LED controller and strip query

Soldato
Joined
22 Oct 2008
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http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-115-NX

Anyone got this controller? What's it like to use?

Do you have to buy the LED strip seperately or does it come with the controller?

How do you connect the strip to the controller?

Is red LEDs gaudy looking? I've got a red black theme in my case. Would white LEDs show the red bettr or have red LEDS to make it fit in with the component colours?
 
Just looking at the reviews and it sounds like you get the LED strip with it. Doesn't state how long it is tho. I had no idea there was something like this! I might get one or two myself (for both PC's) :)
 
Been rocking one for a couple of years. It comes with the controller for a 5.25" bay, a 2m strip of LEDs, and the connector to hook them up. It needs a SATA power connector to work. Overall, it works pretty well but my only issue is that the LEDs are placed pretty far apart. I would say it's more of a mood lighting effect rather than a bright show-off-your-hardware light. The strip can be cut every few inches if it's too long but can't be reconnected without soldering.

Provided you're not expecting anything too bright, it's well worth the money. If you're after bright, I'd suggest getting some Bitfenix strips of whatever colour you want. If you're after dimmer, controllable lighting the NZXT is great.
 
....what colour do you have or can you literally put any colour you want on?

Does the OCUK deffo have the strips with the bay controller? Your answer determins if I buy it or not lol
 
The HUE definitely comes with the LED strip. I bought mine from OcUK and it would be a bit useless without it!
In the cycling mode, it goes through any colour it wants, but in the other modes you can make it display any colour. Each individual LED is made up of three tiny ones - a red, a blue and a green. You can then use the dials on the front to make each one brighter, dimmer, or off completely. To make red, you simply turn down the green and blue until they're off and leave the red on. To make white, you turn all of them to max, and so on. Each dial has to be turned quite a few clicks to go from off to full, so you should be able to dial in pretty close to the right shade of any colour if you have the patience.
Pushing the dials rather than turning them turns the whole thing on/off, clicks between brightness levels, and changes modes (flashing, cycling, fading, solid). The dials can also change the speed of change in the flashing, cycling, and fading modes so you can go from subtle changing to full on trying to trigger your mates epilepsy!
All in all, I do really like my HUE, and have used one in another person's build too. To be perfect, I'd like it to be USB configurable rather than from dials, each individual LED to have a higher maximum brightness, and to have more densely packed LEDs on the strip.

I'd definitely recommend getting one if you're after configurable LEDs in your build, just expect background lighting rather than floodlights and you won't be disappointed.
 
If you want denser packed LEDs you can always add in or replace the existing low LED/M strip with a 60 LED/M strip available for £2 or so per metre. It is then just a simple soldering job to make the connections. These things are really quite bright.

For example here's a 60 LED/M strip I demonstrated a few years back.

 
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