confirmation of uselessness re: motherboard eDP port

[bitrex]

ASRock seems to be the champion of motherboards with gimmicks. This
mini-ITX desktop PC motherboard:

<https://www.asrock.com/mb/Intel/H610M-ITXeDP/index.asp>

has an eDP port for connecting a laptop-like display to the iGPU,
ostensibily for mounting a side panel display _inside_ the case to show
through the window on the case, as the cool gamer kids do.

This associated product seemed to be on the market for 5 minutes but
seems to be discontinued, or never actually fully went to market in the
first place:

<https://www.asrock.com/mb/spec/product.asp?Model=13.3%E2%80%9D%20Side%20Panel%20Kit>

The port on the motherboard is 40 pin but accepts an 88441-style male
plug, not directly compatible with common eDP laptop panels I don't
think. And comparing the pinout in the mobo user manual they've used a
variant this standard 40 pin eDP pinout:

<Loading Image...>

but the pin assignment is reversed top-to-bottom. Also as I understand
it eDP doesn't have any standardized way of controlling backlight
brightness there are a couple ways of doing it and one would have to
probe the motherboard port to find out which method is being used it and
then either find a compatible display or implement one's own backlight
control hardware.

That is to say I just want to make sure they really worked to make this
port useless without their bespoke hardware so I don't have to waste any
more time thinking about interesting things one could do with an
internal eDP port if they hadn't done that, thanks!

[john larkin]

Post by bitrex
ASRock seems to be the champion of motherboards with gimmicks. This
<https://www.asrock.com/mb/Intel/H610M-ITXeDP/index.asp>
has an eDP port for connecting a laptop-like display to the iGPU,
ostensibily for mounting a side panel display _inside_ the case to show
through the window on the case, as the cool gamer kids do.
This associated product seemed to be on the market for 5 minutes but
seems to be discontinued, or never actually fully went to market in the
<https://www.asrock.com/mb/spec/product.asp?Model=13.3%E2%80%9D%20Side%20Panel%20Kit>
The port on the motherboard is 40 pin but accepts an 88441-style male
plug, not directly compatible with common eDP laptop panels I don't
think. And comparing the pinout in the mobo user manual they've used a
<https://cdn.hackaday.io/images//8270581660348878152.png>
but the pin assignment is reversed top-to-bottom. Also as I understand
it eDP doesn't have any standardized way of controlling backlight
brightness there are a couple ways of doing it and one would have to
probe the motherboard port to find out which method is being used it and
then either find a compatible display or implement one's own backlight
control hardware.
That is to say I just want to make sure they really worked to make this
port useless without their bespoke hardware so I don't have to waste any
more time thinking about interesting things one could do with an
internal eDP port if they hadn't done that, thanks!

Do you have one of these?

https://www.amazon.com/MUSETEX-Pre-Installed-Type-C-Computer-Tempered/dp/B0C9H87GPK/ref=asc_df_B0C9H87GPK?mcid=75c84d27b864314eab874d561a626861&hvocijid=4571331019138210395-B0C9H87GPK-&hvexpln=73&tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=721245378154&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=4571331019138210395&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9031961&hvtargid=pla-2281435179298&psc=1

Why not?

[bitrex]

Post by john larkin

Post by bitrex
ASRock seems to be the champion of motherboards with gimmicks. This
<https://www.asrock.com/mb/Intel/H610M-ITXeDP/index.asp>
has an eDP port for connecting a laptop-like display to the iGPU,
ostensibily for mounting a side panel display _inside_ the case to show
through the window on the case, as the cool gamer kids do.
This associated product seemed to be on the market for 5 minutes but
seems to be discontinued, or never actually fully went to market in the
<https://www.asrock.com/mb/spec/product.asp?Model=13.3%E2%80%9D%20Side%20Panel%20Kit>
The port on the motherboard is 40 pin but accepts an 88441-style male
plug, not directly compatible with common eDP laptop panels I don't
think. And comparing the pinout in the mobo user manual they've used a
<https://cdn.hackaday.io/images//8270581660348878152.png>
but the pin assignment is reversed top-to-bottom. Also as I understand
it eDP doesn't have any standardized way of controlling backlight
brightness there are a couple ways of doing it and one would have to
probe the motherboard port to find out which method is being used it and
then either find a compatible display or implement one's own backlight
control hardware.
That is to say I just want to make sure they really worked to make this
port useless without their bespoke hardware so I don't have to waste any
more time thinking about interesting things one could do with an
internal eDP port if they hadn't done that, thanks!

Do you have one of these?
https://www.amazon.com/MUSETEX-Pre-Installed-Type-C-Computer-Tempered/dp/B0C9H87GPK/ref=asc_df_B0C9H87GPK?mcid=75c84d27b864314eab874d561a626861&hvocijid=4571331019138210395-B0C9H87GPK-&hvexpln=73&tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=721245378154&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=4571331019138210395&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9031961&hvtargid=pla-2281435179298&psc=1
Why not?

Not made in AMERICA!!!

Also water cooling desktop PCs is kind of silly and those fashion of
enclosure seem mostly for the kind of people who would buy audiophile
stuff and put extreme camber on their car's wheels.

[Don Y]

ASRock seems to be the champion of motherboards with gimmicks. This mini-ITX
<https://www.asrock.com/mb/Intel/H610M-ITXeDP/index.asp>
has an eDP port for connecting a laptop-like display to the iGPU, ostensibily
for mounting a side panel display _inside_ the case to show through the window
on the case, as the cool gamer kids do.

What would be the purpose of such an *extra* display? Do you envision
it as a second monitor that requires the PC to be located at eye level
(instead of beneath the work-surface)? Does that save anything
over just plugging a second EXTERNAL monitor into a second video
port (prettymuch commonplace, nowadays)

If you're just looking for a nominal "information display", then something
that hangs off a ubiquitous internal USB or serial port seems a safer
bet (I have a little "module" that I use for such a purpose -- mainly to
tell me why a boot goes awry)

This associated product seemed to be on the market for 5 minutes but seems to
<https://www.asrock.com/mb/spec/product.asp?Model=13.3%E2%80%9D%20Side%20Panel%20Kit>
The port on the motherboard is 40 pin but accepts an 88441-style male plug, not
directly compatible with common eDP laptop panels I don't think. And comparing
the pinout in the mobo user manual they've used a variant this standard 40 pin
<https://cdn.hackaday.io/images//8270581660348878152.png>
but the pin assignment is reversed top-to-bottom. Also as I understand it eDP
doesn't have any standardized way of controlling backlight brightness there are
a couple ways of doing it and one would have to probe the motherboard port to
find out which method is being used it and then either find a compatible
display or implement one's own backlight control hardware.
That is to say I just want to make sure they really worked to make this port
useless without their bespoke hardware so I don't have to waste any more time
thinking about interesting things one could do with an internal eDP port if
they hadn't done that, thanks!

[bitrex]

Post by bitrex
ASRock seems to be the champion of motherboards with gimmicks. This
<https://www.asrock.com/mb/Intel/H610M-ITXeDP/index.asp>
has an eDP port for connecting a laptop-like display to the iGPU,
ostensibily for mounting a side panel display _inside_ the case to
show through the window on the case, as the cool gamer kids do.

What would be the purpose of such an *extra* display?  Do you envision
it as a second monitor that requires the PC to be located at eye level
(instead of beneath the work-surface)?  Does that save anything
over just plugging a second EXTERNAL monitor into a second video
port (prettymuch commonplace, nowadays)
If you're just looking for a nominal "information display", then something
that hangs off a ubiquitous internal USB or serial port seems a safer
bet (I have a little "module" that I use for such a purpose -- mainly to
tell me why a boot goes awry)

Right. I usually buy ASus, I already regret my decision with this one.
Independent of its quirky hardware layout its got some BIOS quirks that
are less fun

[Don Y]

Post by bitrex

ASRock seems to be the champion of motherboards with gimmicks. This mini-ITX
<https://www.asrock.com/mb/Intel/H610M-ITXeDP/index.asp>
has an eDP port for connecting a laptop-like display to the iGPU,
ostensibily for mounting a side panel display _inside_ the case to show
through the window on the case, as the cool gamer kids do.

What would be the purpose of such an *extra* display?  Do you envision
it as a second monitor that requires the PC to be located at eye level
(instead of beneath the work-surface)?  Does that save anything
over just plugging a second EXTERNAL monitor into a second video
port (prettymuch commonplace, nowadays)
If you're just looking for a nominal "information display", then something
that hangs off a ubiquitous internal USB or serial port seems a safer
bet (I have a little "module" that I use for such a purpose -- mainly to
tell me why a boot goes awry)

Right. I usually buy ASus, I already regret my decision with this one.
Independent of its quirky hardware layout its got some BIOS quirks that are
less fun

For me, it's most often Dell or HP -- and, likely a server instead of
a desktop machine. Less reliance on "dubious" documentation and a
passing interest in a particular product offering. (gotta wonder how
much care goes into folks offering LOTS of "different" product!)

As I said, upthread, you can likely find a relatively easy way of
adding an "internal" display off an internal USB port (even it the
port is just implemented on an 8-pin header).

The last HDMI cable that I rescued had a USBC-HDMI adapter hanging
off the end.

Of course, then you need a *real* "display" and not just a "panel".

Perhaps embed a *tablet*, powered from the main power supply and
linked via USB or a wireless protocol?

[As I said, I just use a text-only module to give me the most recent
text on the serial port. The display I use is tiny -- like 2 lines
of 16. But, I've modified it so I can scroll left/right, up/down
AND have modified the boot messages so there is less of a NEED to do
those things; often the messages just remind me that I've left
a thumb drive plugged in that isn't bootable, etc.]

As for "regret", few such decisions are "permanent". (I brought home
four 2U 2200VA UPSs yesterday and now have to find a place for them.
Far more likely to prove "regrettable"!)

[Don Y]

Post by Don Y
[As I said, I just use a text-only module to give me the most recent
text on the serial port.  The display I use is tiny -- like 2 lines
of 16.  But, I've modified it so I can scroll left/right, up/down
AND have modified the boot messages so there is less of a NEED to do
those things; often the messages just remind me that I've left
a thumb drive plugged in that isn't bootable, etc.]

Coincidentally, I rescued a small NAS (10x3T) today with a similar
internal "2 line" display. Hung off a serial port header.

But, I suspect they limit their content *to* exactly 2x16 characters
instead of supporting a more capable interface (that requires scrolling
and a history buffer)

[Amusingly, an ASUSTOR -- which I understand to be an ASUS spinoff?]