Building an LED scoreboard or display system can be very confusing for beginners because there are many different types of LED panels, scan rates, interfaces, libraries and controller boards. Two displays may look identical physically, but they may require completely different drivers and libraries.

This article explains the differences in a simple way so that you can understand:

• Which display you have

• Which controller you need

• Which library works

• Which displays are compatible with our drivers

• Which displays are NOT supported

• What to buy for your project

1. The Biggest Beginner Mistake

Many customers purchase an LED matrix display first and then try to find a compatible controller later.

Unfortunately, RGB LED displays are NOT universal.

A driver designed for one display may not work with another display even if:

• both are P10

• both are RGB

• both use HUB75 connectors

• both are physically identical

The most important thing is:

• Scan rate

• Driver chips

• Indoor vs Outdoor

• Library compatibility

2. Understanding Common Terms

Before buying a display, you should understand these terms.

P10, P5, P4, P3 — What Do They Mean?

The “P” value means pixel pitch.

Simple Rule:

• Larger number = larger LEDs = lower resolution

• Smaller number = smaller LEDs = higher resolution

Common Usage

3. HUB12 vs HUB75

These are communication interfaces used by the display panels.

HUB12

Usually:

• Single color

• Red, White, Green, Blue and white displays

• Outdoor and indoor  visibility

• Easy to control

Commonly used for:

• Scoreboards

• Shop signs

• Scrolling text

Compatible Controllers

• Arduino UNO

• Arduino Mega

• ESP32

Easier for Beginners

HUB12 displays are much simpler than RGB displays.

HUB75

Usually:

• Full RGB color

• More complex

• Requires fast processing

• Uses advanced libraries

Commonly used for:

• Video walls

• RGB animations

• Indoor displays

Recommended Controllers

• ESP32

• Raspberry Pi

• Arduino Mega (limited)

4. Indoor vs Outdoor Displays

This is EXTREMELY important.

Indoor and outdoor RGB displays are NOT the same.

Indoor RGB Displays

Characteristics:

• Very bright indoors

• Poor visibility in sunlight

• Usually supported by common libraries like https://github.com/mrcodetastic/ESP32-HUB75-MatrixPanel-DMA

Examples:

• P3 indoor

• P4 indoor

• P5 indoor

Most ESP32 RGB libraries are designed for these displays.

Outdoor RGB Displays

Characteristics:

• High brightness

• Visible in sunlight

• Different driver chips

• Harder to support

These displays often require:

• Modified libraries

• Different timing

• Custom drivers

Outdoor RGB displays are currently one of the biggest challenges in DIY scoreboard projects.

5. Scan Rate — The Most Confusing Part

This is where most compatibility problems happen.

Two displays may both be:

• P10

• RGB

• HUB75

But one may be:

• 1/4 scan

while another may be:

• 1/2 scan

They are NOT compatible with the same drivers.

What Is Scan Rate?

LED displays do not turn on all LEDs at the same time.

They rapidly scan rows.

Examples:

• 1/2 scan

• 1/4 scan

• 1/8 scan

• 1/16 scan

Different scan rates require:

• different timing

• different libraries

• different drivers

Our Drivers Currently Support ONLY:

1. Indoor RGB P10 1/4 Scan Displays

Drivers to run the P10 1/4 scan display: 

• 1. https://buildcircuits.com/products/arduino-uno-shield-for-rgb-led-matrix
• 2. https://buildcircuits.com/products/arduino-mega-shield-for-rgb-led-matrix
• 3. https://buildcircuits.com/products/arduino-based-scoreboard-scoreduino-dmd-module-for-rgb-p10-display
• 4. https://buildcircuits.com/products/p10-arduino-pro-mini-based-scoreboard-scoreduino-rgb-module

2. Indoor/Outdoor P10 single color displays

Drivers to run the P10 single color display

Based on this schematic:

3. Indoor RGB P5, P4, P3 Displays

Drivers to run the display

4. Indoor P6 RGB Display

Drivers to run the display:

Atmega328P based: https://buildcircuits.com/products/arduino-based-scoreboard-scoreduino-dmd-module-for-rgb-p10-display

Arduino Mega Shield : https://buildcircuits.com/products/arduino-mega-shield-for-rgb-led-matrix

Arduino UNO Shield: https://buildcircuits.com/products/arduino-uno-shield-for-rgb-led-matrix

Arduino Pro mini based: https://buildcircuits.com/products/p10-arduino-pro-mini-based-scoreboard-scoreduino-rgb-module

6. Displays Currently NOT Supported

The following displays are NOT supported by our current drivers:

• 1/2 scan RGB P10 displays

• Many outdoor RGB HUB75 displays

• Unknown driver chip variants

• Custom scan rate displays

Even if they physically look similar, they may not work.

7. Libraries Used

Most DIY LED projects depend heavily on existing open-source libraries.

Unfortunately:

• many libraries are incomplete

• many displays are unsupported

• many require modification

Popular libraries: 

Adafruit RGB Matrix Panel Library for 1/4scan P10 display and P6 display

ESP32 HUB75 MatrixPanel DMA Library for indoor RGB matrix displays

DFRobot RGB Matrix Library for indoor RGB matrix displays

DMD library for P10 single color displays

DMD2 library for P10 single color displays

DMD32 library for P10 single color

8. Libraries for Arduino UNO / Mega

Our Arduino RGB drivers are based on:

Adafruit RGB Matrix Library

Adafruit RGB Matrix Library

Modified using information from:

• Arduino forum discussions

• community experiments

Forum discussion:
Arduino Forum Discussion

Video reference:
YouTube Reference Video

IMPORTANT:
The original Adafruit library does NOT work directly with these displays without modification.

The Adafruit library works with P6 displays

9. Libraries for ESP32 Indoor RGB Displays

Our ESP32 RGB products currently use:

ESP32 HUB75 DMA Library

This library works mainly with:

• Indoor HUB75 RGB displays

NOT outdoor displays.

Supported Driver : https://buildcircuits.com/products/scoreduino-esp32-modules-for-p3-p4-and-p5-indoor-rgb-led-matrix-display

10. Arduino Mega RGB Library

Supported Driver

For Arduino Mega RGB projects:

DFRobot RGB Matrix Library

Again:

• indoor displays only

• outdoor displays may not work

11. Why RGB Scoreboards Are Difficult

A large RGB scoreboard is difficult because:

• RGB displays require large memory

• multiple displays increase complexity

• refresh rates become slower

• libraries often fail with chaining

• outdoor displays use incompatible chips

12. Arduino UNO vs Mega vs ESP32

Arduino UNO Limitations

UNO has:

• very small memory

• limited processing speed

Not recommended for:

• multiple RGB displays

• large scoreboards

Arduino Mega

Better for:

• multiple displays

• larger scoreboards

But still may require library modification.

ESP32 based driver for Indoor displays

Product Link: https://buildcircuits.com/products/scoreduino-esp32-modules-for-p3-p4-and-p5-indoor-rgb-led-matrix-display

Best for:

• HUB75 RGB displays

• animations

• large projects

But compatibility problems still exist with outdoor displays.

13. Recommended Beginner Projects

Option 1 — Single Color Scoreboard (Recommended)

Driver: Scoreduino DMD driver for P10

Best beginner option.

Advantages:

• simple

• reliable

• outdoor visible

• inexpensive

• easier programming

An example, if you are making a Cricket Scoreboard, you can use:

• red for runs

• green for wickets

• yellow for overs

This creates a multicolor effect using separate displays.

Option 2 — Indoor RGB Scoreboard

Possible using:

• ESP32- Check out these modules

• indoor HUB75 displays- Check out these displays

Good for:

• indoor events

• testing

• prototypes

Not suitable for bright sunlight.

Option 3 — Outdoor RGB Scoreboard

Most difficult option.

Requires:

• custom hardware

• modified libraries

• advanced programming

Not recommended for beginners.

14. Our Compatible Driver Modules

• Arduino UNO RGB Driver-Suitable for 1/4 P10 and P6 displays
• Arduino Mega RGB Driver- Suitable for 1/4 P10, P6 and P5, P4, P3 Indoor displays
• SCOREDUINO RGB Module- Suitable for 1/4 P10 and P6 displays
• Pro Mini RGB Scoreboard Module- Suitable for 1/4 P10 and P6 displays

• ESP32 Based Driver for single color INDOOR/OUTDOOR P10 Displays (select the Black one)
• ESP32 Based Driver for RGB INDOOR P5, P4, P3 displays (Select Purple, Green or Blue)

15. Compatible Displays List

Supported Displays

Outdoor RGB P10 1/4 Scan

Indoor HUB75 RGB Displays

16. Unsupported Displays List

Currently Unsupported

• Outdoor RGB 1/2 scan P10

• Unknown HUB75 variants

• Custom driver chip panels

• Unsupported outdoor HUB75 panels

17. Before Purchasing a Display

Please check ALL of the following:

• Indoor or Outdoor?

• HUB12 or HUB75?

• Scan rate?

• Single color or RGB?

• P10/P5/P4?

• Compatible library available?

• Controller compatibility?

If you do not know these details, please contact the seller before purchasing.

18. Final Advice for Beginners

If you are completely new to LED displays:

Start with:

• Single color HUB12 displays

• Arduino UNO or Mega

• Simple scoreboards

Avoid starting with:

• Outdoor RGB displays

• Multiple chained RGB panels

• Custom scan rates

RGB projects can become very complicated and may require:

• PCB design

• library modification

• advanced programming

• AI-assisted coding

19. Ready-Made Scoreboards

If you do not want to spend weeks or months experimenting with:

• libraries

• wiring

• compatibility

• driver issues

then consider purchasing a ready-made scoreboard.

Single Color Scoreboards using P10 Displays- OUTDOORS

RGB Scoreboards using P5, P4, P3 displays- INDOOR

Our ready-made scoreboards include:

• tested hardware

• enclosure

• long-range remote control

• stable operation

The remote control works up to approximately 500 meters and does not rely on Bluetooth range limitations.

20. Conclusion

LED matrix displays are not standardized as many beginners expect.

Two displays that look identical may:

• use different scan rates

• require different libraries

• require different timing

• be completely incompatible

Always choose:

1. Display type first

2. Compatible library second

3. Controller third

4. Driver hardware last

This will save enormous time, money and frustration.