Thread: Kontron 986LCD-M/mITX, and 800x480 LVDS.

Originally Posted by DigitalVampire

I need to ask a question to answer that..lol

Can we have dual independent display set on VGA and TV-Out?

If YES, I need the TV-Out, else NO....The intent is to drive the head-rest monitors(Non-VGA) for the DVD/Video playback while the Touchscreen up front does the navigation and stuff.

I'll check on the dual independent display for VGA and TV-Out..


As an alternative, you can get a low end PCI Express graphics card with Composite (RCA) video out for $35:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814121193

Originally Posted by DigitalVampire

I need to ask a question to answer that..lol

Can we have dual independent display set on VGA and TV-Out?

If YES, I need the TV-Out, else NO....The intent is to drive the head-rest monitors(Non-VGA) for the DVD/Video playback while the Touchscreen up front does the navigation and stuff.

Reading the manual for the 986LCD dated 12/19/06, it doesn't look like the on-board TV Out connector is supported... which is why the connector isn't there.

The same goes for the secondary MIC2 input, presumably for a second Microphone input for the onboard sound.



However, the SDVO (Serial Digital Video Out) capabilities through the PCI Express slot allow for adding an expansion card to provide TV Out, as well as DVI and secondary Analog VGA.


Chrontel makes some chips that do that, but so far the only card that I've seen is a DVI-D port, which is Digital only. The DVI to Analog VGA adapters don't work on that expansion port.


I'll see what I can find for TV Out on the SDVO port.

I already know of a third party that makes a dual port LVDS SDVO add-on card, which I plan to order.. and Kontron is coming out with one of those, too.

I found a few solutions for adding different types of video out to this board, based on the Intel SDVO / PCI Express standard:

ProLink Computer

ADD-7301-DVI-R - $30 - DVI-D (Digital) card for Intel BTX chassis systems.
Unlikely this would be useful for anyone, unless they had a system based on the BTX chassis.

ADD-7301-DVI-N -$26 - DVI-D (Digital) card for ATX systems.
This is the DVI card that I have, same as the ADD2-DVI card from Kontron.

ADD-7312-DVI-T - $38 - DVI and S-Video port on the board, with an adapter cable for RGB video and Composite TV Out.

ADD-7315-DVI-T - $43 - Similar to the above, with a HDMI port instead of the DVI.



I would go for the ADD-7312-DVI-T card if you want TV Out.

Since they're all SDVO cards, they're using the on-board graphics chips, and thus should be able to have custom resolutions and display timings based on the Intel Embeded Graphics Drivers (IEGD) for Windows XP / Linux and others.

Possible solutions for mounting those PCI Express cards with a right-angle PCI Express Riser card:

SilverStone RC02
http://www.silverstonetek.com/products-rc02.htm

This adapter places the card at the top slot in a 2-slot case, with an extender to line the card up horizontally. This is designed for the Silverstone LC02 / LC04 cases, so they may not fit others.


Or:

Adex Electronics PEXP16-RX2:
http://www.risercards.com/itemdesc.a...c=PEXP16%2DRX2

Standard 2U riser card, puts the slot at the middle of three slots (top if it's two).

Choose the PEXP16RX1 version for the bottom slot of a 3-slot 2U server case, and the PEXP16RX3 version for the top slot.

And

Adex Electronics PEXP16-SX:
http://www.risercards.com/itemdesc.a...ic=PEXP16%2DSX

Height extender, which adds 1.05" to the PCI Express card.


The height extender is necessary, as it extends the PCI Express slot to line up with the PCI slot, allowing for cards to be plugged in.

I'm starting to realize one thing about this board - none of the small cases out there right now provide expansion slots to fit three cards:

• Two slots on the PCI Slot, via a 2-slot right angle PCI Riser card.
• One slot on the PCI Express / SDVO port.

The 2-slot PCI Riser from Kontron is #820982:
http://us.kontron.com/index.php?id=2...productid=1753

I asked about the riser a few weeks ago, and it wasn't available yet.. I'll ask again.


I currently have the board in an Opus ITX case, which I bought from MP3car.com with the shock mounting kit:
http://store.mp3car.com/ProductDetai...Code=ENC%2D003



The case is a very nicely designed case, no doubt about it, but I could see several areas that could use improvements.

I had thought about designing a height extension to this case to make for more room, but that too has some limitations.


So instead I'm (again) thinking of designing a custom case to fit the characteristics of this board.

eMachineShop.com's software is the tool of choice, but most likely I'll outsource the build of the case to someone else, if I can't do it myself.


Anybody else interested?

Ideas for desired case features are welcome..


I'll probably start a(nother) thread in Fabrication for this.

http://www.logicsupply.com/product_i...roducts_id/561

Originally Posted by Giuliano

The charge for a custom BIOS is reported to be around $350, on top of the $395 for the board..

Is it worth it, for this board's capabilities?


Maybe... I can cover the charge, and anybody else that wants it can have the bios.

-Giuliano

Giuliano, have you looked into Jetway's mini itx boards?
I know they lack the cpu power of the core duo, but they do support 800x480 right out of the box.
My C7 supports 800x480, as well as 1200x800, 1280x768 and 1400x1050. All of which are not found on most lvds enabled mainboards. And, considering the cost is under 200 with the lvds adapter....

Originally Posted by Motorcity

Giuliano, have you looked into Jetway's mini itx boards?
I know they lack the cpu power of the core duo, but they do support 800x480 right out of the box.
My C7 supports 800x480, as well as 1200x800, 1280x768 and 1400x1050. All of which are not found on most lvds enabled mainboards. And, considering the cost is under 200 with the lvds adapter....

Hadn't looked at them before, but I did now.. Nice, but not quite what I wanted.

The BIOS change required from Kontron was $0, so I wasn't out additional cost for that, other than the cost of the board.


Had my previous board - a Commell LV-671 - not bit the dust, I would have used that instead, as it supports 800x480 with the 1.6w bios or 2.1w bios versions.



Good find on the 2-slot flex riser - the jumper settings appear to be the same, so it's probably a good match.

Thanks for the suggestions Giuliano and MotorCity...

I was also facing the same problem with the Height/expansion possibilities of the case.. In my case, it is a VoomPC casing and the expansion posibilities is next to nothing.

If the on-board TV-Out doesnt work, I may have to ditch the VoomPC casing and go for some add-on cards as you suggested.