With an LCD replacement mod kit you can transform your Atari Lynx to look and feel like a modern day console. These kits feature contemporary LCD displays with nice and clear graphics and vibrant colours. You no longer have to turn and twist your Lynx to get the best image! The quality in picture compared to the original is like night and day.
Note: we specifically do not include any copycat Chinese versions of these kits in this listing as they undermine the original developer's creativity, engineering skill and revenue.
There are other mods you can do to your Lynx, see more here - Atari Lynx Hardware Mods.
LCD Mod Kits
BennVenn IPS LCD Screen Kit
An inexpensive, modern IPS LCD screen mod kit for both Atari Lynx models 1 and 2. With multiple scanline options, ribbon cable (solderless on Lynx model 2, requires soldering on Lynx model 1) install, brightness control and VGA output. We have a number of installation guides here.
Where to get
- Atari Lynx Vault / K-Retro Gaming Store (Australia) - Focusing on Oceania and US markets
- BennVenn Store (Australia) - for combined order only
- Video Game Perfection (Ireland)
- ZedLabs (UK)
McWill LCD Screen Kit
Not as feature rich and slightly more expensive than the BennVenn version, this was the first LCD mod kit for the Lynx and is still in production.
Install guide: Atari Lynx repair - Part 5 - McWill LCD screen mod installation
Where to get
^Comparison
| Feature | McWill LCD | BennVenn TFT | BennVenn IPS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lynx 1 Support | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Lynx 2 Support | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Lynx 2 C104129-001 Motherboard Support | Yes, with alternative soldering | Yes, Lynx 1 version | Yes, with soldering |
| Requires Removal of Lynx Power Circuit? | Yes (instructions to remove the entire circuit) | Yes (instructions to remove a small part of the circuit) | Yes (instructions to remove a small part of the circuit) |
| Built-in Power Circuit Protection [3] | No | Yes | Yes, with optional zener diode addition |
| Improves Lynx Battery Life | No [1] | Yes | Yes |
| Requires Bracket | No | Yes [2] | Yes [2] |
| Position Alignment | No | Yes [2] | Yes [2] |
| Boot Behaviour | Colour static | White bloom, then black screen. Later revisions start up with colour static | Checkerboard pattern, then white screen. Later revisions start up with colour static |
| Requires Soldering | Yes | No, except Lynx model 1 and Lynx 2 with C104129-001 motherboard | No, except Lynx model 1 and Lynx 2 with C104129-001 motherboard |
| LCD Panel Type | TFT | TFT | IPS |
| Pixel Perfect | Yes | Some smoothing | Yes |
| High Colour Images (see note below) | No, has flicker and ripping | Yes | No, has flicker and ripping |
| Brightness Control | No, but can be modified to have it [4] | Yes [5] | Yes |
| Scan-line Option | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Install Time | 1hr+ | 15mins (Lynx model 2), ~1hr (Lynx model 1 and Lynx 2 with C104129-001 motherboard) | 15mins (Lynx model 2), ~1hr (Lynx model 1 and Lynx 2 with C104129-001 motherboard) |
| VGA Output | Yes | No | Yes |
| Support Forum | No | Yes, Discord | Yes, Discrod |
| Designed In | Germany | Australia | Australia |
| Availability | Now | Sold Out, out of production | Now |
| Price | $$$ | $$ | $$ |
[1] - Power draw inefficiencies measured for the Atari Lynx McWill mod
[2] - Using the Atari Gamer bracket with the Benn Venn LCD Mod for Atari Lynx model II
[3] - Lynx's biggest cause of failure is the power supply FET, once the FET dies, it will also fry other components on the Lynx motherboard that cannot be replaced e.g. Mikey/Suzy
[4] - https://console5.com/wiki/File:McWill-PCB_AddingBrightnessControl.jpg
[5] - Controls are reversed compared to the original screen.
High Colour Images - this display mode is achieved by pausing the LCD screen drawing for a line, changing the colour palette and then resuming drawing the next line. The original Lynx LCD screen was slow to refresh so the flicker produced with this trick is not very noticeable. Modern screens, cannot work the same way, so the flicker becomes noticeable.
^Photos
Original vs Modern LCD
These photos are from Adicakes on Twitter. They show off a Lynx with a modded screen (top) vs the original screen (bottom). The image is much more vibrant and crisp on the modded Lynx. Take note though that the original Lynx screen in these photos is in excellent condition and usually the original screen is in a much worse state than this. To see more photos of this mod, see this page - Original Lynx Screen vs Modern LCD Mod Screen.
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No Scanlines
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With Scanlines
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BennVenn LCD Kit Revisions
There are two variants of the BennVenn LCD screen kits - TFT (older) panel version and the IPS (newer) version. The TFT kit is typically not referenced as 'TFT', however the IPS kit is always referenced as the IPS LCD kit.
| Feature | Rev4 | Rev5 | Rev6 | IPS V1 Rev3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Supports Lynx 1 | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Supports Lynx 2 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Supports Lynx 2 C104129-001 motherboard revision | No | Yes [1] | Yes [1] | Yes |
| Requires Soldering | Yes | No [1] | No [1] | No [1] |
| Brightness Controls | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Brightness Wheel Support | No | No | Yes [2] | Yes [2] |
| Scanline Support | Yes [3] | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Supports TFT screens | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Supports IPS screens | No | No | No | Yes |
| Has VGA output | No | No | No | Yes |
| Frame locked at 60Hz | No | No | No | Yes |
[1] - Requires soldering for the C104129-001 motherboard revision. Brightness control requires soldering a single wire.
[2] - Controls are reversed compared to the original screen.
[3] - Requires installing an additional touch sensor.
Some Revision 6 Kits Incorrectly Labelled as Rev5
Due to an admin error some of the "revision 6" kits have "rev5" printed on them still. However, if you look at the PCB on the back of the LCD, you will see a row of eight through-holes pins above the C7 capacitor (top left in photo), if six of these are not covered by the ribbon cable, you have a "revision 6" kit.
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