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Which display and accessories to buy?

Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2006 1:01 pm
by chemgeek
I am very new at this. I have been messing around with putting together a HTPC for about 5 months now. I have assembeled a decent HTPC with the following specs (just as a background in case it is relavent):

Case: Antec NSK2400 (color might be hard to match)
Mobo: Gigabyte GA-K8N51PVM9-RH u-ATX
RAM: 1GB Corsair XMS
CPU: Opteron 165 (moved from another system)
Optical Drive: Pioneer DVDRW with Silent Drive
Video Card: Gigabyte 7600GS with Silent Pipe
PVR: Diamond Xtremem PVR USB

So, now that I have it all up and running smoothly, I would like to add an LCD/VFD display to the HTPC. There are no precut holes in the case, so I was thinking of getting a 5 1/4 drive bay adapter. If there is another way to easily cut a nice looking hole for a display, I am open to suggestions. I need a display that will fit in a drive bay adapter that is not too expensive. I do not need the display to measure temps or control fan speeds. I hope there is software to upload that kind of information? I was looking at a 20x2 size display. It appears that the parallel models are cheaper than the USB models, is this the case? Is there a disadvantage to parallel displays? Do any of the MOP parallel displays fit in a single drive bay adapter? Maybe something like this: http://www.matrixorbital.com/product_in ... acter-lcds

or this:
http://www.matrixorbital.com/product_in ... cter-pleds

Those are the parallel models I was looking at. This one here is the one I was really eyeing:

http://www.matrixorbital.com/product_in ... acter-lcds

The Intelligent Displays look at bit out of my price range, so I did not really look much at those. What do you recommend I look at/purchase? Again, I need a simple display that I can program simple HTPC info on that fits in the single 5 1/4" drive bay adpater. I am very eager to get one of these things, so someone please help. :) Thanks

Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2006 1:08 pm
by chemgeek
Oh, I got so eager, I for got about my other project that needs a LCD/VFD display. So I own a Asetek DC pump that has the ability to display information on an LCD/VFD display. SAme situation, single 5 1/4" drive bay adapter. My problem here is that the pump has a small ribbon cable interface. I do not know what category that falls under nor where to get such a cable. Here is a link to the display:

http://epowerhousepc.com/asetek-display ... p-637.html

Is there an option I can piece together here that can beat the $50 pricetag? I would simply rather do it mayself than buy a prefab kit. Thanks again! :D

Re: Which display and accessories to buy?

Posted: Fri Oct 27, 2006 10:09 am
by Nick
chemgeek wrote: I hope there is software to upload that kind of information?
Currently our MX series come bundled with an LCDC Key so you can access the full version of LCDC to control your display. http://www.lcdc.cc

chemgeek wrote:I was looking at a 20x2 size display. It appears that the parallel models are cheaper than the USB models, is this the case? Is there a disadvantage to parallel displays?
This is a difficult question to answer, as a Parallel display communicates entirely different than the serial/usb displays we carry. We have engineered the boards for the Serial and USB displays so that the LCD can easily be connected and accept any type of programming language. At current, LCDC Software is compatiable with only serial and USB displays. Parallel displays are barebone displays, and all of the engineering is left up to the end user depending out how they want to talk to the display. So in your case, I wouldn't consider parallel at all, unless you know quite a bit of engineering.
chemgeek wrote:This one here is the one I was really eyeing:

http://www.matrixorbital.com/product_in ... acter-lcds
If you wanted to go this route, with the MOS-AL202C-XY, then you could pair it up with a mounting kit, any of the B202's will work with this display.
http://www.matrixorbital.com/index.php? ... s-mounting

However, this does not come with LCDC and you will have to purchase the program from the software company (http://www.lcdc.cc)
chemgeek wrote:The Intelligent Displays look at bit out of my price range, so I did not really look much at those. What do you recommend I look at/purchase? Again, I need a simple display that I can program simple HTPC info on that fits in the single 5 1/4" drive bay adpater. I am very eager to get one of these things, so someone please help. :) Thanks
I would highly recommend you take a look at the MX series. These units were inteded for exactly what your doing. The biggest advantages being that you can plug in your display via USB, and it comes with a key for the full version of LCDC.

Please take a look at the MX2 series, as it is right up your alley.
http://www.matrixorbital.com/index.php? ... mx2-series

If you have further questions, don't hesitate to ask :)

-NH