Motherboard ribbon attachments

[8HRR52J]

Hi all,
This is my first post, seemed like motherboards would be a good section to put it in!
I am building an ATX Z97 laptop (I know, don't ask) And have everything planned out (even power) and am ready to start building however, as of course, a laptop has the wuxga lcd screen connected to the motherboard via a ribbon cable, but as you would normally connect a monitor to one of the external video outs on a desktop, I don't know if the ATX Z97 motherboards have a video out. Ribbon cable? I would assume not. i know the thin ITX gigabyte mobo does, but I dont like that board. Also same issue with the keyboard.
Just wondering if you guys know if the atx mobos comes with ribbon outs for video and a keyboard attachment aswell.

Thnx guys.

 

[Rooster212]

I've never seen one, I wouldn't see the point really. Most motherboards tend to have 2, if not 3 or even 4 outputs of varying type (DVI, VGA, Displayport, HDMI etc.).

Keyboard wise I believe most laptops use a mostly custom connector that works on the same protocol as the PS/2 connector for mice and keyboards, although I don't know if that has changed as I don't own a modern laptop.

I think your only options really would be to use the normal display connectors and then perhaps a PS/2 or USB keyboard. I would love to see what you are up to, it sounds interesting... but bonkers

 

[8HRR52J]

Hi rooster, thanks for your reply! yea, It looks like the only mobos that have (after extensive research, found out they are called EDP / LVDS FPD connectors!) are the Thin, Mini ITX boards. Its a shame, as the PCIe ports on these can only support one discrete gpu and not a very big one either!

Messaged some of the intel mobo manufacturers to see if they knew of any larger mobos with the connectors, otherwise it looks like I'm going to do some weird VGA to ribbon cable surgery!


Btw, If I were to buy a Z97 ATX board (like the ASUS deluxe) and installed 2 Nvidia GPUs in SLI config, which display port(s) could I use that would utilize the the power of both of the 2 discrete gpus I have installed? I am guessing any of them, for example the HDMI port attached to the motherboard, but I have a feeling I am wrong! could someone please advise, thanks!