Matrix Orbital MX610 LCD display

Alternatives

There are now a number of options available for users wanting to display information on the front of the computer; options that didn't exist 4 years ago when Matrix Orbital first became popular with modders. Before we can pass judgement on the MX6, we need to look at the alternatives.

Option A: PSOne LCD mod

Cost: £26.99 / US$34.99
From: eBay
Difficulty: Moderate

bit-tech regular Brian Walker aka bEE2643 was one of the first people to perform this mod, way back in July 2004. Essentially, it involves buying a cheap Sony PSOne LCD from eBay, stripping it down, mounting the display somewhere cool, and hooking it up to the TV-Out of your graphics card. We have a detailed article titled PSOne LCD in a PC and the related Forum Thread has become a central meeting point for many modders to ask questions and help each other.



4 hours later, and you have your own 5-inch, 640x480 TFT capable of displaying anything your heart desires. You just set it as your secondary display, and you can use an extended desktop to position any window into place. Winamp is naturally a popular option. Alternatively, you can use Samurize to display some seriously funky stuff, like Nexxo's Project Metaversa (right), detailing crucial temperature and waterflow information.

Option B: In-car LCD mod

Cost: £60-150 / US$120
From: eBay or various stores
Difficulty: Moderate

This mod is very similar to the PSOne mod above, but uses more sophisticated LCDs designed for in-car DVD systems. Most are 7-8 inches across and many are 16:9 widescreen. The more expensive ones even have touchscreens. Specifications vary wildly, with resolutions as low as 320x240, but KustomPCs sell a one capable of 800x480. eBay is a good source, though most sellers ship directly from Hong Kong or China, so it isn't for the timid.


Mounting options are similar to the PSOne mod. One cool option would be to buy a motorised in-dash screen and mount it in a drive bay under your DVD writer. One touch of the button, and out pops the LCD - the ultimate LAN party showboating feature. Abbas Jaffarali at Tbreak.com gets a special mention for creating a really nice example using a Shuttle SB86i and a 5-inch car LCD.

Option C: 14"-17" TFT monitor mod

Cost: from £100 / US$170
From: NewEgg or various stores
Difficulty: Moderate

Now that desktop LCD prices have fallen through the floor, turning an entire [/i]side[/i] of your PC into a display is now within the budget of many modders. bit-tech forum regular, CharlieCat, is a veteran at this one - he has now created three systems using this technique.


Depending on the size of your case, and the size of your budget, you can pick up a bargain 15" LCD for around £100; NewEgg has several models for US$170. The resolution will be 1024x768 and the viewing angle will be pretty rubbish, so you might be better off saving up a few extra pennies and plumping for a 17" model. Just £125 / $200 will net 17 inches, 1280x1024 and a 12ms refresh rate.

Option D: New case with LCD

Cost: from £188 to £500
From: Kustom PCs or Scan
Difficulty: Easy

There are off-the-shelf options, including the Shuttle and beblu systems already mentioned, the latter available in a case-only option. Another leading manufacturer in this field is Silverstone - they make several cases that feature bezel-mounted VFD displays similar to the Matrix Orbital's range.


Most of the range have a stylish A/V receiver-look to their appearance, like the LC14BM (left). Truthfully, they are all available without VFD also, for considerably less. The most famous Silverstone case of them all is the LC18 (right), which sports a 7" touchscreen LCD on the front bezel as standard. However, at £500 from Scan, you certainly pay a premium for not doing the work yourself.