New Part Day: Flush-mount Touchscreen For Retro PC Build
The author recently obtained the Elecrow 11.6″ CrowVision touchscreen, a pre-release model scheduled for 2024, proving instrumental in realizing a retro-inspired PC build. This display, available for pre-order on Crowd Supply, offers a 1366 x 768 resolution, HDMI input, USB touch data output, and seamless compatibility with single-board computers like the Raspberry Pi.
The Elecrow display’s physical features, including a sleek, borderless black front and secure mounting options, make it an ideal choice for custom enclosures. Notably, its width aligns well with the Raspberry Pi 400, enhancing the aesthetic appeal of the retro build. With a focus on cable management, the display’s driver board placement and versatile mounting solution simplify the integration process.
The Elecrow display accepts 12 V power and can supply 5 V power to an attached single-board computer, streamlining power requirements. The retro-inspired PC build, named Celestia, ingeniously incorporates the Elecrow display into a 3D-printed enclosure, designed for a one-piece form factor using either a Raspberry Pi 400 or a Raspberry Pi 4 8GB Desktop Kit. Design files for Celestia, available on GitHub, offer a work-in-progress blueprint with essential components and assembly guidelines.
Celestia’s keyboard options include the official Raspberry Pi keyboard or an Raspberry Pi 400, both seamlessly blending into the retro aesthetics with matte white finishes. To complete the retro look, the author added the cool retro terminal software, adjusting the Raspberry Pi desktop for fullscreen mode. Furthermore, Max Woolf’s simpleaichat software facilitates a whimsical touch by enabling a fictional 80s supercomputer AI chat. In essence, the Elecrow display emerges as a crucial component, not only meeting technical requirements but also aligning perfectly with the desired retro aesthetics, culminating in the completion of the visually striking Celestia build.
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