Need some general advice on case lighting

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
A

ahmadka

Senior member
Sep 6, 2005
340
0
76
hi guys...well, i have just had my new system for about a month now, and I am thinking of adding some lighting effects to it :p.....

stuff like CCFLs, UV reactive stuff, LEDs,...etc...

I have looked at a decent amount of case mod jobs done by people, but generally they are a bit advanced...they include D-I-Y stuff like cutting the case, drilling, ...all kinds of advanced hardware work....

I am not looking for that...I am just looking for simple mods, that you just buy and install, since this is my first time on modding, to go with a first time on a totally custom PC :p ....and thus, I am a beginner at such stuff....

So what I am looking for is some suggestions on which lights (any type of lights though) should I use...what colour schemes, which place to install them in the case, etc...

also, if you know a place where pics of case mods, with light effects (not DIY type mods) are available, please give me a shout....:D

oh yes, right now my case looks pretty boring...here is a picture of my case right now, although most of the wires you see have been hidden in the drive bay, so this front space is 95% empty...i will post some more pics later hopefully....

**LOOK DOWN.....I HAVE ADDED MORE CURRENT PICS** (sorry for using caps, I didnt mean to shout :D )

http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/7724/1001449go9.jpg

the target casing is this one:
Aerocool AeroEngine-II Black
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16811196019
 
Boyo

Boyo

Golden Member
Feb 23, 2006
1,406
0
0
Why don't you start off with some Sunbeam Cold Cathode tubes? You can get them fully sleeved at Performance-PCs. Hide them out of the way, and let them do their thing.
 
A

ahmadka

Senior member
Sep 6, 2005
340
0
76
Sunbeam ? Is that a company or a special type of CCFLs ?

I made an initial list of possible mods.. have a look:

1) 2x http://www.bestbyteinc.com/Fans,_Fan_Co..._Fan,_Retail/Page_3/FAN-TTA-A2018.html

2) 2x http://www.bestbyteinc.com/Cases,_Case_...Cannon,_Retail/Page_1/LIG-LED-BLC.html

3) 1x http://www.bestbyteinc.com/Cases,_Case_...it,_Retail_Box/Page_1/LIG-LED-BLL.html

4) (1 or 2)x http://www.xpcgear.com/lqccflspiralbl.html

5) (1 or 2)x http://www.xpcgear.com/12ccflblueuv.html

One question I have regarding CCFLs, is which one is better in the items 4 and 5 about ? I mean, 4 looks good on paper (webpage ), but I dont know if it looks good in reality too or not....

also what do you think about the other pieces ?
 
A

ahmadka

Senior member
Sep 6, 2005
340
0
76
OK, as promised, here are the current pics of my PC...check 'em out and then tell me how will the above mentioned mods look in it....and as always you are open to any other suggestions :D ....

http://img166.imageshack.us/img166/1493/1001522wf7.jpg
http://img103.imageshack.us/img103/3060/1001523lk6.jpg
http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/2010/1001524wf8.jpg
http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/8671/1001525az2.jpg
http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/1329/1001526wt2.jpg
http://img70.imageshack.us/img70/5262/1001527dj6.jpg
 
I

imported_redlotus

Senior member
Mar 3, 2005
416
0
0
Sunbeam is a company that makes a few different case accessories (such as lighting)

As far as the components you chose, which one is best all depends on your point of view and the look you're looking to achieve. "Lazer" LEDs are a tad brighter than CCFLs, but they are focussed, so you will get some areas brighter than others (great if you want to highlight particular piece(s) in your system). LED fans don't spread much light, so the fan itself becomes a focal point. Also remember that, in general, the LED fans will be noisier than the black plastic fans, if that is a concern.


Here are a couple of items you might consider:
Chameleon - Looks like it would be good if you want to change the colors to suit your mood.
LED Fan - Yate Loon is the OEM for Nexus fans, so this one should be a bit quieter than the one you found (at half the price!)
UV-Reactive Appliques - for your window if you want to go the black-light route or Standard Appliques if you don't. Might want to google "window appliques" to get a better selection, though. Jab-Tech is rather limited.

One last thing to consider, and this is probably the reason you've not received a lot of feedback, is this: Case lighting is really not as exciting as it seems. Yes, you've got a good looking system that looks impressive when you take pictures of it. However, the novelty wears off pretty quickly. I'm not saying that it's all bad (I was glad to have done it myself last year--even if I did end up taking it all out), but don't go hog wild expecting great things. Keep it simple, like a CCFL pair or an LED fan, and you won't kick yourself for wasting a ton of money.

Anyway, HTH

-red
 
A

ahmadka

Senior member
Sep 6, 2005
340
0
76
OK thanx for the advice dude....

Regarding your last point, I agree with it to some extent. I know overdoing the lighting effects can result in negative effects, and so, yes I should keep it simple :D.....the two items i am seriously considering right now is a pair of CCFLs and a pair of 120mm LED fans.....i dont think that is overdoing lighting...

also, i needed some advice on which CCFLs to pick....I mean, there are so many types...Is there a guide somewhere that can explain all their in's and out's, that you might know of ?
 
I

imported_redlotus

Senior member
Mar 3, 2005
416
0
0
Originally posted by: ahmadka
OK thanx for the advice dude....
Click to expand...
No problem, dude :D

Regarding your last point, I agree with it to some extent. I know overdoing the lighting effects can result in negative effects, and so, yes I should keep it simple :D.....the two items i am seriously considering right now is a pair of CCFLs and a pair of 120mm LED fans.....i dont think that is overdoing lighting...
Click to expand...
Nah. I wouldn't consider that "overdoing it."

also, i needed some advice on which CCFLs to pick....I mean, there are so many types...Is there a guide somewhere that can explain all their in's and out's, that you might know of ?
Click to expand...
Sadly, I haven't seen any good source of info on the subject for several years. Out of curiousity, what types have you been seeing? I've only noticed four types of CCFLs:
1. Standard -- usually a 12" pair of these will give your case a soft glow
2. Sound Reactive -- just a a standard CCFL with a sound-activated component to the inverter
3. "Plasma" -- I haven't had any experience with these, but I find it hard to believe that they will be much brighter than a standard CCFL. BTW, found a vid file of a light that looks similar to your #4 above. http://www.logisyscomputer.com/Driver/MOV07742.mpg I haven't had a chance to watch it yet, but maybe it'll help you.

-red

 
A

ahmadka

Senior member
Sep 6, 2005
340
0
76
yeh I checked that video clip out....the effect looks cool, but i dont know if its bright enough when compared with a normal CCFL, which is what is bothering me....

also, i have been told that I should get Aluminium inverters for the CCFLs...because the plastic ones often burn out....

so do you know any site other than vibelight that is selling aluminium inverters ?

also, if any of you guys have setups with CCFLs in them, please post pics of it, as I still need ideas on where to put the CCFLs :p
 
aigomorla

aigomorla

CPU, Cases&Cooling Mod PC Gaming Mod Elite Member
Super Moderator
Sep 28, 2005
21,083
3,585
126
Originally posted by: ahmadka
yeh I checked that video clip out....the effect looks cool, but i dont know if its bright enough when compared with a normal CCFL, which is what is bothering me....

also, i have been told that I should get Aluminium inverters for the CCFLs...because the plastic ones often burn out....

so do you know any site other than vibelight that is selling aluminium inverters ?

also, if any of you guys have setups with CCFLs in them, please post pics of it, as I still need ideas on where to put the CCFLs :p
Click to expand...

im sorry i just had to post and totally go against CCFLs. Back in the days when i wanted bling, i used to love CCFL's but technology has increased, and things with smaller foot print that dish out brighter lights have arrived.

Get LED's. The reason why i say that is because there much easier to stash and hide, and you can direct the light. You cant really do that with a CCFL because light goes out everywhere.

Also if you get tired of the bling later on, which i did, removal is easier then a CCFL.

Did i also mention LED's dont require an inverter!

Example

Check that store out as it has almost every LED part one would need to setup a bling bling rig. They have Different colors as well, i just picked one out of random

id say you take a look at LED's instead. CCFL's were so last century.


One great benifit i realized with LED's is you can project shaddows over things, and bright up area's you want brighten. IE.. bling bling ram with a led shinning over them. Or a CPU HSF. it goes on and on.
 
P

Pyrokinetic

Senior member
Dec 4, 2005
296
0
0
I have a pair of 12in "liquid" CCFL blue lights in the top of my case. The "liquid" effect isn't as cool as it sounds, but they do produce a nice soft glow. I would have been happy with regular CCFLs. Look for a set that has a separate inverter for each tube. I had a pair of four inchers in another case connected to a single inverter, and it was always quite warm and burned out after a couple of months.

I have pics here: http://www.themodnation-forums.com/viewtopic.php?t=148

My 12's are from Sunbeam Tech, seem well-made. I'd recommend them.
 
M

marincounty

Diamond Member
Nov 16, 2005
3,227
5
76
Originally posted by: ahmadka
hm....just as I thought....so that means plasma ('liquid') CCFLs have been eliminated from the competition...

also, have a look at this: http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/...roduct_info&cPath=95&products_id=20529

Can someone please tell if this is a UV light CCFL..or a 'normal' light CCFL....
Click to expand...

Those are UV ccfl. I have built 5 pcs with UV lighting, and sleeved the power supply
(blue) and uv molex connectors, uv fan grills, uv fan adapters, basically everything UV blue. Looks awesome. I am not impressed with the led lighting, I've mainly used 12" ccfl uv lights.
Sources: SVC, bestbyte (for uv spiral wrap), jabtech
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom