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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteThis project is a software simulation, not a watch made from glass Nixie tubes. Carlos Orts’ 2019 build runs an Arduino sketch on an M5Stack M5Stick-C, using its small LCD to reproduce the glowing numeral aesthetic. The M5Stick’s switch changes between three clock faces.
What the project actually builds
The M5Stick-C is an ESP32-based development device with an LCD, rather than a Nixie-tube watch movement. The digits, tube styling and clock faces are drawn by software on the screen. No high-voltage tube supply, physical Nixie tubes or tube-driver circuitry is part of the documented build.
Orts described a physical Nixie clock as a long-standing idea, but said high voltage, expense and the difficulty of wearing such a clock led him to reproduce the visual effect in software. Those comments explain the project’s motivation; they are not a formal electrical-safety analysis or a measured cost comparison.
“To build a Nixie tube clock is a perpetual project on my mind.”
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RockBase NM-CYD-C5 ESP32-C5 Development Board, 2.8" Touchscreen, Dual-Band Wi-Fi 6, Built-in ESP-Claw AI Smart Frame, Compatible with Arduino
- ESP32-C5 Core Processor: Equipped with ESP32-C5-WROOM-1 module, it supports dual-band Wi-Fi 6 and provides strong math for IoT edge AI applications
- 2.8" Touchscreen Display:Built-in 2.8" TFT color touchscreen, plug and play, support intuitive touch interactive operation
- ESP-Claw AI Smart Body Framework: Built-in ESP-Claw Chat Programming AI Smart Body Framework that supports event driving, structured memory, MCP communication, and custom skill extensions
- Multi-model LLM Compatible: ESP-Claw supports OpenAI style and Anthropic API, native compatible with major language models such as GPT, Qwen, Claude and DeepSeek
- (Wide Interface) Compatible with Arduino (USB-C), TF card slot, UART, FPC-IO and other interfaces, and is fully compatible with Arduino development environments, allowing for quick prototyping development
— Carlos Orts, project story published June 15, 2019
Hardware and software named by the tutorial
| Item | What the 2019 project documents |
|---|---|
| Board | One M5Stack M5Stick-C |
| Processor | ESP32 Pico, reported at 240 MHz |
| Memory and storage | 320 KB RAM and 4 MB flash, as reported by the tutorial |
| Display | 80 × 160-pixel LCD, according to the tutorial |
| Development tool | Arduino IDE |
| Project assets | Icon source files named vfd_18x34.c and vfd_35x67.c |
| Upload connection | A USB-C adapter is used to connect the M5Stick for programming; the tutorial does not identify the adapter model or list complete compatibility requirements |
All processor, memory and display figures above are specifications stated in the 2019 tutorial, not independent measurements. The project listing and tutorial credit Carlos Orts and carry a June 15, 2019 date.
Rank #2
- 2.4GHz Dual Mode WiFi + Bluetooth Development Board
- Support LWIP protocol, Freertos
- SupportThree Modes: AP, STA, and AP+STA
- Ultra-Low power consumption, Compatible with Arduino IDE
- ESP32 is a safe, reliable, and scalable to a variety of applications
How the documented build is loaded
The original instructions describe a straightforward Arduino workflow:
- Install the development environment. Set up the Arduino IDE and the M5Stick-C support needed by the project.
- Open the sketch. Use the
M5StickC_Nixie_tube_ClockArduino sketch together with the supplied display-icon source files. - Compile the sketch. Confirm that the selected board and libraries match the project’s M5Stick-C setup, then compile in Arduino IDE.
- Connect the hardware. Attach the M5Stick-C through the USB-C adapter described by the tutorial.
- Upload the program. Load the compiled sketch to the stick over USB.
- Use the switch. After the program starts, press the M5Stick’s switch to move among the three documented faces.
The source describes the procedure at a project level rather than as a current, tested installation guide. It does not establish exact board-package versions, library versions, operating-system steps or the adapter’s part number.
Rank #3
- This kit includes 3 ESP32-C5 development boards, 1 Type-C data cable, and 40 DuPont wires. The development board features a 32-bit single-core RISC-V processor with a maximum operating frequency of 240 MHz.
- Equipped with 4MB Flash and 384KB SRAM, providing ample storage space for complex applications and firmware to ensure stable and smooth project operation.
- With 32 GPIO pins, it easily connects to various sensors, displays, and peripherals. Equipped with a USB Type-C port and a CH340X chip, it enables simple and efficient programming and debugging.
- Supports Wi-Fi 6 dual-band (2.4GHz and 5GHz) for lower latency and stronger interference resistance; simultaneously integrates Bluetooth (supporting low-power mode), Zigbee, and Thread to meet diverse IoT connectivity needs.
- Compatible with for Arduino IDE development environment, its extensive online resources significantly lower the learning curve, enabling both beginners and experienced developers to quickly get their projects started.
The three-face interface
The watch has three visual faces, and the M5Stick switch selects between them. The tutorial does not provide a comparative specification for each face, such as refresh rate, power draw or layout dimensions; their documented distinction is the alternate on-screen clock designs.
What you need—and what you do not
Required for the documented project
- An M5Stack M5Stick-C
- A computer running the Arduino IDE
- The project sketch and its icon source files
- A USB-C adapter suitable for connecting the stick for upload
Not required
- Physical Nixie tubes
- A high-voltage power supply
- Tube sockets, driver boards or discrete high-voltage wiring
2019 documentation versus a present-day build
The project is useful as a reference for an ESP32 display experiment, but its instructions date from 2019. The available material does not confirm current M5Stick-C stock, compatibility of revised hardware, a presently supported Arduino board package, or a current library installation path. Treat the documented specifications and setup as historical project information, not a guarantee that an untouched checkout will compile today.
Rank #4
- 2.4GHz Dual Mode WiFi + Bluetooth Development Board
- Ultra-Low power consumption, works perfectly with the Arduino IDE
- Support LWIP protocol, Freertos
- SupportThree Modes: AP, STA, and AP+STA
- ESP32 is a safe, reliable, and scalable to a variety of applications
The original community discussion is reported as deleted, while another community post points readers to the author’s GitHub repository. The repository contents were not independently verified here, so readers should inspect the actual files and their stated dependencies before buying parts or planning a build.
Choosing an alternative board
A newer ESP32 board may be able to render a similar clock, but it is not the board documented by this project. Before substituting one, check all of the following:
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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →- Whether the project files target the board’s display driver and screen dimensions
- Whether the Arduino code and libraries support the substitute’s ESP32 variant
- How the board is connected for upload and whether a USB-C adapter is needed
- How a physical input will replace the M5Stick switch used to change faces
- Whether the available screen can present the supplied 18×34 and 35×67 pixel icon assets without redesign
Without those checks, an alternative is a new port of the idea, not a documented drop-in replacement.
Bottom line
The M5Stick-C Nixie project is best understood as a wearable-looking ESP32 LCD demonstration: it imitates Nixie numerals in software, offers three switch-selectable faces, and avoids the high-voltage hardware of a real tube clock. The tutorial gives a clear 2019-era outline, but current toolchain and hardware compatibility remain unconfirmed, so plan for adaptation rather than assuming a one-click modern build.
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