Lighting up my case, what do I need?

smsmasters · 22 Jun 2006 at 22:19

I want the inside of my pc to look like this:

I also like the lighting behind the monitor.

What exactly do I need to buy and what are they called? LED or cathode, which is better and where can I buy some?

Rokusho · 22 Jun 2006 at 22:28

Go for cathode, of LED, they just provide different effects, look at pictures, buy the bits and stick em in.

The picture you have there used cold cathode tubes to illuminate the case

Foehammer2003 · 22 Jun 2006 at 22:33

Cant tell you where you'd be better off getting them as its a competitor thang!

Definately Cold cathodes are the order of the day, they are low wattage, and VERY bright, LED's tend to be a direct light source not giving the best overall colour and light IMO, and its cold cathodes in the pics for sure!

smsmasters · 22 Jun 2006 at 22:40

How did the guy manage to put an orange light behind the monitor? How do you think he powered it? And do cathodes need an inverter, is it true they have high voltage?

LoadsaMoney · 22 Jun 2006 at 22:49

Paper and some matches.

Foehammer2003 · 22 Jun 2006 at 23:42

LoadsaMoney said:
Paper and some matches.

No, no, no my friend.... VooDoo! :eek:

Foehammer2003 · 22 Jun 2006 at 23:51

smsmasters said:
How did the guy manage to put an orange light behind the monitor? How do you think he powered it? And do cathodes need an inverter, is it true they have high voltage?

Cold Cathodes use about 3W for each 12inch tube, two tubes will easily be enough to light up your entire case = 6W (hardly anything), and yes they use inverters.

As for how to get them to run out of your case, you will have to mod your own way of doing it afaik, i have seen a pic of a slot device which is like a four way adaptor to run molex powered devices out of your rig, but not seen it available commercially

Neoni · 23 Jun 2006 at 02:06

Foehammer2003 said:
Cold Cathodes use about 3W for each 12inch tube, two tubes will easily be enough to light up your entire case = 6W (hardly anything), and yes they use inverters.

As for how to get them to run out of your case, you will have to mod your own way of doing it afaik, i have seen a pic of a slot device which is like a four way adaptor to run molex powered devices out of your rig, but not seen it available commercially

some PSUs have the option to plug in around the back of the PSU, to run things outside the case.

WJA96 · 23 Jun 2006 at 09:45

Foehammer2003 said:
i have seen a pic of a slot device which is like a four way adaptor to run molex powered devices out of your rig, but not seen it available commercially

These can be bought as generic parts at a high-street electronics shop, or do a google for 'AC Ryan Backy'

If you want my honest opinion, with the lights off and that lot running, he probably had the vice squad at the door in no time

Yewen · 23 Jun 2006 at 13:46

Foehammer2003 said:
Cold Cathodes use about 3W for each 12inch tube, two tubes will easily be enough to light up your entire case = 6W (hardly anything), and yes they use inverters.

As for how to get them to run out of your case, you will have to mod your own way of doing it afaik, i have seen a pic of a slot device which is like a four way adaptor to run molex powered devices out of your rig, but not seen it available commercially

BUT cheap cold cathodes can draw 400w when turned on, expensive ones are about 50w for a very short time.

Moral is, get good ones.

And OcUK sell them, and you can get a PCI plate to allow one to be mounted externally.

If you add me to msn I can talk it all through with you if you like.