Is it reasonably practical to build your own computer monitor? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: Legion
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 29, 2017, 04:38:50 pm
content: I've been in the market for a new PC monitor for a few years now but have never found one with the specs and features I want. I have no desire to build one from scratch, but I was wondering if the parts are available to cobble together what you want. Something along the lines of buying an LCD panel, an LCD driver board, an input board to handle HDMI/DisplayPort, a power supply, and then putting it all together.Are these parts commercially available or would I have to start completely from scratch? I couldn't find much on digikey, but maybe there are better sources for these components?

author: bobaruni
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 29, 2017, 05:07:35 pm
content: Maybe try alibaba.Just curious what special specs are you after?

author: Lightages
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 29, 2017, 05:19:28 pm
content: Although I find hard to imagine that yu could not find a monitor that would match your needs, but I don't know your needs. Perhaps one of your needs is the cost.Yes, there are driver boards, panels, and power supplies all available for purchase on ebay, aliexpress, and many of the other Chinese electronics sites.http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odkw=hdmi+lvds&_sop=15&LH_BIN=1&_blrs=spell_check&_osacat=0&_from=R40&_trksid=p2045573.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0.TRS0&_nkw=hdmi+lvds&_sacat=0Many LCD panels, and power supplies too.What do you want from a monitor?

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 29, 2017, 05:38:59 pm
content: Quote from: Legion on April 29, 2017, 04:38:50 pmYou can build an inferior monitor for more money than off the shelve monitor would cost. What's so unique in your needs? Basically, 80% of the monitor is LCD panel but you can destroy the performance with crappy scaler board and all off the way uncalibrated color.

author: Legion
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 29, 2017, 08:19:41 pm
content: I don't think my needs are that unique, but I can't find a monitor that has what I want.Here's what I'm after:Must Haves:4K32" - 40"2xHDMI 2.0A inputs1xDisplayPort 1.2a or greaterGood scaler97% or greater Adobe RGB or DCI-P3 coverageNice to Have:G-SyncHDR10 supportI don't expect G-Sync or HDR10 support to be possible in a project like this. I assume those chips are all proprietary.I currently have the Philips BDM4065UC which almost has what I want. Unfortunately, even though it's a 4k screen, it'll only accept 4k over DisplayPort. The HDMI ports are 1.4. It also has a garbage scaler. It's a simple nearest neighbor algorithm from what I can tell so any lower than 4k signal is heavily aliased. Color is also lacking with only ~70% Adobe RGB coverage.I've got some latitude on cost, I'd spend up to $2000. The new Acer Predator X27 looks really promising, unfortunately it's too small at 27".

author: Vgkid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 29, 2017, 08:30:27 pm
content: maybe one of these. Unfortunately all of the ports you want nulls them out.http://www.dell.com/en-us/work/shop/dell-ultrasharp-32-ultra-hd-4k-monitor-with-primiercolor-up3216q/apd/210-afln/monitors-monitor-accessorieshttp://www.dell.com/en-us/work/shop/dell-43-ultra-hd-4k-multi-client-monitor-p4317q/apd/210-ahsq/monitors-monitor-accessories

author: Lightages
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 29, 2017, 08:36:15 pm
content: All the ports wanted also rule out any "cobble together" pile of easily purchased components.

author: NiHaoMike
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 29, 2017, 08:42:18 pm
content: There's not much point having a good scaler in a monitor when there's already a very good one in a modern GPU. (Also, you can't have low latency and very good scaling at the same time.) Apart from that, how important are Displayport and Gsync? If you can do without those, there are a lot of options well within your budget.

author: Legion
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 29, 2017, 08:44:14 pm
content: Quote from: NiHaoMike on April 29, 2017, 08:42:18 pmThe scaler isn't for the input coming from my PC over displayport, it's for the HDMI ports. I have my PC connected to DisplayPort, X1S to HDMI 1 and PS4 Pro to HDMI 2.

author: Legion
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 29, 2017, 08:46:17 pm
content: Quote from: Lightages on April 29, 2017, 08:36:15 pmCan you elaborate on this? Wouldn't you just need a switcher board that then passes on the signal to the LCD driver?

author: Lightages
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 29, 2017, 08:57:44 pm
content: Elaborate on what? That there aren't any easily obtainable LVDS boards that have all the ports you want? How I can prove that? If you can find one, good for you! I hope you can.

author: NiHaoMike
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 29, 2017, 09:01:14 pm
content: Both the Xbox One S and the PS4 Pro output 4K, in which case no scaling needs to be done.

author: Legion
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 29, 2017, 09:05:43 pm
content: Quote from: NiHaoMike on April 29, 2017, 09:01:14 pmI suppose. Still need 2 HDMI 2.0 ports to get that 4k.

author: Legion
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 29, 2017, 09:07:28 pm
content: Quote from: Lightages on April 29, 2017, 08:57:44 pmIs it because it's 2 HDMI plus 1 Displayport? Or would 1 HDMI and 1 Displayport still be a problem?

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 29, 2017, 09:36:39 pm
content: Quote from: Legion on April 29, 2017, 09:05:43 pmwhy would you need 2x HDMI 2.0 to get 4k? HDMI 2.0 supports 4k @ 60HzQuoteHDMI 1.4 supports 4k @ 30Hz

author: Legion
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 29, 2017, 10:48:29 pm
content: Quote from: wraper on April 29, 2017, 09:36:39 pmI need 2 HDMI 2.0 ports so that both the Xbox 1S and the PS4 Pro can be connected at 4k. Two devices, two ports.4k @ 30Hz is unacceptable.

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 29, 2017, 10:52:43 pm
content: Can you use some kind of external switch box to connect multiple external sources to the DisplayPort input?

author: RGB255_0_0
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 29, 2017, 11:03:00 pm
content: DisplayPort 1.4 is currently the best. Acer and ASUS are coming out with a new AMVA Quantum Dot 144Hz 4k HDR 10 monitor and G-Sync. Contrast ratio is superb for a monitor and 384 backlight zones. $2000 or thereabouts.Dell have the new 30" 4k OLED but no HDR or G-Sync. $3500.If you go with building your own enjoy the panel lottery of backlight bleed and uniformity issues.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 30, 2017, 04:01:32 pm
content: The cheapest way to get a panel is to buy the whole monitor. It sounds like you would be best off getting a monitor that meets your needs from a display quality standpoint, then add external hardware as needed to get the number of inputs and other features you want. There's really not much in a monitor other than the panel, a driver board and power supply.

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 03, 2017, 07:51:45 pm
content: I doubt you can get a component solution that does anything that a packaged monitor won't. These parts are typically sold for long-term markets like signage, where the main aim is to build a monitor into a different style of case.

author: JolyGoodDay
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: May 05, 2017, 01:00:25 am
content: hdmi 2.0 to display port 1.2 connector?