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BeagleBone Black Cookbook
The BBB's on board micro HDMI port provides a relatively easy way to attach a display device. With the new Debian distribution, compatibility, and ease of installation, the process is greatly simplified. We will take a look at two types of devices you may be using: an HDMI monitor and a small form-factor LCD (without HDMI).
Using a display is not a requirement to operate the board and is merely optional. You will learn how to control the BBB without a display later in this chapter.
Running your board with an HDMI monitor is the default method to use your BBB.
Given the large universe of LCDs out there, this is not a definitive list. However, it does lend guidance on displays that will work with the BBB. You will also be pleasantly surprised that most consumer-grade HDTVs work pretty well out of the box with your board.
Since HDMI displays can draw a lot of power, don't try to run off your desktop's USB slot. Otherwise, you will get flaky results at best and, more likely, no picture at all.
There's no obligation to use only an HDMI display on BeagleBone Black. For example, with the right HDMI to VGA converter cable, you can actually attach a standard VGA monitor to the BBB. Compatible converters can be found at http://elinux.org/Beagleboard:BeagleBone_Black_Accessories#HDMI_Adapters.
You may also develop an embedded prototype device that only needs a small LCD and no HDMI. Here's one recipe for a scenario using a 3.5-inch screen from Circuitco (http://elinux.org/CircuitCo:BeagleBone_LCD3) that I've used in my own projects. The display is in the category of add-ons to the BBB called capes, which are akin to the shields on an Arduino board. Capes are typically robust daughterboards and, unfortunately, tend to be much more expensive than Arduino add-ons.

CircuitCo LCD3 cape
Perform the following steps:

The pin line up at the bottom of the PCB (printed circuit board)



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