OC3D Review: Crystalfontz CFA635 LCD
- Thread starter FarFarAway
- Start date
Nice review m8. Nice pix. Just a quick suggestion if you have a webcam or the like, record a short clip of the spectrum analyzer with Windows Movie Maker 
.
The review makes me want to get one
, but they're far too expensive for me 
.
Plus my case has a door which wld make it rather useless.
. The review makes me want to get one
, but they're far too expensive for me . Plus my case has a door which wld make it rather useless.
FarFarAway
New member
Yeah was thinking about that actually. I don't have a webcam but this camera does do that
WC Annihilus
New member
Very nice man. Get those other things sorted and it'll be just right
very nice kempz, h/e hows the cable management afterward? id be nice if u could post pics of inside ur case since u installed it. looks awesome yet too much for just an nice LCD screen in the case. also do the side brackets bend easy or rock solid? b/c i had an lcd fancontroller, made my inside case look like crapola, and the brackets were so bendable that when u pushed the buttons hard enough it push the face into the chasiss of the box.
FarFarAway
New member
I put that the brackets were sturdily constructed in the review. I don't know how much point there is taking pics of the inside of the case when installed as thats really quite a subjective thing. The picture with all the connections in it shows how many there actually are. I may get a pic of the case insides later today.
Love the unit and love the review kemp...totally awesome. As I said yesterday the 635 is sweeeeeet, and I'm ordering one this week :yumyum:
Considering that this was a review only, I would expect the wiring to be all over the shop. There are some really good pics of Crystalfontz units fully installed on their forum. Like here for example. Admittedly there are a lot of wires associated with the install, but it's flexibility and features far outway the wiring issue. Further, I do agree on the installation guide, it definitely needs a little more work...it's not friendly enough for the average joe. But the forum is certainly more comprehensivename='ai_01' said:
FarFarAway
New member
Yes its deffo worth the money. Its not just an LCD. It has temp monitor software along with fan RPM monitoring. I just added pics to the review of the fan + temp monitoring software.
If you take a look at the other screens out there then it beats most of them for price/features
If you take a look at the other screens out there then it beats most of them for price/features
Crystalfontz
New member
From this page:name='Dav0s' said:
http://www.crystalfontz.com/products/select_kit.html
You can use the pull-downs to build any kit. Just watch the pictures to see what is included. It looks like the reviewed units was a "DB635AK-TMF-KU3", here is a direct link:
http://www.crystalfontz.com/products/select_kit.html?kit=DB635AKTMFKU3
Crystalfontz
New member
Kempez:
Thanks for the review. I think you were bang on with everything, but I do have a couple of minor points I would like to clarify, and a few additional things I would like to point out.
Documentation: There is supposed to be a single-sheet install paper included with the USB displays. It is not much, but it at least tells where to get the drivers and software. Please accept my apologies for the missing sheet in your order.
Our main customers for this unit are OEMs that integrate the LCD into their product. They are usually interested in the more technical data sheet and typically write their own software.
Cabling: The kit you ordered also included a WREXTY15. This cable allows the SCAB to be mounted somewhere that is easy to access inside your PC case (the bottom of the power supply, for instance), and then have only a the single WREXTY15 connection between the SCAB and the CFA-635. JC uses that in his water cooling article:
Power-Up: By default, the CFA-635 is a USB device and will not power up until the OS is alive enough to enumerate the USB. By digging through the data sheet and changing some jumpers (soldering required) you can strap the CFA-635 power up immediately.
"Safe" Fan Control: As you mentioned, the CFA-635 combined with CC2 can do complex fan control. What if something happens to stop CC2? Worst case would be that CC2 had set the fans to slow, and you decide to kill a bunch of services to get the best performance before gaming. You kill the services (including CC2) and launch your game. Are the fans stuck at the slow speed, dooming your CPU? Nope. The CFA-635 has (and CC2 enables) "fail safe" firmware. If CC2 stops updating the fan speeds, the CFA-635 slams them to 100%, making sure the system is safe. The cable between the SCAB and the CFA-635 has the same sort of safety. If it is disconnected, the fans all go to full on.
LEDs: There are 4 bi-color LEDs on the CFA-635. By using a CC2 screen you can make them do things.
CC2 is still evolving. It comes with a good number of screens built-in, plus there are a bunch more created by CC2 users. There is a collection of the screens here.
Thanks for going to the effort of doing the review. We really appreciate your work.
Thanks for the review. I think you were bang on with everything, but I do have a couple of minor points I would like to clarify, and a few additional things I would like to point out.
Documentation: There is supposed to be a single-sheet install paper included with the USB displays. It is not much, but it at least tells where to get the drivers and software. Please accept my apologies for the missing sheet in your order.
Our main customers for this unit are OEMs that integrate the LCD into their product. They are usually interested in the more technical data sheet and typically write their own software.
Cabling: The kit you ordered also included a WREXTY15. This cable allows the SCAB to be mounted somewhere that is easy to access inside your PC case (the bottom of the power supply, for instance), and then have only a the single WREXTY15 connection between the SCAB and the CFA-635. JC uses that in his water cooling article:
Power-Up: By default, the CFA-635 is a USB device and will not power up until the OS is alive enough to enumerate the USB. By digging through the data sheet and changing some jumpers (soldering required) you can strap the CFA-635 power up immediately.
"Safe" Fan Control: As you mentioned, the CFA-635 combined with CC2 can do complex fan control. What if something happens to stop CC2? Worst case would be that CC2 had set the fans to slow, and you decide to kill a bunch of services to get the best performance before gaming. You kill the services (including CC2) and launch your game. Are the fans stuck at the slow speed, dooming your CPU? Nope. The CFA-635 has (and CC2 enables) "fail safe" firmware. If CC2 stops updating the fan speeds, the CFA-635 slams them to 100%, making sure the system is safe. The cable between the SCAB and the CFA-635 has the same sort of safety. If it is disconnected, the fans all go to full on.
LEDs: There are 4 bi-color LEDs on the CFA-635. By using a CC2 screen you can make them do things.
CC2 is still evolving. It comes with a good number of screens built-in, plus there are a bunch more created by CC2 users. There is a collection of the screens here.
Thanks for going to the effort of doing the review. We really appreciate your work.
FragTek
New member
OMG, I just noticed where Crystalfontz is based out of... SPOKANE VALLEY, w00t w00t!
I lived in Spokane for 10 years, tiz where I grew up and finished high-school / started college.
Rock on! When I make a trip back yall wanna show me ur production facility?
That's so wierd, man I wish I still lived in the northwest
I lived in Spokane for 10 years, tiz where I grew up and finished high-school / started college.
Rock on! When I make a trip back yall wanna show me ur production facility?
That's so wierd, man I wish I still lived in the northwest
Crystalfontz
New member
Ya. Just give us a call before hand so we know you are coming. Ask for Brent or Brian.FragTek said:OMG, I just noticed where Crystalfontz is based out of... SPOKANE VALLEY, w00t w00t!
I lived in Spokane for 10 years, tiz where I grew up and finished high-school / started college.
Rock on! When I make a trip back yall wanna show me ur production facility?
That's so wierd, man I wish I still lived in the northwest
FarFarAway
New member
Thanks for the clarification on those issues. I'll take another look at those features but I am writing this from the point of view of a consumer. CC2 is a very good piece of software and although I've been playing around with it there is a lot left still to figure out.
also the information that you mention is quite hard to come by on you site I feel although it is all there and Tech support is very good (as we have just seen)
EDIT: review has actually been edited
also the information that you mention is quite hard to come by on you site I feel although it is all there and Tech support is very good (as we have just seen)
EDIT: review has actually been edited
watertown1978
New member
I am sorry I will stick with my DigiDoc 5. does almost the same thing and i can do 8 of each iinstead of 4
FarFarAway
New member
8 of each what?
