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PCD8544 LCD Display Module

Getting Started

Last revision 2026/01/24

This guide walks you through installing a driver for a Raspberry Pi LCD screen, enabling it to display CPU information like usage and temperature. Learn how to set up the wiringPi library, transfer files with WinSCP, and compile the necessary programs for a seamless display experience.

After the LCD screen is correctly inserted into the Raspberry Pi, you need to install a driver before it can display normally. It can display information such as CPU usage, CPU temperature, memory space and usage time.

  • Install wringPi Library

The CPU Info LCD screen relies on the GPIO port of the Raspberry Pi for data communication, so the wiringPi library file must be installed. Enter the following commands in sequence to install the wringPi library. If you already have the WiringPi library installed, you can skip this step.

1. cd ~
2. git clone git://git.drogon.net/wiringPi
3. cd wiringPi
4. sudo ./build
  • Install the Driver
  • Copy the driver files to the Raspberry Pi
    Install the WinSCP tool on the computer, connect to the Raspberry Pi and upload the cpu_show_v3.zip compressed package to the pi directory of the Raspberry Pi, click here to download.
    Install Driver
  • Decompressing program
    Open the Raspberry Pi terminal and find the cpu_show_v3.zip file that just transferred to the Raspberry Pi before.
    Unzip
    Enter the following command to decompress the file.
    command: unzip cpu_show_v3.zip
    After successful decompression, the following content will be prompted.
    Unzip succeed
  • Enter the program folder
    command1: cd ~/cpu_show_v3/cpu_show
    Input the following command to view the files in the current folder.
    command2: ls
    View Files
  • Compile the program file
    Enter the following command in the terminal to compile the program.
    command2: gcc -o cpushow pcd8544_rpi.c PCD8544.c -L/usr/local/lib -lwiringPi
    Compile File
    Check again with the ls command, cpushow has become an executable file. Among them, cc is the compilation command, -o is the compilation parameter, cpushow is the generated program name, pcd8544_rpi.c and PCD8544.c are the source program files in the current directory, -L/usr/local/lib and -lwiringPi are the reference libraries files.

Before soldering BL_JMP on the back of the display, turn the BackLight Switch to OFF. Otherwise, when GPIO7 outputs high level (3.3V), it will cause a short circuit, which may burn out the Raspberry Pi and the display screen. If you need to use software to control the backlight effect, be sure to turn the switch to OFF.

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