Odd idea: LCD Case Side Panels

[TLHarrell]

Yes, the ENTIRE SIDE of a case being an LCD panel... You could then drop a picture of any casemod onto the screen and change how your system looks. Or, how about compiling a video to display on the screen. Say you want a fire theme... you can have real flames inside your case.

Thoughts? Ideas to go along with the design? Cool, stupid, or what?

[Fuganater]

I've seen many mods around where they built an LCD screen into he side panel. Good idea for LAN parties but you need to make sure you have adequite cooling because LCD panels get pretty hot.

But its a good idea. I was never a fan but it is very functional.

[d_stilgar]

I know it's been done before quite a few times. I would do some searching of google and the forums to find some precedents.

I think it's a good way to do a DIY iMac, haha. Seriously though, I think something I've never seen is an LCD stripped to the point that it's transparent put in a side panel. That way you could possibly do some LED backlit acrylic etchings as well as post changing information on the LCD as well as keep all your components visible.

This is one of those moments I regret thinking about this stuff. Now I'm going to go surf craigslist for monitors I can't buy for lack of space and funds so I can pipedream about a mod I'm not going to do because of a lack of space and funds. Haha.

[NightrainSrt4]

Hmm, now you have my brain running too.

I've got a 15" lcd that has been sitting here doing nothing. I also have a Thinkpad X61 that I really adore but can't really use as they used a HOT chip but crappy cooling so anything intensive shoots the temp of the cpu up so high that it throttles its performance, even after perfectly applied new thermal paste.

Hmm...What would be cool would be to get an arcade stick and some nice buttons and turn it into a small tabletop MAME machine.

[TLHarrell]

Here's another way to go with this... put a clear panel inside the case at an angle. Put the LCD panel in the top of the case, facing down. You could then still see your interior parts, but also project what looks like a holographic display over top of them... like the newer generation of pinball games.

[AmEv]

I'll just leave this (https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&safe=active&site=&q=universal+lcd+controller+board&oq=univ&aq=0p&aqi=p-p1g9&aql=1&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=14439l18704l0l20268l20l13l0l0l0l2l470l4522l 0.1.2.6.4l13l0) here....

[NightrainSrt4]

I don't know if that was meant for me, but if so, the monitor is a standard desktop LCD so I wouldn't need anything special. But, I just realized that the LCD on the laptop is fine, and as long as I could still plug it into the board with a larger heatsink in the way then I would use that.

I've got an old usb gamepad I can strip the controller board for, solder the connection to standard arcade buttons and be good to go. This might just become a reality. . .

I didn't mean to make the conversation drift. Imac was brought up and I realized I had everything to make an imac type desktop, and then my mind went to mini MAME cabinet.

[NightrainSrt4]

I'm going to be making mine a reality.

Just purchased a black Happ Competition joystick, 2 black Happ concave buttons (start + select), and 6 blue Happ concave buttons. I've got plenty of wood, plexi, etc. This X61 will be donating its hardware. I've got a USB controller I will solder all the switch connections to.

Thank you for making this thread and reminding me of the possibilities. I will make my own worklog when I get the parts in and start.

The hardest part will be mounting a better heatsink to the laptop.

EDIT: Not my video. That is the perfect size. I won't do fancy graphics like that, but that is perfect.
vjcSv5W9w1o

[Neodymium]

I'm going to be making mine a reality.

Just purchased a black Happ Competition joystick, 2 black Happ concave buttons (start + select), and 6 blue Happ concave buttons. I've got plenty of wood, plexi, etc. This X61 will be donating its hardware. I've got a USB controller I will solder all the switch connections to.

Thank you for making this thread and reminding me of the possibilities. I will make my own worklog when I get the parts in and start.

The hardest part will be mounting a better heatsink to the laptop.

EDIT: Not my video. That is the perfect size. I won't do fancy graphics like that, but that is perfect.
vjcSv5W9w1o

I'd love to see what you do with this. My Thinkpad X60 is doing the same exact thing! I am sure it will die soon :( I have run OSX, different flavors on it since I bought it a few years ago...love it, but then all good things come to an end.

[Neodymium]

Hmm, now you have my brain running too.

I've got a 15" lcd that has been sitting here doing nothing. I also have a Thinkpad X61 that I really adore but can't really use as they used a HOT chip but crappy cooling so anything intensive shoots the temp of the cpu up so high that it throttles its performance, even after perfectly applied new thermal paste.

Hmm...What would be cool would be to get an arcade stick and some nice buttons and turn it into a small tabletop MAME machine.
Little bit off topic, Nightrain, about the little lappy, my x60 was doing the same thing as I mentioned, last night it just crashed because it couldn't take the heat no more...I opened 'er up and cleaned the fans, but before I put it back together, I pulled out one of the memory sticks...so I have 2GB instead of 4...system has been idling at 44C for the last 8-9 hours and about 58 - 60C on load...once it completely dies, the LCD would be repurposed :D

[AmEv]

If my spare lappy LCDs hadn't been SMASHED.... *sigh*