Matrix Orbital Corp

I have a system on which the drive lights for my CD-ROMs is obscured. I am currently looking for a solution to place an LCD on the unit, inside, along side the drive cage, facing out through a window. What I am looking for is software support to display CD-ROM drive activity, as well as HD activiry and several temps as reported by 2 GPUs, 1 CPU, 1 HD, plus MB and GPU ambient temps. (all currently available through hardware sensors)

I expect really that identifying the software first would be the best approach to developing a solution for my needs.

What reccomendation might any of you have regarding a software solution that would allow me to display CD-ROM drive activity on an installed LCD? I am considering a Graphical LCD even as a solution, so any solution with this functionality and Graphical LCD support would be fine, but my first round of examination leaves me uncertian if this is something I can display.

Thanks in advance for your advice!

Hi gdmaddog,

Thank you for posting on the forum.

If you are using a pc then I recommend using a MX series alphanumeric display instead of a graphics unit. With the MX series it comes with a software called LCDC. With LCDC you are able to display monitored temperatures and provide other information provided by other software via plugins. Your CD-ROM activity will depend on the software you use. There are plugins on LCDC that display information from Winamp, WMP, Itunes, etc.

For information on LCDC, you can refer to http://www.lcdc.cc/about.htm or the LCDC forum at http://forums.lcdc.cc/index.php?act=idx


For information on any of the mx series units you can go to http://www.matrixorbital.com/ under Intelligent displays any MX series. For detailed information on the display, you can refer to one of the manuals at http://www.matrixorbital.ca/manuals/LK_ ... 02-24-USB/

If you have anymore questions or concerns, please feel free to post them.

Best Regards,

1) Is it possible/cheaper to get that full LCDC software package when buying the LK unit seperate from the MX package? I wouldnt need the Bezel that comes with those MX4s

2) Could anyone reccomend a software solution then that will allow me to track CD-ROM "activity" on this LCD? I have no quams about purchasing the "full" version of any software package is that is what it takes to get the functionality I need. Any one wiht suggestions, I would be most grateful.

Should I find a solution in my continued research before I see a reply here, I'll be sure and post it here for others.

A full LCDC package can be purchased at http://www.lcdc.cc/purchase.htm . If you don't want the mount for the MX4 then you can purchase the LK204-24-USB and the software seperately.

What kind of activity of the CD-ROM do you want to track? You won't need to purchase the LCDC right away. You can try LCDC for 30 days without registering it.

I am really only looking to effectively emulate the CD-ROM "activity" LEDs that are obscured by the aluminum bezels installed by the manufacturer.

The machine is a Voodoo Rage, and is actually quiet enough that I cannot actually hear the drives spin, etc... between the lack of seeing the lights and hearing the drives, it adds a level of uncertianty I am looking to overcome with an LCD placed behind the glass pannel in the side.

The system was suffering from some heat issues as well, so an LCD displaying Temps as well as emulating the drive activity LEDs seems the most intuitive all-in-one solution in my mind.

To me, the best solution would be one that in the end displays the CPU, MB, HD, GPU1 and GPU2 temps (as reported by existing on-board sensors), as well as emulation of the 2 CD-ROM "activity" LEDs, possibly with the addition of "activity" LED emulation of the system drive (logical drive) and Data drive (physical drive).

It is possible to use software such as Speed Fan at http://www.almico.com/speedfan.php for monitoring all those temperatures, and you can use the speedfan plugin in LCDC to send the values to the display. I haven't seen a plugin for monitoring the cd-rom, but you can request for one at http://forums.lcdc.cc/index.php?showforum=7

If you have anymore questions or concerns, please feel free to post them.

Best Regards,