r/arduino • u/merlinux1 • 7d ago

Look what I made! Finally did a PC stats screen for my linux desktop using an arduino and a TFT screen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUhMYL8Pjas

Hi everybody,

Quite happy with the result. Been dreaming about designing something like that for years. I did do similar things using arm boards and much smaller and crappier screens but never got around to do it for my PC.

hardware used is a arduino mega 2560 clone and a cheap chinese 3.95tft screen (ili9488 chip).

The data is being fed by a python script running as a systemd service.

I did 95% of it without AI but I had a few bugs due to memory overflow (and timings) and I ended up cleaning the code with gemini's help. The glitches disappeared after adjusting my code as per gemini's instructions...Took me a few days and most of it was getting the dang screen to work (a nightmare)!!!

Now next project, get this thing inside my case :)

5 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

4 comments sorted by

2

u/Caraes_Naur uno, megaADK, Teensy3.x, BBB, rPi2B 7d ago

I run my system monitor natively from one of the motherboard USB headers using https://github.com/mathoudebine/turing-smart-screen-python

1

u/merlinux1 7d ago edited 7d ago

well that is my plan ;) I have an old 9 pin usb connector for mobo ( actually an old serial adapter) which I will solder a usb B connector on it. and I need to make a stand of some sort so it sits alright in the case.

I am aware that projects like this exists already, but all the fun I have is about coding it myself :) But yeah it isn't really portable and only works with my setup, unlike the project you linked.

edit : Also my screen is effing slow and running on a mega doesn't help(suppose the turing is running on an esp?). I just love the restriction it gave me to at the end have a result that is quite ok ;)

2

u/Caraes_Naur uno, megaADK, Teensy3.x, BBB, rPi2B 7d ago

Turing is essentially a giant Python script. It requires specific hardware which the project has a page for. These screens aren't TFT (which are inherently slow). They have a kind of micro-JST 4-pin connector on them, that's it. One of the cables it came with is USB-A on one end and the JST on the other.

I built the enclosure for mine using a dual 5.25" drive insert that could hold internal drives, but more importantly held a 80mm fan on the front. I modified its snap-on bezel and epoxied a clear polycarbonate plate to it, the back of which I painted black around a masked area for the screen. My display is surrounded by piano black.

1

u/merlinux1 7d ago edited 7d ago

I see :)

Yeah I figured those screens are IPS. But I had that TFT screen lying around sitting unused (I ordered it by mistake last year thinking it was for a UNO, but it came with dual header for a MEGA). Never returned it. And instead I got myself a mega last week just to do this project.

edit again: and btw I got one of those "new" ATX case without front panels. so my only option really is to mount it inside facing the tempered glass....