An LCD Display for an Ultra-Portable Desktop?

dark_requiem asks: "I've just built a new system based on a Shuttle SN45GV2 XPC, and it's a great little system. However, I'd like to make it more portable by attaching a flip-up LCD display (preferably with speakers) to the top of the case. My video card has TV Out, so connecting via composite or s-video is no problem. The case is just under 8" wide, so the width of the LCD cannot greatly exceed this (it wouldn't fit in my carrying bag then). Thus far, I have been looking at the various 5.4" displays for console systems like the Gamecube, but all of these connect to the systems via proprietary connectors that stick out of the front of the displays and would interfere with mounting it to my case. Has anyone from Slashdot ever attempted a mod like this, or does anyone know of an LCD display that would suit this purpose well?"

Not that proprietary`

[NanoGator]

" Thus far, I have been looking at the various 5.4" displays for console systems like the Gamecube, but all of these connect to the systems via proprietary connectors that stick out of the front of the displays and would interfere with mounting it to my case."

The only thing that's really proprietary about the connector is the shape of it, not the signal. It's just an analog signal that's sent out to RCA cables. A brief trip to Radio Shack and a little trial and error will help you figure out which terminal goes to which analog input. The sad thing, though, is that you'll have to figure out a way to get your computer outputting that signal. Some vid cards have an output like that. In that respect, yeah, you could make it work with that screen. If you don't have NTSC-out, well forget what I'm saying entirely.

Video Game displays

[Student_Tech]

I haven't looked at to many of them, but they are likely just using either: RGB out, S-Video or Composite from the system. You might just have to crack one open and see what they are using, you should be able to find pinouts for the video game systems. (And If it uses RGB, it is probably using it at 15.75 KHz) (My personal favorite for pinouts is GameSX [gamesx.com].)

eBay

[FrenZon]

Take a look on eBay - you can generally find 7-8" LCD monitors for cars that take S-Video or RCA input. You can get them cheap, take a look: http://listings.ebay.com.au/aw/plistings/category1 4946/index.html?from=R11 [ebay.com.au]

(Note that that is an Australian URL).

Look for Auto Displays

[DDumitru]

I don't know where you are located, but around here, I would go to a high-end electronics dealer that dealt in in-car entertainment systems, the kind where the kids can watch TV in the back seat. You should be able to find a video-in LCD display from 5 to 10". Most will probably run off 12V power, but this is not that hard to get out of a PC PS.

Around here (Orange County, California) this would be Frys, Best Buy, or one of the independent auto shops. And if you mod me down because I said Frys, then I agree with your judgement.

Re:One word: upgradability

[Anonymous Coward]

You should check out Dell's XPS/9100 series, then. The Video card is upgradeable (perhaps of biggest concern), as well as the hard drive and RAM (though this is fairly standard in laptops these days). The CPU is upgradeable, though it will almost certainly void your warranty. All you're missing is the mainboard, and let's face it, by the time you're upgrading the mainboard in a PC, you're probably upgrading the rest of the components anyway (new mainboard for a new processor tends to need higher speed RAM).

No, the upgradeability argument is slowly ceasing to hold water. What is a concern is heat dissipation, cost, and (as a side effect of those two) raw power of your components. You simply won't get the same performance from a notebook as from a desktop, comparing highest end notebooks and highest end desktops.

Car lcds

[Zerth]

LCDs for car installation usually have standard composite or RCA connectors on the back side so they can be flush with seatbacks or on the side for ceiling/dash installations.

Since you have a tv out, these two [parts-express.com] are about the right size.

(note, I'm biased. Feel free to check out someplace else)

lilliput?

[complete loony]

Here's one [lilliput.cn], 7" 800x480 seems to be available all over the place (review [bigbruin.com]).

Re:Slashdot sorta covered this, oh, a year or two

[Anonymous Coward]

about 19 months ago: LCD Displays That Fit In A 5.25" Drive Bay? [slashdot.org] (about 15 seconds to look this up, slacker parent poster)

7" high res portable

[monopole]

mini-itx.com has a very nice 7" widescreen display
VGA and Composite (AV) inputs
Screen Size: Diagonal 7" 15:9 Aspect Ratio; Supported Resolution: 1024 x 768 (HxV); Dot Resolution: 2400(H) x 480(V) = 1,152,000 (dots); Display Brightness (w/ Touchscreen): 280 cd/m2; Touch Screen Interface: USB port; Operating Voltage: DC 11-13V; Power Consumption: 9W; Dimensions: 188mm x 125mm x 33mm; Weight: 0.55Kg

http://www.mini-itx.com/store/default.asp?c=9#p5 03

All you need to know is...

[sweede]

http://store.earthlcd.com/

more LCD display options than you can shake a stick at.

Here's your answer

[Anita Coney]

7" widescreen touch screen, and it's only 250 bucks! [mp3car.com]

Re:New Technology

[Lazyhound]

Laptops aren't the solution to this problem, because most integrated video solutions on laptops are.. lacking, and that's saying it nicely.

Uh, what? You know you can get laptops with a 256MB Radeon 9800 card, right?

Waht did you build this for?

[cr0sh]

Were you wanting this to do actual work (coding and such), or just to play games? The answer will affect what screen and input type you need. Standard composite or s-video will not be enough (unless your screen is lower-res 640x480) to do any serious work with - but it would be ok for game playing (though icon text and the like will be difficult to read). Finally, if it hasn't been mentioned already, get in contact with these guys [earthlcd.com] - they will be able to help you with your problems and needs.

Re:Car lcds

[ottothecow]

The key is to not search for the car LCD's but search for the LCD's used by people installing carputers.

They all prefer VGA to composite (which sucks from a PC) and they know what screens do it (primarily the Liliput and the Xenarc (sp?)).

Another bonus, is they have already done a lot of work figuring out how to creatively mount the screens in different configurations (everything from flush with a surface to flip ups)

A little late?

[Jozer99]

I don't know if I'm a little late to post, but I think the best solution would be a 7.2" touch screen. You can buy these on eBay for under $300 (I hope money was not a concern in this project). They have VGA connections, hence a much sharper and higher resolution picture than anything you will get with S-Video or composite. I can tell you that running a PC off TV resolution is unbearable for anything but watching movies or music visualizers. They also have a nifty USB touch screen, great for when you have these things on the road, and you want to set it up without trying to get your mouse to work on your leg.

Re:New Technology

[Lazyhound]

OK. [anandtech.com]