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YOU CAN 3D PRINT A DESKTOP MONITOR THAT PLAYS EVERY RETRO CONSOLE YOU OWN

A 3D-printed desktop monitor in a retro TV shape that accepts HDMI, VGA, component, S-video and composite, built around a 9.7-inch iPad 3/4 replacement panel.

by RetroBuiltGames (Ryan)

FULL CAD BOM FIRMWARE DOCS

WorkshopDisplays

Built with3D printing

difficulty
●●●●○
time
a weekend-plus
license
CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0
repo
repo ACTIVE53 stars

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

Videos
1
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COMPAREE VERDICT

This is a thoughtful answer to a real problem: old consoles and computers output composite, S-video, component and VGA signals that many modern displays handle badly. The PixelVision AV-1000 Mk II takes HDMI, VGA, component, S-video and composite in one 3D-printed box for about 168 dollars in parts, with built-in stereo speakers. It is built around a new 9.7-inch 2048x1536 iPad 3/4 replacement panel bought with its HDMI driver board, plus an off-the-shelf scan line converter for the analogue inputs. The repository includes the printable shell (3MF), STEP files, KiCad files for two optional helper PCBs, a priced BOM and an assembly PDF, and the video has an assembly section. The work is in printing about 30 hours of parts and wiring power, audio and video neatly inside a tight enclosure; you also need a long-reach Torx T8 driver for the thread-forming screws. The licence is CC BY-NC-SA 4.0, so it is for personal builds. If you own a pile of old consoles and a reliable printer, this is a satisfying weekend-plus build.

GOOD TO KNOW

  • —3MF print files for the shell, STEP files for modifications, KiCad files for two optional helper PCBs and an assembly PDF are all in the repository.
  • —Full bill of materials with supplier links is provided. Estimated cost is about 168 dollars.
  • —The core component is a new 9.7-inch 2048x1536 iPad 3/4 replacement panel sold with an HDMI driver board (about 50 dollars on AliExpress).
  • —An assembly steps PDF and the video's assembly section walk through the build, from printing to wiring and fitting the shell.
  • —No firmware to flash: the LCD driver board and the scan line converter are commercial modules.
  • —Licence is CC BY-NC-SA 4.0: personal builds are permitted, selling completed monitors is not.

Parts to buy

7 items

From our check of the build. Exact quantities and part numbers are in the creator’s BOM.

  • 9.7-inch 2048x1536 HDMI LCDFind
  • Scan line converterFind
  • Two speakers and a PAM8406 ampFind
  • 12 V 3 A supplyFind
  • Slim HDMI and audio cablesFind
  • Panel-mount jacks and switchFind
  • Screws and a springFind

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Can I build this?

PrintFull shell in multiple parts: rear body, front bezel, yoke, LCD and speaker brackets, IO panel, buttons and swivel base — about 877 g and 30 hours at 15% infill.
Buy9.7-inch 2048x1536 HDMI LCD (iPad 3/4 replacement panel with driver), scan line converter, two speakers and a PAM8406 amp, 12 V 3 A supply, slim HDMI and audio cables, panel-mount jacks and switch, screws and a spring. Full priced BOM in the repository.
Tools3D printer (bed around 200 mm), a long-reach (at least 100 mm) Torx T8 driver for the thread-forming screws, soldering iron, flush cutters, heat-shrink tubing and a heat source.
SkillsIntermediate: clean multi-part printing, soldering wires, routing cables in a confined space and assembling a multi-part enclosure. No firmware work.
TimeA weekend-plus. Printing takes about 30 hours (877 g of PLA); wiring and assembly take another day.
Cost$$, about 168 dollars in parts, dominated by the HDMI panel (about 51 dollars) and the scan line converter (about 48 dollars).
SafetyThe monitor runs from a 12 V DC adapter, so there is no mains voltage inside the enclosure. Ordinary soldering and electronics care.

Build at your own risk. Projects involve tools, electronics and sometimes mains voltage — follow the creator’s safety notes.

Videos

PixelVision AV-1000 Mk II build and demonstration

The creator's video showing the monitor with every input type; the assembly section starts at 14:51. The repository's assembly PDF fills in the details.

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Gallery

Start here

Navigation into the creator’s own docs — we don’t rewrite the guide, we route you to the source.

  1. 1.Read the assembly guide in the repository and watch the demonstration video to understand what you are building. (The assembly PDF and the video's assembly section (from 14:51) cover the build; check the 3D printing notes, including the mirrored LCD brackets.)
  2. 2.Order the 9.7-inch 2048x1536 HDMI LCD (panel with driver board) listed in the BOM.(It is a new replacement panel sold with its HDMI driver board, so there is nothing to harvest; handle the bare panel and its cable carefully.)
  3. 3.Order the scan line converter and the other electronics from the BOM.(The BOM links each part; the panel comes with its own HDMI driver board.)
  4. 4.Print the shell. Start with the rear housing to test fit before printing the full bezel.(Print time is long. If your printer is unreliable, test a smaller part first.)

Resources

Documentation, files and community threads for this build — we link straight to the original sources and never rehost the creator’s files.

KNOWN ISSUES

  • Blind screw holes need clean prints. The creator warns to block supports in them; otherwise the long M2.6 thread-forming screws will not seat.
  • You need a long-reach (at least 100 mm) Torx T8 driver for the thread-forming screws — a standard bit will not reach.
  • Wiring is the fiddly part: power, audio and video all run inside a tight shell. The two optional helper PCBs (audio and power) tidy this up, so consider building them.
  • This is the Mk II design; use the files and BOM from this repository rather than older Mk I material.
  • The licence is CC BY-NC-SA 4.0, so you cannot sell completed monitors. If you build one for a friend and they offer to pay materials, that is a grey area worth clarifying before you start.
  • Ribbon cable routing inside the enclosure is tight. Measure twice, route once, and leave slack for the hinged stand if your design includes it.

Can I use an iPad 2 or iPad Air panel instead of iPad 3/4?

No. The shell and brackets are designed around the 9.7-inch LP097QX1 iPad 3/4 replacement panel with its HDMI driver board. A different panel will not fit without redesigning the bezel.

Do I need to flash any firmware?

No. The LCD driver board and the scan line converter are off-the-shelf modules, so there is no firmware to flash; the work is printing and wiring.

What is the actual picture quality like compared to a real CRT?

It is an LCD panel running at 2048x1536, so it is sharp and bright but will not replicate CRT phosphor glow, scanlines or motion characteristics. It handles the signals cleanly, but it is a different aesthetic.

Can I buy a completed unit instead of building one?

No. The licence prohibits commercial sale. This is a personal-build-only project.

How hard is it to harvest the iPad panel without breaking it?

You do not harvest one. The build uses a new iPad 3/4 replacement panel that comes with its own HDMI driver board.

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Discussion1

FROM THE COMPAREE TEAM

About 168 dollars in parts for a 9.7-inch monitor that takes HDMI, VGA, component, S-video and composite. What would you plug into it first: a retro console, an old computer, or a modern board?

CompareeTEAM1mo agoedited

Practical notes from our verification: the repository is current and includes 3MF print files, STEP files, KiCad files for two optional helper PCBs (audio and power), an assembly steps PDF and a BOM with vendor links. The main YouTube video has an assembly section starting at 14:51, so you can follow along on video as well as from the PDF. The panel is not harvested from an old iPad: the BOM lists a new 9.7-inch 2048x1536 iPad 3/4 replacement panel sold with an HDMI driver board, plus a separate scan line converter for the analog inputs. The parts total in the README is about 168 dollars, including roughly 877 g of PLA and almost 30 hours of printing. You will need a long-reach Torx T8 driver for the thread-forming screws, and the creator warns to block supports in the blind screw holes. Correction (4 October 2026): we re-checked this page line by line against the project's own repository, documentation and videos, and fixed errors in earlier versions.

RetroBuiltGames (Ryan)

Ryan designs and builds retro gaming hardware projects, with a focus on making high-quality displays accessible to people who own old consoles but cannot afford the collector market prices for professional CRT monitors. The PixelVision AV-1000 Mk II is his answer to the problem of modern televisions refusing the signals those consoles output.

GitHub

Star the project on GitHub

DISCLAIMER

  • Comparee is not the author of the projects featured here. All rights to each project belong to its creator — every page links to the original source, and we never host creators’ files.
  • Information is provided without warranty and may become outdated as projects evolve. Prices are indicative bands only — always check the creator’s parts list for current costs.
  • Building and operating any project is at your own responsibility. Protective equipment, safe workshop practice and compliance with local regulations are the builder’s responsibility.
GitHub repo