Modding a Status LCD into my ITX PC for CHEAP!

Earlier this month, I built a new LAN rig inside the Fractal Design Ridge. This ITX case is insanely good looking, but I think I can make it look even better... so I added a Craft Computing logo.

Oh, and a slapped an 8.8-inch LCD on the front of it as well.

But first... What am I drinking???

Hop Valley (Bend, OR) Bubble Stash IPA

Parts from today's build

The 8.8-inch LCD is available on Amazon or AliExpress

NOTE: You will need HWiNFO64 Pro to enable Memory Sharing full time. The free edition only allows 12-Hours at a time before manually re-enabling. Other widgets may use other software for stats. YMMV.

*NOTE - This supply includes a Right-Angle 12VHPWR, and will need to be replaced for the RTX 5090 Founder's Edition GPU*

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[andysdworld]

I really enjoy seeing some 'old skool' case modding. Takes me back in the bad old days, chopping bits off of pcs to make them 110% cooler. 120% if you added UV Cold Cathodes.

[Vatharian]

*Never* complain about screws, or in the next iteration you get glue and breakout tabs.

[SpartanHawih]

Missed opportunity. You could have made your logo into a detachable coaster. 🍻

[MattWells]

Love this project. Just as a note for the PiZero, the USB port that is used to power it also supports USB OTG (On The Go) which means that you can send data from the same port that you power it from. This means that in theory you could use the cable to power the Pi to send the status of your computer to the Pi as well. I think you can easily set the host computer up to see it as a virtual ethernet device meaning you can SSH to it by adding `dtoverlay=dwc2` to Pi's config.txt file.

[rfitzgerald]

Great mod and looks really nice!

An idea for your logo - for mounting it you could add a small tab on the top edge that would sit behind the LCD bezel so that when the bezel is screwed in place it holds down the top edge of the logo. For the lighting, you could print the black "stencil" part of your logo and then use a piece of matte green acrylic sheet for the background with some edge-lit LEDs which will pass the light better and brighter

[GearSeekers]

I have the Ridge for my HTPC. You've now added another rabbit hole I need to go down for it lol. I'm currently in the process of getting a new TV unit so this is almost perfect timing. Not sure how I missed this video.

[nhchiu]

One small tip regarding 3D printed parts.
Take a heatgun or a small torch and go through the bottom surface (the side that adhears to the print bed). Just don't overheat the plastic. It will remove those white marks on the part and makes it look much cleaner. 😊
(I see some white marks on yours, not very sure if those are real marks or just reflection of light)
Anyway it's a very cool mod!

[the_thunder_god]

Hehe...I did a status display in a pc like 20 years ago. The LCD just became a second monitor on Windows at the time. Definitely no 3d printing then to make a nice bracket for it...I used a dremel on the side of my case. Also used rainmeter at the time for the status display.

[RevisionYKOfficial]

Technically there is actually a third option when it comes to how you can connect the screen to your computer:

First you can purchase a cable that converts a USB header into a female port. This is available for USB 2.0 and 3.0 and type c but for our purposes let's just go with USB 2.0. Then you can purchase one of the many adapters from companies like StarTech that allow you to connect a video port to a USB type a connector, which is achieved via a very small Graphics chip embedded in the adapter itself with a special driver. Once that is achieved you simply need a small cable to connect the display to that video adapter.

In the end the display is connected in such a way that it will behave like a traditional screen and let you put whatever you want on it but it will be completely clean and have no pigtails out the back

[NightfallSentinel]

While I don't mind 3d printing lines for most things, I think this is worthy of some sanding and paint! Alternatively vinyl wrap it! 😏

[hectormejia]

Ok that VPN ad was top notch, haven’t chuckled at an ad in a good while. Good stuff

[pinsandscrews]

Double Sided Tape is your friend, and can be used for so many things!

[kryan]

Saw you bring this system to PDXLan! Thanks for stopping by, it was cool to see ya!

[ghomerhust]

been excited for this one since you first brought it up in discord. turned out excellent

[itggear]

Absolutely fantastic! I've been considering building a Mini ITX slimline PC with this case, though I'm not a fan of the mesh panel design. Despite that, this setup looks absolutely amazing!

[beingboston]

This is awesome, great job with the mod! Love seeing projects like this that aren't just things put together, but instead require some engineering, creativity, and beer.

[NexGen-D]

@Craft Computing, to get rid of the white haze on the first layer, just hit it with a heat gun, it will completely vanish and giver you a far better looking first layer.

[tombraselton]

This is the coolest computer. It is currently my favorite by a long shot! Great work getting it all together so smoothly.

[lukereed]

I just built my own PC in the fractal Ridge and was looking for something like this! Thank you for putting up your print files as well as the parts list!!!

[chris_hertford]

Old school modding! At some point in the late 90s I remember cutting out a hole in a 5.25 bay cover to mount a VFD (Vacuum florescent display) it ran from a serial port and some code for displaying CPU temp etc! I am so tempted to try the 2025 version!