Spec me some lighting for my case please

red11 · 9 Aug 2006 at 17:11

I've got a Thermaltake Soprano case, so from the window it looks like this:

My plan is to have 4 cathodes, one for each side of the window. Each cathode to be a different colour or possibly the same colour. Has anyone done this to their own case, did the final result look good? I basically need some inspiration here guys.

Mark A · 9 Aug 2006 at 17:15

I tried putting the cathodes at the edges of the window and it looked rubbish, it picks up every minute spec of dust. Ive got 2 blue cathodes hidden inside my case and it looks good coupled with a blue LED fan. Ive never tried 4 different colors but think it could end up looking like a Christmas tree lol. I reckon 2 colors could look good tho.

Mark

Yewen · 9 Aug 2006 at 17:18

As already said, aim to light the cases components up, not the window.

If you lights the window up, you just get horrible scratches just like you do with a normal window when the sun hits it, why I need to clean mine actually...

Light up the insides of the case, then you look at them through the window.

OcUK's range of cathodes is not brilliant, I would be looking at AC Ryans although I have not had much experience with cathodes at all, as honestly they do not interest me one bit.

PlasmaZombies · 9 Aug 2006 at 17:25

I have a black soprano case, just put 2 x 120mm UV blue ACRyan fans in it. I have another for my scythe ninja when it comes and I have 2 x 4" UV cathodes. I'll post a pic of it when I finally finish it this weekend. (that's if the scythe+fan actually fits :mad:

).

red11 · 9 Aug 2006 at 17:31

Thanks for the advice guys, I am just aiming to light up inside the case so like Mark advised I won't be placing cathodes on the window. Mark - whereabouts did you hide the two cathodes?

I was comtemplating getting led fans, but opted for 2 120mm Akasa Amber fans for the front intake and back fans. I replaced the window fan with a 92mm Akasa Amber fan as well. Coupled with an Akasa Evo120 with another 120mm Akasa Amber fan so plenty of air is being shifted inside this case. It was a tight squeese with the EVO120 and the side window fan.

I've got the nice led corsair 3500ll ram so it's also something nice to look at through the window.

Mark A · 9 Aug 2006 at 18:06

I put one behind the drive cages and one at the top of the case. I think they are too bright if you put them in direct view, if they are hidden behind something they light the case but don't dazzle you. Mine are only 4" ones and aren't really bright enough so I'm going to get some 12" AC Ryans soon. Ive got a 12" white AC Ryan cathode under a shelf that my monitor sits on to light up my keyboard and its great, bright enough to light the keys up in the dark but not too bright. Ive also installed a normal house light switch into my desk to turn it on and off, and it plugs into the back of my PC for power. Total cost about £15

.

Mark

PlasmaZombies · 9 Aug 2006 at 18:11

Mark A said:
I put one behind the drive cages and one at the top of the case. I think they are too bright if you put them in direct view, if they are hidden behind something they light the case but don't dazzle you. Mine are only 4" ones and aren't really bright enough so I'm going to get some 12" AC Ryans soon. Ive got a 12" white AC Ryan cathode under a shelf that my monitor sits on to light up my keyboard and its great, bright enough to light the keys up in the dark but not too bright. Ive also installed a normal house light switch into my desk to turn it on and off, and it plugs into the back of my PC for power. Total cost about £15 .

Mark

Could you, by any chance, post a pic of your case with the 4" ones on please?

Mark A · 9 Aug 2006 at 18:23

Yeah no problem, this pic is when i just put the cathodes into the case at either side of the window to see what it looked like. It looks OK in the pic but in rl you can see a lot of dust on the window. I'll try and get a pic of them installed but bear in mind they are only cheap 4" cathodes and I'm going to be getting some bigger ones as they're not bright enough.

Mark

PlasmaZombies · 9 Aug 2006 at 18:25

Mark A said:
Yeah no problem, this pic is when i just put the cathodes into the case at either side of the window to see what it looked like. It looks OK in the pic but in rl you can see a lot of dust on the window. I'll try and get a pic of them installed but bear in mind they are only cheap 4" cathodes and I'm going to be getting some bigger ones as they're not bright enough.

Mark

Cheers dude

. I reckon if cleverly placed around my case they'll look the dogs danglers

.

Mark A · 9 Aug 2006 at 19:07

Its hard to capture it properly, this is the nearest i can get. In fact i think these are bright enough tbh, plus 4" are a lot easier to hide. I might get another 2 and put them at the bottom of the case somwhere so that the whole case is lit up. The good thing about cathodes is that you can switch them off if you want your room dark.

Mark

red11 · 9 Aug 2006 at 19:18

That's very nice Mark, I'd be happy with that.

I bought cathodes before but never used them, how do you connect them up because I remember the power leads being a little weird?

Mark A · 9 Aug 2006 at 19:23

The cathodes connect to a little black box then the black box plugs into a spare molex. The only problem is that the wires are short so may need lengthening depending on where you put them.

Mark

PlasmaZombies · 9 Aug 2006 at 20:17

Mark A said:
Its hard to capture it properly, this is the nearest i can get. In fact i think these are bright enough tbh, plus 4" are a lot easier to hide. I might get another 2 and put them at the bottom of the case somwhere so that the whole case is lit up. The good thing about cathodes is that you can switch them off if you want your room dark.

Mark

That looks really good mate!! If you want more light defo just get another 2 4" tubes! What I'm planning to do is stick 1 at the top of my case to light the top half of the case and stick one just where the floppy drive goes to light below the graphics card.

Either way, yours looks very good. Imo, just enough light in general but could do with perhaps another cathode down the bottom as the graphics card seems to be blocking a lot of light down there.