Hi I'm currently planning a "HTSC" (Home Theater Server Computer). I was wondering if anybody knew how/if it's possible to connect multiple LCD/VFD Displays to a computer and have them showing different information? Example: Display 1: XBMC(Menu location/Video playing/Track Playing/Etc.) Display 2: CPU(Usage/Clockspeed/Etc) Display 3: GPU(Usage/Clockspeed/Etc) Display 4: HDD(s)(Storage space used/Storagespace free/Etc) Also if anyone have a guide to getting a LCD/VFD to work with XBMC please post it here. I've found pictures like this online, but I'm not sure if they show live data or just static stored text. Looks like there is at least one of them showing live data (Temperature monitor), But I really hope there it is possible to have multiple LCD/VFD displays show different sets of live data. I've been looking at these displays Matrix Orbital GX Typhoon » GX24064-TCI-BBI , Anyone know if it works with XBMC?
showing diff data should not be too gawd awful hard... maybe give the hardware section a quick looksy?
It's possible; you just have to have an equivalent number of instances of the LCD display interface program (like e.g. LCDC) running, each configured for a different display and set to display different information.
Yep i have run 3 displays together , two usb displays running on two instances of lcdstudio and a parallel lcd running on lcdsmartie. http://s8.photobucket.com/albums/a45/mingingbollock/?action=view¤t=starwars3900.mp4 love my vfds sorry never played with XMBC...
The software Crystalfontz uses can handle multiple simultaneous panels. I've had a bit of a love/hate relationship with it, though - after I did a fresh install when I got an SSD, I haven't been able to get it working again. The guy who writes the software is awesome and super-responsive, but the modding community didn't quite take up Crystalfontz in a serious way. Also, their panels don't seem to like any software but their own CrystalControl. I guess what I mean by all that is, don't use Crystalfontz displays.
Thanks for the replies guys, for some strange reason my subscription to this thread didn't notify me when your replied So for 4 displays I'll need 4 diffrent installs of my LCD interface program, and then get each of them to work with each of the displays. Got it Awesome! The display on your picture looks awesome too Do you know if it's possible to connect a USB hub to the internal header on the motherboard and have the displays driven from a single hub? I've never played with XMBC either, but it seems to support VFD's I've been looking at these : Matrix Orbital GX Typhoon » GX24064-TCI-BBI any experience with these?
Nope i have found that one display per usb header is best , you can run multiple displays on one usb header but they tend to fight each other for bandwidth , i know its not suppost to happen but it does , especially if you are using lots of bling ( lcdstudio ) , character lcd/vfds are much more forgiving also you can only use one type of controller on one header at one time, so one usb noritake display and say a character usb display using a different contoller will play nice with each other but two controllers of same type is a no go least with lcd studio which is my fav And the matrix orbitals are top notch, loads of fun , plug and play great for a first timer, good luck
I thought the displays had a separate power connection. When I said driven by a Hub I meant "getting the information" from one hub. I would love to be able to use only one internal header as I need some for cardreaders etc. I'm not planning to run anything "intensive" on it, just xmbc info and hardware info. Well that sucks since I was planning on using 4 identical displays. Good to hear that the displays are good at least
I could be wrong never had 4 usb displays of the same type to try give it a whirl and let us know what usb screens were you planning on using ?
Will do I'm planning to use these : http://www.matrixorbital.com/GX-Series-GX-Typhoon/c40_17/p629/GX24064-TCI-BBI/product_info.html
excellent choice give MO a mail i am sure they would be able to answer any questions you have , or give their forum a search I know you can run multiple displays on lcdstudio , although it isnt officially supported and Ray may have removed the ability in the new build , i will have a play and let you know ( but i still have a few old builds that do support it ) so if you get stuck give me a poke good luck , and 4x MO in case , we all want to see that