Any USB LCD panels?

[SUOrangeman]

Like many tweakers, I an always enticed by an LCD panel on the front of a sweet looking PC case. Yet, when I read articles on how someone set up their LCD, I get a bunch of schematics and a handful of downloads that may or may not work.

USB seems like a simple enough solution. Is it too simple for anyone to ever take it seriously? What gives?

-SUO

 

[CoDerEd]

it sure will be nice and simple

 

[Skooch]

Check out Matrix Orbital or Crystal Fontz. Pretty much all of Matrix Orbital's LCD's connect to the serial port, and Ive read that most serial to USB adapters work well with them. I bought this LCD in inverse blue with a black face because I wanted the least hassle, and it included all the hardware required for installation. I'm using this LCDC software for controlling the LCD because it's considered by many people to be the best software for using with the Matrix Orbital LCDs (mainly because the software is primarily written for use with Matrix Orbital displays).

 

[Intelman07]

If you connect those LCD's to usb what is your video card the usb port?

 

[pengin]

On the Crystal Fontz site, I found some converts that would convert it from a serial connector to a usb connector. I'm not sure if they work the same as standard Serial to USB convertors or they have special hardware included. Check It Out Here.
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All of these LCD panels seems a bit overpriced? Maybe its just me but $100 usd is alot to spend on just a lil' LCD thingy for your case? Ive heard of people going out and buying LCD panels that weren't meant for the computer for like $10 and then converting the to work with the computer. Is that possible? Wouldn't that save alot of money, or does it involve alot of work? hmmm.
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Also, don't u think that a serial cable coming out of your case and then going around to the back is <U>very</U> very very ugly? I was lookin at some pictures of people that had them installed, and i thought the back of the case was very ugly. Well, i mean who looks at the back of your case. But then if u were going to buy this, it is forsee-able that you would already have a nice lian-li case or evermax case that has a window kit and flashing lights. So if you are planning to show it off, this serial cable at the back would make it ugly. Therefore, my question is that is there a way to have it so that there wouldn't be an ugly cable sticking out the back of the computer?
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derek

 

[Pothead]

Therefore, my question is that is there a way to have it so that there wouldn't be an ugly cable sticking out the back of the computer?

Slip it through one of the pci slot covers?

 

[SUOrangeman]

So, no true USB LCDs ... yet. Oh well.

-SUO

 

[Dabappa]

I seem to remember some motherboards having an internal connector for the 2nd serial port. They used an adapter wired to a pci slot cover fitted with the additional port.

Frontx has some serial port inserts with the internal fittings: http://www.frontx.com/cpx102_2.html, so I know that such a thing must exist.

My ECS K7S5A does not seem to have this connection, but I think my older PCChips M575 (AT style socket 7) board does.

I agree that an internal connector would be a much cleaner installation, as you indicated. Just a matter of finding the right Motherboard with an internal connector, if any of the modern ones still have this feature.

Good Luck,

 

[RichardG]

I spoke to a technical rep. at Crystalfontz. They are supposed to be releasing USB versions of their 632 & 634 LCD's withing the next couple of months. I will be waiting for those to come out. They are also supposed to be releasing the LCD's with some new display colors.

 

[mechBgon]

Cool!

 

[Evadman]

Originally posted by: Dabappa
I seem to remember some motherboards having an internal connector for the 2nd serial port. They used an adapter wired to a pci slot cover fitted with the additional port.

Frontx has some serial port inserts with the internal fittings: <a href="http://www.frontx.com/cpx102_2.html">http://www.frontx.com/cpx102_2.html</A>, so I know that such a thing must exist.

My ECS K7S5A does not seem to have this connection, but I think my older PCChips M575 (AT style socket 7) board does.

I agree that an internal connector would be a much cleaner installation, as you indicated. Just a matter of finding the right Motherboard with an internal connector, if any of the modern ones still have this feature.

Good Luck,

Usually any mainboard that has video onboard will have an internal header for the other serial poat. The onboard video takes up the spot where one of the serial ports goes, so most manufacturers put in an adaper to go from the header to a regular serial port connector. That is why most cases have knockouts in them for parallel and serial connectors.