Matrix Orbital Corp

I emailed in regards to one of these and was hoping maybe someone could explain to me what I need to get this to work. I dont know a single thing in regards to using one and I understant there is software called LCDC to help me program it... now this seems fairly simple but Im more lost at what exactly I need to get in regards to the actual hardware... I see 2 models one is LK204-25-USB and another one LK204-25-USB-E.

I was also told this "It is capable of providing a Dallas one-wire bus interface, to which 128 devices, including our temperature probes, can be connected. However, this connector is a custom, and you'll have to contact sales regarding any additional cost"

Are they speaking of the temperature probe when they say it is custom? And what about a faceplate with buttons to be able to control it somehow outside of the softare... will the software set the buttons up for me? Im really lost as to what all I need... my primary usage is to monitor system information like memory and usage, hard drive and usage and monitor a handful of temperatures such as CPU, 2 GPU's and the mainboard.

No help here? All I want to find out is what I need to get this operational...

Hi Bruce,

Thanks for your question, sorry to hear that my email response did not contain all the information you need, but I'll be happy to fill in the details for you. It looks like you're interested in the LK204-25-USB display; this is a great option for monitoring your PC vitals.

The -E is an extended temperature option, this extends the standard temperature range (0-50 degrees Celsius) to -20-70 degrees Celsius. It is mostly used in more industrial applications. You'll also find a few other '-' options which will correspond to color, you may want to check out a color to match your case.

Once you've got a color picked out, you'll want to grab a mini USB cable to attach it to your PC. There are two choices here, you can get the standard USB connection on the other end, or an internal header to connect directly to your motherboard.

Finally, you'll want a mounting bracket to fit into two 5 1/4 inch PC bays. To view your PC data, you won't require any buttons on the display, so you may choose a bracket without a keypad on the front.

That brings me to the Dallas one-wire interface. The header on the display is a custom that must be added on to the board. Sales will have more data on pricing, and I believe you have their contact info. The temperature probes themselves can also be purchased from our website, there's nothing really custom about them.

I hope that helps clear things up a little more for you, I know this whole intelligent display world can be a little overwhelming at first. If you have any further questions or concerns, you can always get help here, or at our support email, support@matrixorbital.ca.

Thanks,

Troy

Thanks for the reply Clark and yes its all confusing to me right now but Im sure once I get it all squared away I'll be overjoyed with the final product.

1. I would assume I want the -E since 50c isnt very high considering some hardware ie.. CPU, GPU and Chipsets can possibly excede this temp.

2. You posted a link but it just takes me to the main page for the display and makes no reference to colors, "You'll also find a few other '-' options which will correspond to color, you may want to check out a color to match your case."

3. What if any differances are there between the mini usb connection and the internal header to go right to motherboard?

4. In regards to mounting brackets you mention not needing keys... but lets assume Im looking at the display and it shows my CPU temps and then moves on to the next screen and I want to go back to that screen or pause it? IF I got a mounting bracket with keys will I be able to setup what I want the keys to do within the LCDC software?

5. So what I need to do is contact sales and ask them about the price for the header?

6. Temperature probes... the ends look rather large, will I be able to place these under "say"... my CPU heatsink or are these mounted with tape externally to the hardware I want to monitor?

I apologize for so many questions again but just to be sure Im going in the right direction here and not confuse myself anymore.

Hi Bruce,

No worries about the questions, this can be a difficult technology to understand at first, but I don't mind getting you acquainted. I'll try to go down your list here and answer all those questions.

1. The temperatures given were for the environment, in your case I presume you'll have you PC in your house. As long as the ambient temperature stays between 0 and 50 degrees Celsius, you should be fine without the -E.

2. I apologize for the link, we don't really have a place to go to see the colors on one page, so you'll have to hunt a little. The page that is linked to should discuss some of the color options, and may have links to them. If all else fails you can always browse through our product page where they are all listed.

3. I believe I may have been a little unclear in terms of the cabling here. Both options have a mini USB header to interface to the display, but one offers a standard USB on the other end and the other has a pin header. If you are unsure of the connections on your motherboard, I would recommend the standard USB type as it is rather easy to find a port for it.

4. As for the capabilities of LCDC, it is third party software, so you may have to go check out their site for more detailed information. I got my colleague to try it out today, and it is definitely possible to take keypad presses, and light up LEDs. Screens may be slightly difficult, but our little demo proves that you can read a key press and preform an action using LCDC.

5. Yes, you'll need to ask for the cost of adding the optional Dallas one-wire header to your LK204-25-USB board.

6. The temperature probes are rather small in regular terms; a little smaller that a pinky nail, and just a few millimeters thick. However, I understand that can be rather large in the temp probe world, and these most likely will not fit under parts like your heat sink. These can be attached on devices with thermal tape, or thermal glue for something a little more permanent.

Hope that helps answer some of those questions for you, if you have any more just post them, and I'll get to them as quick as I can.

Thanks,

Troy