Windows PC enthusiasts with more than a passing interest of their rig's CPU and memory status will find the next project by Daniel Barker of interest. By running a python sketch on the host computer - the CPU load, free memory, CPU speed and time are gathered and sent as serial data to an Arduino with an inexpensive LCD module.
With a little work this could be mounted within a 5.25" drive bay and perhaps offer more display options depending on what sort of data could be captured with python or other software that can send the data out as serial text.
This certainly adds a useful display and also to the image of the "hacked computer" - so for more information and the required code visit the project github page. And for more, we're on facebook, Google+, and twitter - so follow us for news and product updates as well.
If you need an LCD for your Arduino - instead of building your own LCD module onto a breadboard, save time and move forward with the Freetronics LCD & Keypad shield which contains a bright 16x2 character LCD and five buttons that can be read from only one analog input pin:
