Motherboard placement

CliffyBiro · 2 Apr 2008 at 15:11

Motherboard placement - Lighting

Guys, is there a way I can raise the motherboard about another centimetre off the mobo tray?

I was thinking of using two cathodes under the motherboard to pimp it up

Kearney_1988 · 2 Apr 2008 at 15:16

couldnt you just buy some longer stand-offs?

CliffyBiro · 2 Apr 2008 at 15:19

That's what I was thinking but can't find any the right size...

GhostlyPea · 2 Apr 2008 at 15:38

If you do that chances are the PCI slots and the MOBO I/O backplate wont match up.

- Pea0n

CliffyBiro · 2 Apr 2008 at 15:41

Pea0n said:
If you do that chances are the PCI slots and the MOBO I/O backplate wont match up.

- Pea0n

Oh yeah. Damn. That's one idea gone. :rolleyes:

Blackhawk47 · 2 Apr 2008 at 16:04

would look cool. maybe modify the mobo tray . like so you attach them to the back but then they shine through. like attached to the panel which is behind the mobo tray then cut or make some kind of hole to let the light through.

just a though

CliffyBiro · 2 Apr 2008 at 16:08

Blackhawk47 said:
would look cool. maybe modify the mobo tray . like so you attach them to the back but then they shine through. like attached to the panel which is behind the mobo tray then cut or make some kind of hole to let the light through.

just a though

Good idea.... I'll take a look at how I can do it when my mobo arrives. There's plenty of space in the case so that could work. Cheers.

misterPK · 3 Apr 2008 at 09:06

Maybe screw two stand-offs together to make a larger one?

PK!

CliffyBiro · 3 Apr 2008 at 09:23

misterPK said:
Maybe screw two stand-offs together to make a larger one?

PK!

Good point.... must just try that.

bcjames · 3 Apr 2008 at 10:51

skippi90 said:
Good point.... must just try that.

Then you are back to it not lining up with the rear panel panel. Best I can think for getting the 'underglow' effect would be to cut two recesses in the motherboard tray and sit the CCs in there, providing there is clearence between the motherboard and the case back panel.

Other than that, what about some of that light up cord stuff? It gives off the same neon effect as a CC, and is flexible enough to allow you to run it all the way around under the mother board, maybe a cm or so underneath, to get the glow all the way around the edge. Depending on how many edges you have to work with, this may give a more even distribution of the light.

CliffyBiro · 3 Apr 2008 at 11:36

bcjames said:
Then you are back to it not lining up with the rear panel panel. Best I can think for getting the 'underglow' effect would be to cut two recesses in the motherboard tray and sit the CCs in there, providing there is clearence between the motherboard and the case back panel.

Other than that, what about some of that light up cord stuff? It gives off the same neon effect as a CC, and is flexible enough to allow you to run it all the way around under the mother board, maybe a cm or so underneath, to get the glow all the way around the edge. Depending on how many edges you have to work with, this may give a more even distribution of the light.

Well, there is about 1cm between the tray and the back panel. What would I use to cut the tray?

EDIT: The case is steel by the way....

bcjames · 3 Apr 2008 at 11:48

I'd guess the easiest would be a Dremel of some sort.

Blackhawk47 · 3 Apr 2008 at 11:56

i guess you could try this but i dont know how bright it would be http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CM-004-AK&groupid=701&catid=7&subcat=209

uv · 3 Apr 2008 at 12:14

use LED's instead of cathodes?

LED's are small enough to fit under the mobo, and you can grab a pack of five for a few quid - just wire them to fan headers, or molexes

CliffyBiro · 3 Apr 2008 at 12:22

uvmain said:
use LED's instead of cathodes?

LED's are small enough to fit under the mobo, and you can grab a pack of five for a few quid - just wire them to fan headers, or molexes

Hard to do?

bcjames · 3 Apr 2008 at 13:30

skippi90 said:
Hard to do?

Can you solder?

CliffyBiro · 3 Apr 2008 at 15:00

bcjames said:
Can you solder?

Yep, so just link them and connect to a molex plug?

Would a couple of these work?

bcjames · 3 Apr 2008 at 15:21

Any light under there will do it, its just a matter of what will fit, without relocating the motherboard.

The individual LED idea is good as you could just drill the 4/6mm holes (I think thats the size) at intervals around the inside edge of the motherboard, and wire them up to a header, all behind the motherboard tray. The lights you just posted there would do the same as the neon string stuff.

CliffyBiro · 3 Apr 2008 at 15:28

Ok, so how do I go about wiring leds to a header? And where can I buy a pack of leds?

Do you guys think it will look good?

PhillyDee · 3 Apr 2008 at 16:04

LEDs usually need around 2.5-3v to make them work, any more and you will fry them. You can buy LEDs that come with resistors for modding cars to allow you to connect them to 12v. I would use heatshrink to insulate the wires, and make sure you buy LED holders as well so you can just pop them into the holder and through the tray.

Connect them and the resistor in serial to the 12v side of the molex connector, and bob used to be your aunt. I find auction sites are the cheapest for LEDs. The higher the mcd the brighter they are.