Mounting A Thermal Probe LCD Readout

Most mobos have some kind of hardware monitoring softwares included in the installation CD. These softwares are used to monitor your mobo and CPU temperature, and sometimes your case temperatures, if they supply you with a probe, like Abit does.

Other swear by other proggies like the infamous Motherboard Monitor. Even some graphics card manufacturers too includes some form of monitoring softwares. Well, for those of you who doesn't have that luxury, like me, but still would like to monitor the temperatures of the various components of your PC, here's an easier way.

You will need an LCD Temperature display unit to start with. You're gonna mount them on your PC faceplate, so you'll need something like the Senfu LCD Temp. display unit. You can get it from MultiplayCity, the distributor for it in Singapore. It cost S$20 each. It has a thermistor as the probe and has a sampling rate of 3 seconds.

You can also find those used for fishtanks, but they come with a 4mm metal probe and the sampling rate is very slow, not very good for taking the temperatures of your CPU or graphics card.

Senfu LCD Temp. Gauge. Click to enlarge

The package Click to enlarge

The thermistor probe Click to enlarge

Specs. Click to enlarge

You will also need a blank faceplate from your PC to mount them on. I'll be mounting two of these LCDs on the faceplate.

Blank faceplate Click to enlarge

Centre line marked Click to enlarge

The Senfu LCD kit comes with a mounting bracket and this makes the marking of the holes on the faceplate a little easier. Just place it on your faceplate and trace the inner hole of the bracket onto the faceplate. You can use a pencil for this, or even better, a thin felt tip marker.

The mounting plate as template Click to enlarge

Line it up with the faceplate Click to enlarge

You should get something like this after marking.

Markings in pencil Click to enlarge

Darken markings with marker Click to enlarge

I will using a Dremel to cut the holes out. If you do not have one, you can always drill a hole within the markings and use a coping saw. I am using those cut-off wheels that had got smaller due to some serious case hacking! The small size of the wheels also makes it easier to cut the shorter section of the rectangular hole. Then use a small file to get the hole to size.

Small file Click to enlarge

Cut-off wheel Click to enlarge

Cutting up the rectangular hole Click to enlarge

Longer edge cut first Click to enlarge

Secure the faceplate to a small vice and start cutting the holes.

The whole operation shouldn't take you more than 5 minutes. You can see that some of the plastic has melted due to the heat generated by the wheel. Just use the small file to remove them and file the hole to the correct size.

First hole done Click to enlarge

Both holes completed Click to enlarge

After filing off to size
Click to enlarge

Next, test the LCD panel's fit to the holes. It should not be too tight or too loose, just nice for the clips at the back of the LCD panel to lock onto the faceplate. The probe measures 1m in length, enough to be put just about anywhere in a full tower case.

LCDs mounted Click to enlarge

Rear view Click to enlarge

There you have it! You're now ready to mount it on your case front bezel and start to monitor your CPU or graphics card temperatures! Lemme know if this guide has helped you in anyway!