The first thing I had to look into was do I want an LCD or VFD display. After reading about the pros/cons I decided I want a VFD display. Next, I wanted a graphic display so I checked out numerous manfacturers with the top four being Matrix Orbital, C**********z, VLSystems, and Noritake. The only one that had large graphic VFDs was Noritake. The 2 units that I liked the best are:
1) (800 Graphic Series) GU128x64-800A (2nd choice)
http://www.noritake-elec.com/800.htm
(interface - Parallel only ???)
2) ( 3000 Graphic Series) GU256x128C-3900 (1st choice)
http://www.noritake-elec.com/3000_series.htm
(interface - Parallel, RS232 Serial, and USB Optional)
The display size for both is 8.308 cm x 4.148 cm - this is the biggest I could find with a circuit board the could fit in the double 5.25" drive bays although I would like a bigger display (like 12 cm W x 6 cm H) but with the same circuit board size. This is what always brothered me - you have a large area for two 5.25" drive bays but you only get this tiny little screen - it does not make any sense to me.
The problem was that Noritake doesn't have much beyond the unit (not sure if they have 5.25" drive bay adapter panel). I was looking for the "full package". After some more digging - I found that Matrix Orbital was the only one that offered everything I was looking for. Besides the display unit mounted on the black double 5.25" drive bay adapter, I wanted the GPO circuit board with 4 case fans and 6 temperature probe connectors, USB interface, 6 temperature probes (with one flat for the cpu), blue filter, and excellent software to drive it. I was planning on controlling 2 or 4 case fans with it by using the temperature probes and to display system info, audio and video info (such as horizontal and vertical bar graphs), and other info.
After doing research into the LCD/VFD software, I found that LCDC is the best one and since Matrix Orbital currently offers a fully licensed copy of LCDC with each unit that is another plus. I finally selected the Matrix Orbital MX-512 and the MX-532 (I'm leaning towards the MX-532) .
The big problem is that I really wanted a large double 5.25" drive bay Graphic VFD which Matrix Orbital doesn't have and therefore I have to settle for second best - a Character display. When I checked the Matrix Orbital Forums, I found that someone else (jostapo) wanted a large single graphic VFD diaplay:
http://www.lcdforums.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1863
So, I'm not alone. I can't understand why Matrix Orbital carries Character and Graphic LCDs, but only has Character VFDs and no Graphic VFDs. I have read posts that indicate the Noritake 800 Graphic VFDs are quite popular and sought after. I Have seen pics of the 800 VFD screens such as Liquid MP3 - WinAmp which is incredible. The screen can display alot of information and can be broken down into smaller "window" boxes with each displaying its own info. This is what I wanted from the start. Matrix Orbital is really losing out on not offering these type of displays.
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I have some questions on the MX-512 and MX-532:
1) The MX-512 has the advantage of the 14 buttons on the panel which are configurable. However it doesn't look as good as the MX-532 being all black. I have read in a review that the plain black version (with no buttons) is brushed aluminum and therefore more closely matches a black Lian-Li case. Is this true? Looking at the Large pictures of the MX-512 and MX-532, the MX-512 looks like a darker black then the MX-532.
2) By looking under the "Includes" section and in the Accessories list at the bottom of the page under the "Basic Unit" for the MX-512 and MX-532, I can't determine if the black double 5.25" drive bay bracket is part of the "basic unit" or has to be purchased separately (under the "Accessories" section. I would assume it is part of the basic unit.)
3) How do you connect the unit to your motherboard? Under the Includes section - it lists a 3ft A to B USB cable and an unmodified power cable. Looking under the Accessories section page 2 this an external USB cable. From this it looks like the cable is to passed out through the back of the PC to hook into one of the motherboard backpanel USB ports. This not the method I want to hook it up. The advantage of USB is that it keeps everything internal. I want one single USB cable to plug into the back of the MX-5xx unit (what is the USB connector on the back of the MX-5xx unit? - Male or Female - type A or B?) and the other end of the cable to plug into the motherboard USB header (4 colour coded pins Red, White, Green and Black - +5V, Data -, Data +, and GND). This is the type of cable that I want - you have it as the 3FT USB power cable but it has only 2 out of the 4 wires attached to the end connector ( +5v and GND ). Do you have the regular 4-pin cable version?
4) The MX-512 and MX-532 come with a blue filter which makes the background dark (almost black) and the character text blue [it looks like the shade of blue might be lighter then Noritake's blue filter]. Having this blue filter is my second choice. I would like to know what colour of filter (if any) gives the background colour black and the text colour red. As an example, Martix Orbital has some LCD displays with this colour scheme such as the MX233. Noritake has a webpage ( http://www.noritake-elec.com/colors.htm# ) where you can "try" 10 different colour filters but it is not accurate - chosing the red filter displays red text, when in fact a red filter makes the text white. Is there such a filter?
Thank You
