Quick Look: Lamptron HX070 7" Hardware Monitor

[Darksaber]

Lamptron is known for its fan controllers and PC accessories. On the higher-end of that spectrum, you will find portable, USB-powered displays like the HX070. This 7" fully-fledged HDMI display coupled with the included software provides a window into your system's health and may even be mounted inside your case.

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[TechLurker]

I've got nothing against Lamptron for adapting and rebranding parts to stay relevant, but at this point, one is just paying for the branding and the asking cost for the convenience of having AIDA64 display presets made up and already available to ship on short notice.

A near-identical kit can be found from Aliexpress for cheaper, but one would have to wait for overseas shipping (just search up AIDA64 Screen and there's a variety). This could probably also be done with a more generic ~7" screen that also uses USB-C and HDMI/DP from Amazon; I've seen a few custom rigs using similar for their own in build logs. To add to the concept of screens within the case, Barrowch also makes a wide and narrow screen that is sized for 240 radiators (FBEHD-01).

I wonder if Lamptron will also bring over variations of the RGB and aRGB-enhanced aesthetic panels:

• Mirrored I/O panels
• Mirrored vertical GPU stands
• Horizontal GPU braces
• GPU backplates
• PSU infinity mirror cover (that fits over the PSU shroud facing up or facing out towards the panel)
• Infinity front panel replacements for select PC cases

There's definitely a market for such stateside (I'm not one of them; I bore of static art or mirrors fast), and having some basic US quality control over rebranded Aliexpress parts would inspire some confidence in novelty PC aesthetics. Or Lamptron can serve as a US-based reseller that orders pre-customized RGB panels; offering selections that don't feature anime or game girls as options like Aliexpress options (though one could also order a custom print on Aliexpress; as safe or lewd as the user desires).

 

[DeathtoGnomes]

Why something like this doesnt connect via bluetooth yet is beyond me. Its not like it needs large amounts of bandwidth as a system monitor.

 

[Patriot]

Why something like this doesnt connect via bluetooth yet is beyond me. Its not like it needs large amounts of bandwidth as a system monitor.

because its a $40 aliexpress repurposed tablet screen. its just a generic cheap panel with a driver board.

 

[Blue4130]

because its a $40 aliexpress repurposed tablet screen. its just a generic cheap panel with a driver board.

Well Ali express is the king repository of $2 Bluetooth widgets.

 

[londiste]

Basically a $150 HDMI display? The value proposition beyond a 7" IPS panel from AliExpress for $40-50 is mounting hardware and software (which is not that specific to Lamptron).

Why something like this doesnt connect via bluetooth yet is beyond me. Its not like it needs large amounts of bandwidth as a system monitor.

That would actually be quite nice (although probably it would be better with USB as it needs power anyway) but that would imply some type of computer in it - that increases price even if its something like pi - and software - which is not all that straightforward.

 

[Breit]

Does this actually extend your Windows desktop? This is VERY inconvenient.
Getting your Mouse trapped on some screen somewhere is annoying. Windows 10 has a feature where you coul detach a display from the Windows desktop and use it as a so called special-purpose display. This would be ideal for a sensor panel. But I guess if this only uses the AIDA sensor panel feature, this will sadly not be supported.
Also depending on your GPU, this could lead to the BIOS screen being displayed there, which is also not fun.

 

[londiste]

Windows 10 has a feature where you coul detach a display from the Windows desktop and use it as a so called special-purpose display. This would be ideal for a sensor panel.

I already became interested but that feature seems to be edition-specific and requires either W10 Enterprise or W10 Pro for Workstations :/

Semi-offtopic:
I was/am planning to use a 5" touchscreen for monitoring. For now the plan is to use a separate machine to run it both due to lack of free HDMI on my GPU and the same aforementioned problem about desktop extending to that monitor. If extending desktop could be avoided, that would be something to think about.

Using a separate machine to run the display is honestly PITA due to software. I am not too capable of clobbering something together from various pieces of software for gathering monitoring data, sending it over network and displaying it in a configurable pretty way. Linux would be easier but for Windows most solutions are either bloat as hell, the display layout looks ugly or there is some weird technical problem. Using a Linux machine - like Pi - seems to be painful for a couple software reasons unless I learn how to script or better write something myself. The current solution is a small x86 box with Rainmeter using HWInfo's remote monitoring - which HWInfo made a paid feature recently so probably will try to find an alternative.

 

[Breit]

Hmm OK, thats a bummer. Didn't know that. I have W10 Pro for Workstation and have thought about programming a sensor panel app myself using this special-purpose display feature using a cheap 7" HDMI panel from Amazon.

So this option isn't there on Win 10 Home/Pro?

 

[londiste]

So this option isn't there on Win 10 Home/Pro?

Nope. Running W10 Pro, checked just now.

 

[Breit]

Hmm, maybe in W11 then?

 

[Chrispy_]

Now that nobody is buying these displays for their ETH mining rigs, the marketing departments have to find other customers for all of their inventory!

Not a bad bundle for something internally-mounted in an ATX case I guess, but like all of these internal displays it really sucks that internal HDMI headers are so rare on both dGPUs and motherboards.

Pricing is about 50% higher than the going rate for a 1024*600 panel but you do get a nice internal mounting bracket and the build quality looks better than the $90-100 options I'm familiar with so it's reasonable to pay over the odds for that added convenience, assuming you do plan to use this internally.

 

[AusWolf]

It reminds me of my noname 7" 1024x600 touchscreen that I use to run GPU-Z Sensors and Windows task manager (occasionally HWinfo) in the background for monitoring purposes. Cool stuff, just a lot more expensive than mine.

 

[ThermoCycle]

"$150 for a 7 inch display ? That's way too expensive"
*you can have an anime girl dancing in your computer*
"Nevermind, take my money"

 

[Mussels]

Hmm OK, thats a bummer. Didn't know that. I have W10 Pro for Workstation and have thought about programming a sensor panel app myself using this special-purpose display feature using a cheap 7" HDMI panel from Amazon.

So this option isn't there on Win 10 Home/Pro?
View attachment 204546

when the hell did that setting get added???? That would have resolved all the issues i had before selling my HDMI receiver!

edit: not here on pro, wtf that feature is a must have for HDMI audio on PC

 

[Breit]

when the hell did that setting get added???? That would have resolved all the issues i had before selling my HDMI receiver!

edit: not here on pro, wtf that feature is a must have for HDMI audio on PC

A while back, must have been 1903 or something. It's a neat feature, especially for HDMI Audio for sure. It's beyond me why MS artificially limit this to W10 ProWS or Enterprise.

 

[Mussels]

A while back, must have been 1903 or something. It's a neat feature, especially for HDMI Audio for sure. It's beyond me why MS artificially limit this to W10 ProWS or Enterprise.

i am seething with hatred right now.
I have been fighting with that issue for years, AND THEY HAVE HAD THE FIX ALL ALONG?!?!??

 

[Breit]

i am seething with hatred right now.
I have been fighting with that issue for years, AND THEY HAVE HAD THE FIX ALL ALONG?!?!??

Is this because you have your main display connected with DP and thus you need an additional active HDMI display to pass digital HQ audio to your receiver?
If your main display is connected via HDMI, you may also use a HDMI splitter?!

Edit: This splitter setup will probably break HDCP, so this can be an issue if that is important to you.

 

[Mussels]

Is this because you have your main display connected with DP and thus you need an additional active HDMI display to pass digital HQ audio to your receiver?
If your main display is connected via HDMI, you may also use a HDMI splitter?!

Edit: This splitter setup will probably break HDCP, so this can be an issue if that is important to you.

it was the issue of needing video to get audio

So if you wanted anything other than 1080p60 or 4k60, your audio setup had to be an 'active' monitor if it was over HDMI - which is what everyones mad about here, capturing the cursor and screwing with things

 

[Breit]

Yeah I know that. First card that could do 4K120 is the Nvidia 3000 series, but good luck trying to find a HDMI 2.1 receiver.

 

[Tom Sunday]

Nice little expensive gimmick! Saw one of these 'sensor-displays' inside a Cosmos C700M at the recent computer show right next to big sign annoucing: "Take off 10% on any item if you pay cash." The 'open case' sensor-display certainly attracted a crowd gawking across the folding tables. The bargain hunters called it a mini-TV. Possibly a AliExpress contraption? I thought immediiately that however nobody ever comes to our house for a look-see or "Wolfenstein Party" in my basement command center. Thus no show and tell or bragging rights. Well Mom does come down daily to see if I made my bunk in the back corner or telling me that 'Hamburger Helper' is being served-up on the kitchen table and that the sun is shining.

 

[silentbogo]

So this option isn't there on Win 10 Home/Pro?

Haven't tried it yet, but there is an option in nVidia control panel.

How to Remove Display from Desktop in Windows 10

How to Remove Display from Desktop in Windows 10 You can prevent Windows 10 from using a connected display without having to disconnect the display, and then easily allowing Windows 10 to use the display again when wanted. This essentially allows you to r

www.tenforums.com

I have a few W10 Enterprise LTSC machines, but I'm sure there are workarounds on W10Pro for Intel and AMD graphics too. Gotta check it out when my portable monitor arrives.

Nice little expensive gimmick!

Definitely overpriced for what it is. There are tons of 7-12" FHD portable panels in sub $100 category. Last week I bought a 15.6" FHD portable monitor w/ touchscreen for a little mobile setup at work. It was a tad less than $200, but came with IPS panel that does HDR. Another unit is on the way along with my cheap-o 13.3" non-touch panel ($80 with carrying folder). What's cool about these, is that all of them have a proper 75mm VESA mount and not some jerryrigged bracket. Heck, it's >$40 more expensive than LG-made Retina displays for RaspberryPi.

 

[Mussels]

Haven't tried it yet, but there is an option in nVidia control panel.

How to Remove Display from Desktop in Windows 10

How to Remove Display from Desktop in Windows 10 You can prevent Windows 10 from using a connected display without having to disconnect the display, and then easily allowing Windows 10 to use the display again when wanted. This essentially allows you to r

www.tenforums.com

I have a few W10 Enterprise LTSC machines, but I'm sure there are workarounds on W10Pro for Intel and AMD graphics too. Gotta check it out when my portable monitor arrives.


Definitely overpriced for what it is. There are tons of 7-12" FHD portable panels in sub $100 category. Last week I bought a 15.6" FHD portable monitor w/ touchscreen for a little mobile setup at work. It was a tad less than $200, but came with IPS panel that does HDR. Another unit is on the way along with my cheap-o 13.3" non-touch panel ($80 with carrying folder). What's cool about these, is that all of them have a proper 75mm VESA mount and not some jerryrigged bracket. Heck, it's >$40 more expensive than LG-made Retina displays for RaspberryPi.

doesnt work - that 100% removes the panel, so it cant do audio either (i found the same article, then edited it from my post)

 

[Super XP]

Well Ali express is the king repository of $2 Bluetooth widgets.

Ali Express is The BEST, for some things. Can't beat the prices and you buy directly from the manufacturers. You will notice ebay and Amazon is flooded with Ali Express merchandize but for a higher cost of course. The difference on Amazon is Free Shipping & much quicker Shipping. So most of the time its worth paying the extra to get the product 15 to 30+ days sooner.