Light-free case

Audigex

Audigex

Audigex

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Joined
3 Feb 2009
Posts
2,245
Hey

My antec 300 (first part of my new build) should arrive sometime this week, and I'm basically planning the build atm.

One think I really want is to reduce the number of lights - especially LEDs in my room at a time. At the moment I have the green speaker LED (survivable, I just turn the speaker around), along with the very bright LED on the monitor and between 3 and 10 blue led's on my laptop.

They're quite distracting when watching a DVD, and I can only see it getting worse when the lights move from the laptop to the left and below the monitor, to being alongside the monitor and a lot closer.

First of all, can I just jab a screwdriver into the monitor's LED? It's only a £100 cheapo 22", so I'm not that fussed about a warranty that will end in 6 months anyway so long as it doesn't break it now.

Secondly, how else can I reduce light levels? I'm obviously going to avoid LED fans and PSU, but what else can be done? I'm considering just not attaching the front case LEDs, I can hear if it's on anyway.

I want a fan controller, but even the most basic ones (like that nice zalman one with just dials) have something that light up. All well and good when I'm gaming and want to be able to monitor temps, but I really want a totally dark environment when trying to sleep (fans on low I can put up with, it's just the light) - obviously assuming I can't just turn it off ;-)

Any suggestions to a fan controller that will produce no light and other components I may have missed which also throw light out.
 
Engineers tape?:p

Seriously though i have the same problem, can't sleep with my pc on, have a clear side panel and the light on the motherboard are ridiculously bright, can't turn them off in the bios either:mad:. I don't think this fan controller has LEDs, not certian tho. The fan mate 2 definitely doesn't. I would risk breaking the LED on the monitor imo, blue tack or something will stop it attracting your attention.
 
Surely if you are up to building a pc you are able to locate the wires going to the LED's and just disconnect them or maybe even remove the LED and leave it inside the case ?
Same with the monitor etc.
Just be careful and remember to unplug everything first unless you want to fry your own LED's..!
 
Steve - I'm just not going to connect the front case LEDs, but some things have inbuilt LEDs; I can't exactly open up the monitor to disconnect it (or rather, I don't want to risk breaking it)

Jak - Nice suggestion with the fan controller, I could always just use 2 if I need more fans :-) thanks

The black tape is another option, I'd just rather keep it as pretty as possible :-P I guess it might be the only option for some circumstances though.

Any suggestions of other fan controllers with more than 3 controls most welcome, or any alternative suggestions :-)

Faceplant - good point about saleability, although chances are if I get a new case I'll just pass this one on to my mum to replace her crappy Packard-Bell box :-)
 
could get some acrylic or enamel paint that matchs the rest of the monitor bezel/case/etc and paint over it?
 
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black poster pen, nail varnish etc can be cleaned off with meths or nail varnish remover...and no im not calling you a "goth" :)
 
Sayso - that's not a bad idea at all: pretty sure the girlfriend has some black nail varnish lying around, or if not I'll be able to find someone who does. Does it come off that easily even after being on for a long time? I'm guessing it'd wear away and need re-applying, rather than just become permanent?

Socaddict - I think that'd work, but I'm trying to avoid anything too permanent. Might be an idea for the speakers and power cords though - things people won't care about if I sell them on.

Thanks :)
 
A black permanent marker is the easiest way but that only really dims it, thats what i did with the blue lazer on my HAF :D
 
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