires torn.

Cheers

AP

 
so, i have a non backlit mainboard with a backlit screen. it has a card in the ROM slot with i guess the backlight driver and a strange cable. Was this some aftermarket solution or an upgrade to the older models?

i sadly don't have a better picture of the display cable, but the wires from the card and the connector that goes to the mainboard are soldered onto the flatflex that is connected to the screen

IMG_3615.JPGIMG_3605.JPG

 

Brooklyn

Well-known member
This was an official upgrade option.  It even says on the board it’s an Apple part.  Based on your serial number of #619, likely not a lot were manufactured.

 
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