Retro LCD - A perfect retro-gaming LCD panel

With this case for "recycled" iPad 3/4 LCD panels widely available on AliExpress, you can enjoy a perfect 4:3 retro-gaming experience.

The screen uses USB Type C for power and Mini HDMI for Video. There is also a DP over USB-C port, but i wasn't able to try it properly. It should work though since it seems to be working for other people.

I'm not equipped to make proper input lag measurements, but that screen is widely considered as "lag free" and I didn't notice any particular lag in my playing time.

You'll also need the following in order to complete the build :

• 10x 5mm long M2 5mm hex head screws (6 and 7 mm should also work)
• 10x M2 brass inserts
• 2x 20 mm M5 screws
• 2x M5 nuts
• A soldering iron to push the bass inserts (any cheap iron should do)
• Optional : A 2mm thick 168 x 210 mm large glass panel. If you intend to use this, You'll need to print the dedicated “LCD Frame (Front Glass Panel)” part

Note : there are several controller boards available for that replacement iPad panel. Make sure to use the exact model shown on the pictures. There are several vendors that sell the right model at different price points. The following link is the vendor I grabbed mine. I bought two of them and both arrived quickly and extremely well packaged, so it's a safe choice, but you're free to try other ones.

For more detailed building instructions, see the following Instructables link : https://www.instructables.com/Retro-LCD-a-Perfect-43-Retro-Gaming-Experience/

Screen and driver board available here : https://fr.aliexpress.com/item/1005005950409168.html?spm=a2g0o.detail.pcDetailTopMoreOtherSeller.1.20712tyL2tyLHE&gps-id=pcDetailTopMoreOtherSeller&scm=1007.40050.354490.0&scm_id=1007.40050.354490.0&scm-url=1007.40050.354490.0&pvid=c891c30e-44b1-41e4-bc51-302893032cad&_t=gps-id:pcDetailTopMoreOtherSeller,scm-url:1007.40050.354490.0,pvid:c891c30e-44b1-41e4-bc51-302893032cad,tpp_buckets:668%232846%238110%231995&pdp_npi=4%40dis%21EUR%2160.10%2160.10%21%21%21462.67%21462.67%21%402103892f17099982496368401efee0%2112000034992500809%21rec%21FR%213069492711%21&utparam-url=scene%3ApcDetailTopMoreOtherSeller%7Cquery_from%3A

Main Parts

There are a few parts to print. (overall 6h30 to print everything on my Bambu A1 Mini with standard settings and 0.4 mm nozzle)

The four "Main" parts (LCD Frame, Inner wall, Back Plate, Foot) must be printed facing down on the bed, at 15 to 20% infill, with no supports and no raft. Lower end printers such as Ender 3 might need to use a brim, though, to prevent warping, which could be problematic when assembling.

The "Hinge Tube" needs to be printed twice. The "standard" PLA tube works just fine, but you'll have to tighten the hinges pretty much in order to ensure the stability of the foot.

Optional parts

If you prefer, I also added an optional "TPU hinge tube". This one is 0.5mm longer than the hinge channels. When tightening the screw, the flexible tube will be compressed and will expand ever so slightly, making a much better contact against the channel inner surface, providing better stability and a smoother experience. If you have the possibility of printing TPU, I strongly recommend using this version in place of the standard one. But if you don't (or don't wanna bother), the standard one will work just fine (as long as the screw remains tight)

The "Tab holder" parts are completely optional and are simply meant to help stabilizing the display in the case. The standard one have to be printed three times and the "smaller" one is intended to go on the lower right corner when facing the inner side of the frame. You just need to print this one once.

Note : The overall case is 179 mm tall so it does fit on a 180*180 mm bed, such as a Prusa MINI or a Bambu Labs A1 Mini, but you'll have to split all of the main components in half in the width direction, using the "cut" tool of your slicer. Everything should fit just nicely on larger printers

2024/10/19 - Update : New front glass panel option - I just included an optional thicker “LCD Frame - Glass Panel” part. This new version takes a 2mm thick glass panel (168 x 210 mm) that goes in front of the screen, improving the overall protection and feel of the screen.