I run a small custom computer manufacturer and retail store in Western Canada. My colleagues and I are big on experimenting with modding and the like, and my latest idea is relatively simple in nature. But first, I need some advice.

Basically, my ultimate goal is to place a 17" LCD panel inside the case (a black Wave Master), behind a custom acrylic window. This would, of course, involve cutting a hole in the side panel of the case to fit the monitor's display area, placing the window in the hole as per normal, and adhering the frame of the monitor to the inside of the remaining metal on the case. I'd very much like to power it using the computer's internal PSU, so that everything turns on with one button.

Firstly, does anyone know where I can find a cheap, open-frame, 17" LCD monitor, preferably with a 16ms or faster response time? Also, any advice as to how this could be done? I am not worried about cooling; I have every safe computer cooling system known to man at my disposal.

It would be cool if you could put the screen on the backside {right side} because it would look reall good. but you would have to get a really thin monitor

*shrug* I was never all that big on case windows; I prefer to give my computers the "strong silent" look by enclosing them in black and shining lights through the vents.

then put it on the left side and it will still be cool ..This is gopnna be a sweet projjest

Yeh, well, as I said; I need to know where I can find an open-frame panel (the kind they use in kiosks) for a reasonable price, and with an external or no power supply.

" small custom computer manufacturer and retail store "

so why you asking us and not one of your supliers?

Look on ebay for your best bet.
Just dont try and be smart and get a laptop one, cause they are a ###### to get the video working.

Already tried my supplier. Trust me, they're useless.

probably where most monitor makers do. samsung directly

Have you tried doing a search?
http://www.google.com/search?q=17"%20...20lcd%20monitor

Hope you get it working, sounds like a really cool mod.

Ya dude EBay will be your best bet for a cheap one. I ussually get PS1 screens from there for my LCD screens that I place in car headrests and on the sides of PC's. They are versitile can be used for all sorts of good . from Car entertainment center monitors to PC secondary monitors and so on. But I would think you won't be able to power a 17 inch monitor from the power supply since they have there own power supply anyway. Here's what i would do is buy a double pole double throw 115 V switch and wire one side to the PC power and the other side to the monitor power power. I believe that would be the corect switch to seperate the two different volts.

Edit: That would not be a double pole double throw, it would be a double pole single throw, but you would also need some sort of relay system that would keep the monitor on because the monitor needs constant power and the PC on only needs a temporary on. Seems to me it would be more of a pain in the butt than it would be worth. It would still be cool if you had two switches to turn it on though. Another thing you should think about is how are you goign to open up the case with the monitor mounted in the window of the case side? The only LCD screen off hand I can think off that would fit on the Mother board side of the case would be a laptop LCD and then you have no converter to make it work anyway with out finding a way to use the laptop board to power the digital inverter. Anyway good luck.

i thought about that...i think it'd be pretty neat, because you could have your PC/monitor all in one, so it'd be really easy to take to lans/etc.

that's probably what i'm going to do, once i get a new lcd

YES labtop monitors...gerr so much time...wasted...for nothing

yeah, i was about to say...It's not VGA compatible! so htf would you get it to work? heh

never tried hooking up a laptop monitor to a vga signal...sounds interesting.

I won't work. Why you think I said you would have to figure out how to use the laptop motherboard to make the Laptop screen to work since the laptop screen is a digital signal. If I might be frank, this isn't rocket science here. The only plausable way to make your idea work is to get a 17inch LCD screen off Ebay or where ever, gut it make a frame on the window side of your case to hold this screen plug the screen into the VGA card Plug the screen into the wall, plug the PC in to the wall and your done. Otherwise like I said before if your going to use one switch you need a relay system like in a car to keep power to the monitor once the momentary on switch has been pressed. Anyway don't make it harder than it has to be other wise your making problems for yourself in the end.

Okay, I've got a plan. I'm bidding on a few crappy, used 15" BenQ monitors and I'm going to use the one I win as a test. I'll try it with whatever case I have lying around the lab; I saw an Antec Lanboy that looked promising. I talked to some people and they said that it's a simple matter of just removing the panel from its OEM casing. I'll drill a hole in the back and run the VGA cable out through there and back into the video card. As for power, I can just solder the power cord from the monitor to the cord from the power supply and wrap it in electrical tape. Yeah, it's a bit messy, but it'll work fine. The monitor does not need to be turned off; I forgot that it would have its own DPMS to go to standby mode when the PC is off. Look for pictures in a few weeks.

If this works, I'll get a Dell Ultrasharp 1703FP, which is the best 17" panel for games, according to Maximum PC, and do it again with my case.