Modding Matrix Orbital GX Typhoon Display

[Tim S]

http://www.bit-tech.net/modding/2008...hoon-display/1

Matrix Orbital has been quietly humming away in the background for a couple years now, working hard on its upcoming series of GX displays and peripherals. We've been involved for a while, but is it time to pull the cover off and show off the new baby? Let's take a look...

[The boy 4rm oz]

These LCDs are cool things. LCD studio makes it so easy to design aps for them, works perfectly with my G15's LCD.

[breakspirit]

If there's a way for this thing to display motherboard/CPU/video card temps along with fan speeds without running speedfan all the time, I'll be all over it. I can't figure out how to get these displays to show that information, though. My motherboard monitors it, why can't I display it?

[[cibyr]]

Has this got Linux support? One of the most painful things about setting up a mythTV system for my parents was setting up the LCD and IR receiver that came with the case. I remember I needed a CVS version of LCDproc and then that broke the irmon so then I needed a CVS version of that and after that configuring it was a pain in the ass.

[jezmck]

What I notice is that the displays seem very hard to read (judging by the photos), are they better IRL?

[teamtd11]

Originally Posted by jezmck

What I notice is that the displays seem very hard to read (judging by the photos), are they better IRL?

+1 to that question. as if it is better im getting one asap.

[g3n3tiX]

same, reading ease seems little.
It looks childishly easy to setup information though.

[Cthippo]

Offer it in linux and I'll think hard about getting one.

[infered101]

be greeted with the MCE interface on either Windows Vista Home editions or Windows XP MCE edition.

I believe that XP MCE doesnt work. Microsoft locked out the use of third party devices. The matrix orbital website says that.

I have a typoon GX and i love it to be honest. My only quam with it (ands its more a motherboard problem) is that it stays on when my computer is off. If you have an optical mouse and it stays lite when you turn your computer off that means the computer still sends 5 volts. I know there trying to add a firmware update to fix that though.

[Da Dego]

Hey all, thanks for your comments so far. Let me address a couple:

1) Linux support -
The display DOES OFFER Linux support. Firmware betas are in process and are offered to anyone who has the display and wants to test it. They're not finalized yet, but they are actively in process and available to users. Both Jamie (the firmware dev) and Ray (the software guy) are Linux lovers. LCD Studio is not yet fully Linux compatible, but again they're working on it.

So yes, the display WILL work for MythTV users. And the IR. Bit buggy for now, but at least they're committed to it.

2) MCE support - I press the green button and the MCE comes up It doesn't display MCE info across it sadly, that was MS's bite. But the remote works just fine in MCE.

3) The display is really quite clear IRL. The pictures are at a bit of an angle and so they're not quite as crisp. You can also adjust contrast in the display's settings to tune it to your taste.

@Breakspirit - unfortunately, as of right now you need to keep speedfan on for that type of information for ANY monitoring program. Motherboard sensors are different across several things and a peripheral hardware provider would/should not be trying to pack all of THAT into a product when good programs like speedfan exist as a very functional bridge.

[Smilodon]

Originally Posted by infered101

I believe that XP MCE doesnt work. Microsoft locked out the use of third party devices. The matrix orbital website says that.

I have a typoon GX and i love it to be honest. My only quam with it (ands its more a motherboard problem) is that it stays on when my computer is off. If you have an optical mouse and it stays lite when you turn your computer off that means the computer still sends 5 volts. I know there trying to add a firmware update to fix that though.

Are you sure there isn't a jumper or a place in BIOS setup where you can turn off the USB ports? I have seen this on a lot of motherboards. Some motherboards seems to have some ports powered, and some ports turned off when the computer is in standby.

[[WP@]WOLVERINE]

This display is absolutely great ive had one for quite some time now i used it in my Pentagram Htpc mod and it will also be used in my upcomming build and its easily the best display ive ever used. Great sharp image and tons of features.

[teamtd11]

Originally Posted by Da Dego

3) The display is really quite clear IRL. The pictures are at a bit of an angle and so they're not quite as crisp. You can also adjust contrast in the display's settings to tune it to your taste.

TY im now sold. Now i just need to wate for it to be in stock.

[docodine]

I don't think it's worth buying this sort of display when a PSone LCD is pretty much the same price.

But to each his own.

[Squadexodus]

Wow, this thing looks amazing. I shied away from LCD screens because of their complexity. I think i might spring for one sometime in the near future.

[Jipa]

I still prefer VFDs as they look so much more classy than LCD... I can't come up with ANY real use for these small LCD-screens other than maybe in a HTPC-case. (Yes, I'm using G15 and ATM the software doesn't even seem to be on (= screen is off))

[metarinka]

anyone have an idea what the screen response time is? or mroe importantly the software response time
I'm interested in making a software based VU meter that can read the different volumes of channels coming off my audio interface. it would be nice to having something liket hat when I'm twiddling with controllers and synths isntead of having to call up my mixer.

However I wouldn't begin to know if this would be capable of grabbing that information from my mixer software

[E.E.L. Ambiense]

Originally Posted by breakspirit

If there's a way for this thing to display motherboard/CPU/video card temps along with fan speeds without running speedfan all the time, I'll be all over it. I can't figure out how to get these displays to show that information, though. My motherboard monitors it, why can't I display it?

I tend to use Everest Ultimate, and use the Everest plugin for LCDC. It reads the temps and you can set up to display the temps on the unit in whatever way is preferable. At least that's what I do with my MX233 unit.

Hope that helps!

[Rocket733]

Originally Posted by docodine

I don't think it's worth buying this sort of display when a PSone LCD is pretty much the same price.

But to each his own.

PSone lcd requires soldering and a technical knowhow along with messing around with samuarize to get it working correctly. Having installed 2 separate PSone screens I can say the results are really quite lovely but sometimes a plug and play solution is better, especially with addons like a fancontroller and watercooling monitoring.

[knyghtryda]

LCDs were past there prime when VFDs could be had for just the about the same price. Even though there was no grayscale as there was with some LCDs, the fact that everything was so much brighter more than made up for it. I have a Matrix Orbital graphic LCD sitting on my desk that I use to test microcontrollers. I originally bought it to install on my desktop, but after picking up a dirt cheap ($3!!!!!) 20x4 VFD, I knew the LCD probably would never get installed.