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DIY tablet computer, maybe.

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S. Heslop:
Holy mackrel. New problems. So the new power supply seems to make the PC run. A connected CPU fan spins and a keyboard can toggle the caps lock etc LEDs. But no video over HDMI. It's the only video output aside from LVDS.

So I figure maybe I can get a beep code out of it to try narrow the problem down. So I pull the case speaker out of a very old computer that's been sitting in a corner for years but I can't find the header on this motherboard. It's got headers galore to meet the all-in-one thin mini ITX standard but no PC speaker header. It does however have some LDC debug card header, so I look that up and find nothing. But there's similar looking connectors (9 pin header) called LPC and lots of shoddy looking circuits from China.

Man I was really hoping something would just work. I'm hesitant to go out and buy even more stuff to maybe get this working, but i'm half tempted by that debug card just to see if it's the CPU and memory causing the issues. They seem a likely candidate since they were sent in a god damn paper bag.

I think I might have a plan B if I can't get this PC to work. And i'll definitely return those components on the grounds of shoddy packaging.

S. Heslop:
Here's the messy setup. Bar of aluminium as a temporary heatsink.



But just as I posted that last post a package arrived.



Kayzed1 sent me this cool laptop. Part of plan B was to gut it for parts but it's far too nice and useful. But it will give me a second computer to test the display and digitizer on without risking driver conflicts. It's got an older CPU but i'll also see how well it handles Krita.

S. Heslop:
That panel at least seems to work. Or rather it switches on, makes a weird buzz, then switches back off and repeats. I suspect it's becuse I was using a tiny .75 amp power adapter but it's all i've got on hand at 12 volts. Boot sales are the best option for finding power adapters so hopefully the weather holds till Sunday.

Cant find my USB cale that matches the Tiny board either. I'm glad they finally came up with a USB adapter that can fit in both ways - but it's a shame they left a wake of hundreds of variations of the smaller sized ones.

I think i'm done for now. Just running up and downstairs to fetch stuff in this heat is killing me. I think i'll start concentrating on the case next. Might go with plastic rather than aluminium. Prices are about the same and aluminium would probably be the better choice - but I have access to a laser cutter. At least I think I do. If I can get the front assembled then i'd feel more comfortable flinging this very delicate display about to test stuff.

ddmckee54:
Not sure that I didn't miss something, but is this "maybe tablet" just for funnsies - or are you planning on using it for a dedicated purpose?

Just askin'.
Don

S. Heslop:

--- Quote from: ddmckee54 on July 19, 2018, 04:32:21 PM ---Not sure that I didn't miss something, but is this "maybe tablet" just for funnsies - or are you planning on using it for a dedicated purpose?

Just askin'.
Don

--- End quote ---

A bit of both. I've been wanting to do something like this for a while for various reasons. One is just to see if its possible. Earlier this year I was collecting some stuff to give it a shot, but ended up shelving it when I realised how expensive older generation CPUs still are. But right now i've found myself needing to ink a whole bunch of drawings as quickly as possible, and if all goes to plan i'll have even more in the future.

One of those Chinese pen tablet displays would probably be the most sensible option but I already had most of this stuff collected. Or at least I thought I did.


If I was going to take the DIY portable idea a bit more serious i'd be looking closer at stuff like those single board computers. Intel NUCs and all the weird stuff coming out like the UDOOx86. I might still in the future - especially as those boards are rapidly getting more powerful. I think whatever I come up with in this thread will be functional at best.

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