Possible cheap screen for GBZ

Hardware-related questions that don't fit into any of the specialized hardware categories go here.
Post Reply
Mattyp
Posts: 4
Joined: Sun May 14, 2017 12:10 am

Possible cheap screen for GBZ

Post by Mattyp » Thu Jun 08, 2017 12:15 am

Has anyone tried using a digital photo frame as the screen? Just curious because you can get these badboys for like 10$
http://www.digiframe.com.au/3.5-fun-and ... green.html
and i was thinking it might be a cheap way to go about it... Especially not needing the touch screen features for the GBZ build

User avatar
RetroRocket
Posts: 146
Joined: Sun Apr 09, 2017 8:53 pm
Location: Seattle
Has thanked: 60 times
Been thanked: 64 times
Contact:

Re: Possible cheap screen for GBZ

Post by RetroRocket » Thu Jun 08, 2017 12:28 am

I thought about this before, picking up and dissembling a few from Goodwill for a couple bucks each in various sizes. From my limited experience, I couldn't find a simple or cheap solution to getting standard input. The display driver board is intrinsically connected to the slideshow program, with the only input being the various memory cards that can load images. You might be able to find a secondary driver board online for the (probably) Innolux display, but those boards are more expensive than just getting a new screen off eBay.

I'm currently looking into hacking an old GPS unit for its screen, but no progress yet...may have similarly disappointing results.

They're a bit bigger, but you'd be better off salvaging a portable DVD player. There's the added benefit that these often come with a second screen that is already built with a video in port and a simple display driver (this is what I'm using for a fully scratch-built portable).

User avatar
abrugsch
Posts: 971
Joined: Tue Aug 02, 2016 10:00 am
Has thanked: 356 times
Been thanked: 430 times
Contact:

Re: Possible cheap screen for GBZ

Post by abrugsch » Thu Jun 08, 2017 5:47 am

chances are they use standard 40/50 pin digital input ribbon and would connect to RPi's via DPI mode. (see @kite's build thread for more info on that) but without a datasheet you'd be shooting in the dark...

Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest