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geekhack Community => Other Geeky Stuff => Topic started by: nowsharing on Wed, 08 December 2010, 18:43:00

Title: 4" LCD - How to connect it via VGA?
Post by: nowsharing on Wed, 08 December 2010, 18:43:00

edit: bad title. I just want to connect it to a computer, not necessarily via VGA.

I picked up a cheap 4" LCD screen on fleabay (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rt=nc&nma=true&item=370464429074) and would like to be able to connect it to my computer to put Foobar & visualizations on when I'm playing music. It has NTSC output through what looks like an s-video cable.

I seem to have three options:
Video card w/TV-out
VGA to S-video signal converter box
Or possibly a USB adapter of some kind, although all I'm finding are video capture cards.

Could anyone set me straight on the best way to go at this?

The screen is an LCD4C ALCD4C (http://www.mobilescreens.8k.com/LCD4C.htm) I believe.

Title: 4" LCD - How to connect it via VGA?
Post by: kriminal on Wed, 08 December 2010, 20:38:32

your videocard doesnt have an s-video port?

Title: 4" LCD - How to connect it via VGA?
Post by: nowsharing on Wed, 08 December 2010, 20:41:15

Quote

your videocard doesnt have an s-video port?

Nope. That would have made it so much easier.

Title: 4" LCD - How to connect it via VGA?
Post by: kriminal on Wed, 08 December 2010, 21:16:36

can you take a pic of the other side?

Title: 4" LCD - How to connect it via VGA?
Post by: nowsharing on Wed, 08 December 2010, 21:24:17

Thanks for the help.

Title: 4" LCD - How to connect it via VGA?
Post by: kriminal on Wed, 08 December 2010, 21:40:20

ooohh its a 4 pin plug in... either you have to get a male s-video to vga cable, because i searched and didnt find a 4 pin to vga or usb or anything of the like...
still checking.

Title: 4" LCD - How to connect it via VGA?
Post by: nowsharing on Wed, 08 December 2010, 21:48:13

You might be on to something. At first I didn't think that a VGA to S-video cable would work, but according to this review (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Sapphire/HD_5570/3.html) my video card has an analog D-sub VGA output.

Does that sound like it will work?

Title: 4" LCD - How to connect it via VGA?
Post by: nowsharing on Wed, 08 December 2010, 21:56:36

Wait, no. I won't be able to convert VGA to S-video with my video card. Apparently only a few old cards are capable of that.

Title: 4" LCD - How to connect it via VGA?
Post by: nowsharing on Wed, 08 December 2010, 22:21:21

Triple post.

It looks like I have to use a converter box. I only have 2 PCI-1 slots free to use, and there are slim pickings for PCI-1 cards w/tv out. Another $12 (http://cgi.ebay.com/PC-VGA-TV-Video-AV-Signal-Converter-Video-Switch-Box-/200539393143?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2eb1144c77) isn't so bad I guess.

Title: 4" LCD - How to connect it via VGA?
Post by: chimera15 on Thu, 09 December 2010, 01:47:59

Pretty interesting.  Good buy for $5.  Shame it's not a true vga.  I have a 7" usb sub monitor that cost me a lot more, but it probably has a better resolution at least, if you're looking for a similar/better solution.  They usually turn up on ebay for around $80-100.


http://www.mimomonitors.com/products/imo (http://www.mimomonitors.com/products/imo)

I also have a 2" lcd with a similar s-vid that I was hoping to turn into a head mounted display.  My laptop worked with it though since it had a s-video out.

You could probably use something like this though.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Adaptor-VGA-D-Sub-SVideo-S-Video-RCA-TV-Cable-PC-/260477902814?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3ca5b15fde (http://cgi.ebay.com/Adaptor-VGA-D-Sub-SVideo-S-Video-RCA-TV-Cable-PC-/260477902814?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3ca5b15fde)

Title: 4" LCD - How to connect it via VGA?
Post by: PAINKILLER on Thu, 09 December 2010, 06:24:24

Quote from: chimera15;259986

You could probably use something like this though.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Adaptor-VGA-D-Sub-SVideo-S-Video-RCA-TV-Cable-PC-/260477902814?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3ca5b15fde (http://cgi.ebay.com/Adaptor-VGA-D-Sub-SVideo-S-Video-RCA-TV-Cable-PC-/260477902814?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3ca5b15fde)

This is a passive adapter for cards that run s-video through the VGA port.

Quote from: nowsharing;259940

Apparently only a few old cards are capable of that.

Quote from: nowsharing;259946

It looks like I have to use a converter box. I only have 2 PCI-1 slots free to use, and there are slim pickings for PCI-1 cards w/tv out. Another $12 (http://cgi.ebay.com/PC-VGA-TV-Video-AV-Signal-Converter-Video-Switch-Box-/200539393143?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2eb1144c77) isn't so bad I guess.

$3.32 for that box with cables etc. looks extremely cheap to me.

Title: 4" LCD - How to connect it via VGA?
Post by: AndrewZorn on Thu, 09 December 2010, 08:51:29

I remember when I was trying to get a PSone screen on my computer that the s-video port could simply be rewired to work as a VGA plug.  I didn't believe it, but it there is tons of documentation on the method.  Maybe it would work for this too.

I got the screen working fine, but gave up on actual integration, mostly due to Windows multi-monitor support being garbage.

Title: 4" LCD - How to connect it via VGA?
Post by: nowsharing on Thu, 09 December 2010, 09:53:16

Quote

I have a 7" usb sub monitor that cost me a lot more

That looks much more useful than what I picked up. Too bad they don't make a smaller, less expensive version though.

Quote

$3.32 for that box with cables etc. looks extremely cheap to me.

Its cheapness is the main selling point! It actually has good reviews on Amazon, and I don't need anything powerful to meet the screen's 480x230 res.

Quote

I got the screen working fine, but gave up on actual integration, mostly due to Windows multi-monitor support being garbage.

I was hoping that it would work as a second screen that I could drag things onto. I'm not sure if that is how it will work with this converter though.

Title: 4" LCD - How to connect it via VGA?
Post by: nowsharing on Thu, 09 December 2010, 10:07:54

Quote

I have a 7" usb sub monitor that cost me a lot more

That looks much more useful than what I picked up. Too bad they don't make a smaller, less expensive version though.

Quote

$3.32 for that box with cables etc. looks extremely cheap to me.

Its cheapness is the main selling point! It actually has good reviews on Amazon, and I don't need anything powerful to meet the screen's 480x230 res.

Quote

I got the screen working fine, but gave up on actual integration, mostly due to Windows multi-monitor support being garbage.

I was hoping that it would work as a second screen that I could drag things onto. I'm not sure if that is how it will work with this converter though.

Title: 4" LCD - How to connect it via VGA?
Post by: nowsharing on Thu, 09 December 2010, 10:08:31

Quote

I have a 7" usb sub monitor that cost me a lot more

That looks much more useful than what I picked up. Too bad they don't make a smaller, less expensive version though.

Quote

$3.32 for that box with cables etc. looks extremely cheap to me.

Its cheapness is the main selling point! It actually has good reviews on Amazon, and I don't need anything powerful to meet the screen's 480x230 res.

Quote

I got the screen working fine, but gave up on actual integration, mostly due to Windows multi-monitor support being garbage.

I was hoping that it would work as a second screen that I could drag things onto. I'm not sure if that is how it will work with this converter though.

Title: 4" LCD - How to connect it via VGA?
Post by: PAINKILLER on Thu, 09 December 2010, 10:55:12

Quote from: nowsharing;260168

I was hoping that it would work as a second screen that I could drag things onto. I'm not sure if that is how it will work with this converter though.

You have a VGA and a DVI port on your card. If the monitor has DVI input, the setup is obvious. If it only has VGA, you can use a cheap DVI to VGA adapter to connect the converter box to the video card and keep the monitor connected to the VGA. Then you can set up dual display in Catalyst Control Center - I think "Extend" mode will work best for you.

Title: 4" LCD - How to connect it via VGA?
Post by: PikachuDX on Thu, 09 December 2010, 15:03:43

b(6zrsQwnz~2MGY-PGANYb8C+),ePRnVKJZSj(Jj+xlx!BSuFQ

Title: 4" LCD - How to connect it via VGA?
Post by: AndrewZorn on Thu, 09 December 2010, 15:46:47

Quote from: nowsharing;260149

I was hoping that it would work as a second screen that I could drag things onto. I'm not sure if that is how it will work with this converter though.

That is how it works, but getting other windows stuck over there, applications not liking the second screen, and losing my mouse pointer drove me crazy.

I just wish 'they' would finally make proper support for accessory screens.  These things, the outer notebook displays, the G15/19... there's enough crap out there to warrant it.

Title: 4" LCD - How to connect it via VGA?
Post by: microsoft windows on Thu, 09 December 2010, 15:57:27

Quote from: ripster;260271

$99 at ThinkGeek.

Show Image

(http://www.thinkgeek.com/images/products/zoom/c609_lilliput_mini_usb_monitor.jpg)

Flight Simmers really get into this stuff btw.  You might want to search some of their forums.  Nice people once they take their hand off their Joystick - heh, heh.

Show Image

(http://www.thinkgeek.com/images/action/large/214bd02.jpg)

For a hundred bucks, I'd rather just get a big LCD.

Title: 4" LCD - How to connect it via VGA?
Post by: AndrewZorn on Thu, 09 December 2010, 16:02:40

Wow a non-CRT monitor post by MSW

Title: 4" LCD - How to connect it via VGA?
Post by: microsoft windows on Fri, 10 December 2010, 11:59:52

Well, you can get a CRT the same size for cheaper.

Title: 4" LCD - How to connect it via VGA?
Post by: Megaweapon on Fri, 10 December 2010, 12:32:00

I keep headless computers around and I'm getting tired of lugging out a full sized monitor when the need arises, so I'm seriously considering this:

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.22660

Need to be able to get into BIOS, boot manager, etc. so I don't think the USB ones will cut it (as sexy as they are).

Anyone have experience with this monitor?  Know of any better candidates that are < $100?

Title: 4" LCD - How to connect it via VGA?
Post by: nowsharing on Fri, 10 December 2010, 12:37:57

Quote

Flight Simmers really get into this stuff btw. You might want to search some of their forums. Nice people once they take their hand off their Joystick - heh, heh.

So that's why they call it a cock-pit!

I did a search on Ebay for Liliput monitors, and came across this incredible photo bearing my family name (and bought it of course). Now I know why we're so short!

Title: 4" LCD - How to connect it via VGA?
Post by: keyboardlover on Fri, 10 December 2010, 13:44:03

That photo is creep-tacular...