Commell LV-671..

**Giuliano** · 02-03-2005, 10:36 PM

Originally Posted by kmccann1

Where did you find the native resolutions supported by the LV-671 and the MA-ATI?

I was talking about the native LCD panel resolutions supported, not the video resolutions - there's a slight difference.

In order for the onboard video or the MA-ATI to directly drive a LCD panel, they have to know what the LCD panel's physical resolution is - and this is set in either the BIOS, or DIP switches on the MA-ATI.

The resolutions specified in the .INF files are primarily for external monitors connected through the analog VGA port or the DVI video port, though sometimes they can be used on a direct-connected LCD panel (like in a laptop).

If they're supported on the LCD panel, the controller can scale the resolution up or down to match the LCD's physical resolution.

For example, my laptop's LCD physical resolution is 1920x1200 - it works best at that resolution.

However, I can't read a damn thing at that high a resolution, so I back it down to 1200x800, and the onboard LCD controller scales the 1200x800 up to 1920x1280, making it appear full screen.

It works well on the direct-connected LCD panel because the system BIOS knows exactly what video timing is necessary for the LCD panel, and there is no need to futz with refresh rate or other settings.

If you could find a VGA or DVI controller card for that LCD panel to receive the VGA/DVI signal from the MA-ATI, then you might be able to use the supported resolution of 800x480..

But you'd still have to find a controller board for the LCD that can handle 800x480..

Of course, you could go with a 7" liliput or xenarc, and strip the guts out of the case, as many others have done.

Those handle 800x480 with the more recent versions of the LCD's..

**jasonrun** · 02-04-2005, 11:38 AM

Well I tried using my ATT mobile internet Sierra AirCardPCMCIA card in the 671 today and it kept conflicting with the VGA I think when I plugged it in. If I was in windows it would take a few seconds to look for the device and then the display would cut out and I wouldn't be able to get anything back even after removing the card. If I left it in at boot then after the little windows loading progress bar thing it would blank out. I went through the BIOS and disabled the serial and parallel ports. I noticed the PCI device was showing up under IRQ 9 in POST so I set 9 to reserved, and there is also an option for MODEM in the BIOS which is set to IRQ 3, I set that to NA. I may have done more too, I forget, but either way, it works now. Pretty annoying though that it comes default with too much conflicting to have a PCMCIA card inserted.
Also I tried a regular wireless 802.11b card and it did the same thing before, so it wasn't just the Sierra card.

**Giuliano** · 02-04-2005, 05:54 PM

Originally Posted by jasonrun

Well I tried using my ATT mobile internet Sierra AirCardPCMCIA card in the 671 today and it kept conflicting with the VGA I think when I plugged it in. If I was in windows it would take a few seconds to look for the device and then the display would cut out and I wouldn't be able to get anything back even after removing the card. If I left it in at boot then after the little windows loading progress bar thing it would blank out. I went through the BIOS and disabled the serial and parallel ports. I noticed the PCI device was showing up under IRQ 9 in POST so I set 9 to reserved, and there is also an option for MODEM in the BIOS which is set to IRQ 3, I set that to NA. I may have done more too, I forget, but either way, it works now. Pretty annoying though that it comes default with too much conflicting to have a PCMCIA card inserted.
Also I tried a regular wireless 802.11b card and it did the same thing before, so it wasn't just the Sierra card.

Yeah, it was probably an IRQ conflict, though in most cases Windows ought to be able to share them...

My LV-671 shipped yesterday, along with the processor and memory and such, so hopefully I'll be able to test mine later next week.

**kmccann1** · 02-05-2005, 03:16 AM

Success! Ok, only sorta. I found an 8.9" 1024x480 (or 1280x600 depending on the model Vaio) LCD. Its the one in Sony Vaio C1 series PictureBooks. Found the LCD in single quantities for $475 plus $50 or so for the inverter. I'm hoping I can find them cheaper, I've only just started looking for prices. I could always buy the whole Vaio itself on ebay for about the same price. Just need to find the specs on the LCD itself and how to drive it.

Apparently all C1M* models are 1280x600 and the rest of the C1* are the older 1024x480...

I'm sure thereare others out there, a quick search also turned up a Fujitsu Siemens Lifebook P1120 with an 8.9" 1024x600 LCD..

I guess there's some hope. It will end up costing me a bit, as I'll need all the parts and I'm sure the default brightness won't be much. Hopefully I'll be able to send it to some company to upgrade that. I just really want something bigger than 7" and it needs to be widescreen.

**Giuliano** · 02-05-2005, 10:44 AM

Originally Posted by kmccann1

Success! Ok, only sorta. I found an 8.9" 1024x480 (or 1280x600 depending on the model Vaio) LCD.

Not to dash your hopes on this, but I think you're going to have the same kind of difficulty in getting those LCD's to work.

They won't work with the LVDS LCD outputs on either the on-board video or the MA-ATI, which leaves you with trying to find a LCD panel controller board that can take an analog VGA or DVI signal for input.

Some of these might do the job, but the cost of a controller card that supports 1024x480 or 1024x600 may well be more than the cost of the LCD panel itself:
http://www.digitalview.com/controller/

**Maximus** · 02-05-2005, 09:02 PM

Be careful with the Commell ATI drivers though...
I read kmccann1's post about the 800X480 resolution and "Whohooo, no more messing about with powerstrip".

But for all of you who have seen (and still remember) The fifth element,
I went from the priests "we're saved" to mr. Zorg's "I'm screwed"

During startup XP locks up and eventually gives an BSOD referring to a timeout error in the drivers.... the odd thing is that not even safemode works.
OK, so reinstall of my nLite'd XP, same ****.

Right now I'm installing a normal XP version in order to find out if there's something missing with my nLite XP, although Omega's ATI drivers worked just fine.

/M

**Giuliano** · 02-05-2005, 09:26 PM

Originally Posted by Maximus

Be careful with the Commell ATI drivers though...
I read kmccann1's post about the 800X480 resolution and "Whohooo, no more messing about with powerstrip".

Is that the ATI drivers from Commell's site, or have you tried the ATI general drivers from ATI's site?

Originally Posted by Maximus

But for all of you who have seen (and still remember) The fifth element,
I went from the priests "we're saved" to mr. Zorg's "I'm screwed"

Got it on VHS, got it again on DVD..

Originally Posted by Maximus

During startup XP locks up and eventually gives an BSOD referring to a timeout error in the drivers.... the odd thing is that not even safemode works.
OK, so reinstall of my nLite'd XP, same ****.

Right now I'm installing a normal XP version in order to find out if there's something missing with my nLite XP, although Omega's ATI drivers worked just fine.

/M

Yeah, I'm planning on installing a standard XP SP2 build for burn in and load testing... just as soon as everything arrives.

**Maximus** · 02-05-2005, 09:46 PM

Well.... I'm definitely screwed

The Commell ATI drivers (downloaded today off their site) do NOT work with XP SP2.

Previously I've been running the Omega drivers (optimized ATI drivers) http://www.omegadrivers.net/ without any problems what so ever.
Installed Commell's.... BSOD, on a full/normal XP install I could get XP to accept them (update driver style) but as soon as I tried to alter the resolution (no 800X480 BTW) I got a blank, black, screen. Restart and the same thing happens.... lockup and a blank screen... 20-30 seconds of nothing and then the whole thing restarts.

I'm getting a bit annoyed.... first the issue with Creative soundcards (not compatible, in case you missed that info) and now this

Oh, Giuliano, have/will you ordered the heatsinks yet ?

/M

**kmccann1** · 02-05-2005, 09:49 PM

The info I posted was extracted fromthe drivers posted on Commell's site..

Giuliano, since you seem to know or are able to find out more than me on these LCDs, how bout the Toshiba (Also saw it listed as a TMDisplay) LTM09C362S? Its 3.3v LVDS, 8.9" Widescreen, 262K color, 1024x600, 250:1 contrast, and 200nits. I can't seem to find a datasheet on it yet though but I have requested one from Toshiba. I have found a supplier for the inverter if needed. (Can I use the one on the motherboard even if I have to buy a controller card?)

About the cost, I don't really mind spending the money if it works. The Xenarc 7" would run about $400 and I saw a company offering to upgrade the brightness for another $190. Thats just under $600, plus I'd need an extra long cable to reach the pc which will most likely be in the trunk.

The original 9.5" I posted I can pick up for under $100, and the Sony Vaio displays I can get for $170. Hopefully if this one works I can get it for around the same amount. At these prices I obviously have no problem spending more to have the brightness upgraded if possible, or if I need the controller. I am just not willing to settle for the Xenarc if I know there's something else out there I'd be more happy with. I have no plans on selling the car and only want to do this once.

Thanks for all your help and input though, I appreciate it.

**Maximus** · 02-05-2005, 10:00 PM

Originally Posted by kmccann1

The info I posted was extracted fromthe drivers posted on Commell's site.

I know, and I'm sorry if it came out like I was blaming you for anything.

My general philosophy is that the 3rd party manufacturers drivers suck, generally they're outdated and doesn't perform very well.
That's why I was very surprised and very, very, happy that the commell drivers would have "native" support for 800X480... getting rid of powerstrip would mean one less thing to worry about.

/M