Laptop Screen Connector Positions Explained

Screen connector positions are identified by looking at the back of the screen, with the screen fitted.

Buying a replacement laptop screen can be easy if you find a skilled supplier and take the time to read the information provided on the LCD suppliers website. In more recent years, laptop screen manufacturers have started supplying identical screens that have connectors in different positions. This of course can cause a problem for you if you do not understand screen connector positioning.

What is the connector?

On the back of your laptop screen there will be a connector, often referred to as a 20 PIN, 30 PIN or 40 PIN connector. The connector is for the picture signal that comes from the base of the laptop. A flat grey cable will come from the base of the laptop and connect to the connector on the back of the laptop screen. The cable from the base of the laptop can come from either the left or right hand sides (when looking from the back) of the base and therefore you can have the same screen with either a left side or right side connector.

How do I identify which side the connector is on?

With the screen still fitted to the laptop, turn the base of the laptop around so you are looking at the back of the screen. You will see the flat grey cable we mentioned earlier coming from the base of the laptop and attaching to the connector on the back of the screen. The connector will either be, top right (common), bottom left (common) but could also be top left or bottom right.

figure 1: A Screen with a bottom right hand side connector

In fact the very same model of laptop can come fitted with screens with left and right connectors, depending on the cables used at the time of manufacture by the laptop maker. In addition to this, we advise that you check the connector position with the screen fitted to the laptop because some manufacturers fit screens upside down which can cause confusion. You want the connector position with the screen in place, from the rear.

Figure 2: A screen with a bottom left hand side connector

You can now purchase either a left or right hand side connector replacement screen for your laptop computer with total confidence.

Figure 3: A screen with a top right side connector

Why do they do this?

Usually, contrary to popular belief it isn't to make our lives difficult. Usually cost saving measures are the cause of this as many 15.6" bottom left hand connector screens are in fact technically top right hand side screens, fitted upside down. With a screen fitted upside down, the connector is now at the bottom and far less cable is required from the base of the laptop to the screen connector.

Availability can also be an issue as screen models become obsolete or unavailable manufacturers are forced to buy alternate screens for their laptops and change the LCD cable to match. This can cause the same model of laptop to have different screens that are not compatible due to connector positioning.