which screens work with Pi Zero

With respect to "screens" the 'zero is exactly the same as all other raspberry pis.

There is one exception: The 'zero does not have a DSI: Display Serial Interface. This means that DSI screens will not work. As far as I know there is only one screen for raspberry pi that uses DSI, and that is the official raspberry pi 7" TFT touch screen.

On the other hand, you should be a bit careful. I ordered a raspberry pi screen with my favorite PCB prototyping shop. The display they sent comes with a driver embedded inside a binary kernel image. They won't provide sources. (this illegal, but I don't have the time to get mad at them about it). This also means that I can't use the display on a raspberry pi 2.

So, if you're looking for a display, make sure that you investigate the drivers issue before you buy.

Thank you. This is hard to find information. I presume the other screens just plug onto the GPIO header and with a tweak of raspian config it will be up and running

I've used one of these SainSmart 3.2" TFT LCD Module 320*240 Raspberry Pi Touchscreen 3D Printing, Arduino, Robotics | Sainsmart on a b+ and an odroid with success.

Should work on a Pi Zero

Mike

Thanks Mike.

The spec on the website shows a bunch of GPIO connections and some SPI connections. Roger Wolff pointed out that the Pi Zero doesn't have a DSI interface. Do you know if the SPI connections are part of the GPIO header or is there something else I need to check out?

Thanks again

Yes, SPI is on the GPIO connector. It lives in the highest numbered pins of the OLD gpio connector. So pins 20-26. (on the 40-pin connector it is still at 20-26, but there are now 14 more pins after that... )

The standard system does not know how to drive a display connected to the GPIO pins. So you need a driver. I was suggesting that you investigate the driver situation for whatever you're going to buy before you buy. I made the mistake of not doing that. Now that I've paid they don't have an incentive to improve the driver situation to my liking.

Yes, SPI is on the GPIO connector. It lives in the highest numbered pins of the OLD gpio connector. So pins 20-26. (on the 40-pin connector it is still at 20-26, but there are now 14 more pins after that... )

The standard system does not know how to drive a display connected to the GPIO pins. So you need a driver. I was suggesting that you investigate the driver situation for whatever you're going to buy before you buy. I made the mistake of not doing that. Now that I've paid they don't have an incentive to improve the driver situation to my liking.

Hey Roger, do you know what chips it has on it? That FBTFT driver works with a pretty wide range of devices IIRC.

Mike

Thanks Roger.

I have purchased a screen on ebay and asked the seller for drivers. I will post when I have good information.

That FBSPI driver seems to be exceptionally useful Michael. I've kept an eye on it's development but not really used it in anger.

John Alexander wrote:

 

...not really used it in anger.

I'm not 100% sure what that means, but I like it.

Mike