LCD or VFD?

SiGmA_X · Post by **SiGmA_X** » Sat Jul 06, 2002 6:15 am

I am looking at these for a Lian Li PC-70. This has no budget, but needs to fit in 2 PC bays. I am looking for what looks best, not what performs best or what ever, as this needs to accent the case

Here are the two that I am looking at:
VK204-25: http://www.matrixorbital.com/products/vk204-25.htm
LK204-25PC: http://www.matrixorbital.com/products/lk204-25pc.htm

Please give feedback.

Also, could some one talk to me on AIM/ICQ about how to wire a control on to either one? Thank you!

GreatOldOne · Post by **GreatOldOne** » Sat Jul 06, 2002 10:09 am

VFD without a doubt. VFD + Aluminum just go together perfectly:

http://www.lcdforums.com/forums/viewtop ... &forum=9&6
http://www.bit-tech.net/article/89/

gb57666 · Post by **gb57666** » Sat Jul 06, 2002 11:27 am

I agree, the VFD will look better. I am having the same dilemma choosing a display. I like the look of the VFD, but I also like the high power GPOs on the LK204-25pc. I still have a few days to decide though.

Post by **Cheese** » Sat Jul 06, 2002 11:39 am

Hey sigma,

Got your mail, sorry I've been a little busy

I've just got a new 4x20 mo VFD with a red filter... damn it looks good, almost white text on a black background

Putting one in a pc70 isn't hard sigma (unless you want to pull a greatoldone and do a amazing job, I bet that took a fair while), if you check the gallery I think someone get one in a pc70 floppy bay area - that looked nice and is fairly easy to pull off.

Controls are easy to make, check my nk204 article at bit-tech, I briefly explained how somewhere in there

(www.bit-tech.net - articles - nk204).

Cheers, hope I've helped,

r.

SiGmA_X · Post by **SiGmA_X** » Sat Jul 06, 2002 1:59 pm

The project (Yes, its so big its a project:)) that I'm going to be doing has extreme resources (Can you say CAD-Controled CNC and laser cutter?) so I think that mounting it wont be too much of a problem, now that I have seen what other people have done.

I'm thinking of the LCD on strongly, because I really want to control my 3 cold cath's and other stuff like that.

GreatOldOne · Post by **GreatOldOne** » Mon Jul 08, 2002 2:12 am

On 2002-07-06 11:27, gb57666 wrote:
I agree, the VFD will look better. I am having the same dilemma choosing a display. I like the look of the VFD, but I also like the high power GPOs on the LK204-25pc. I still have a few days to decide though.

I'm pretty sure that Henry hinted that the VFD with low power GPO's could be modded to have high power ones... Henry?

And if you can't, why not use sone relays connected to the low power GPOs to switch a higher output?

Just a thought...!

SiGmA_X · Post by **SiGmA_X** » Mon Jul 08, 2002 2:23 am

On 2002-07-08 02:12, GreatOldOne wrote:
On 2002-07-06 11:27, gb57666 wrote:
I agree, the VFD will look better. I am having the same dilemma choosing a display. I like the look of the VFD, but I also like the high power GPOs on the LK204-25pc. I still have a few days to decide though.

I'm pretty sure that Henry hinted that the VFD with low power GPO's could be modded to have high power ones... Henry?

And if you can't, why not use sone relays connected to the low power GPOs to switch a higher output?

Just a thought...!

I think I like the LCD one just fine. We will see, though. I have never seen a bad review, and I have looked!

SiGmA_X · Post by **SiGmA_X** » Mon Jul 08, 2002 4:16 am

I was just sitting here, looking at the pics, and like the VFD better. So, what one? I want high voltage (on output) and I would like it to be able to take a 12v for the incoming line.

http://www.matrixorbital.com/products/vk204-25.htm

Which one?

GreatOldOne · Post by **GreatOldOne** » Mon Jul 08, 2002 5:21 am

I don't think any of the VFD's have high power GPO's....

I have a VK204-25-V. It's the wide voltage version, which allows you to run it off 12V.

SiGmA_X · Post by **SiGmA_X** » Mon Jul 08, 2002 7:25 am

How high powered is high powered? Could it run a 12v fan?

GreatOldOne · Post by **GreatOldOne** » Mon Jul 08, 2002 8:05 am

Hmm - don't know...

Looking at the manual ( http://www.matrixorbital.com/manuals/vk20425/index.htm )

It says that the positive pins of the GPO's are connected to the positive rail of the display. Therefore if you feed it 12v (in the case of the wide power version), the GPO's will output 12v. However, it only supplies 20ma, but the manual shows you how to bypass the current limiting resistor on the board.

Is that right, Henry?

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: GreatOldOne on 2002-07-08 08:06 ]</font>

Post by **Henry** » Mon Jul 08, 2002 10:26 pm

The GPOs on a Wide Voltage unit are still +5V ONLY... the only unit that has High Power GPOs is the LK204-25-PC...

Yes you can bypass the current limiting resistor, but don't

if you want high power GPOs on the VK204-25 you will have to add a MOSFET or a Transistor or a Relay to it, there are schematics in the hardware section in several places.

SiGmA_X · Post by **SiGmA_X** » Tue Jul 09, 2002 9:51 am

I think I'll go with the LCD, then. And it's $50 cheaper, anyways.

gb57666 · Post by **gb57666** » Tue Jul 09, 2002 10:06 am

I would wait until we here if the gpo/keypad issue is resolved on the LK204-25PC.