Led's Behind Motherboard?

[akhil_lincoln]

Just wanted to know if it's actually safe and if there's any precautions to take?

[RevoltTrain]

Why exactly would you want to do this?

LED's won't shine through the MOBO

[Jlryan]

Just make sure all contact points on the LED's are isolated so they can't come into contact with the motherboard. If you're talking about the strips, that is. A bit of heatshrink over the points that can be cut will be enough, and maybe over the resistors too.

[0ld_Chicken]

I know a lot of Leds have exposed circuitry on the front so I'd be careful to keep that away from the exposed points on the motherboard

[1Scotty1]

[aidivn]

You should be careful with conductive surfaces. I prefer LED strips covered with silicone.

[Aytex]

[aidivn]

 

 

If LEDs are too bright they might be nice but this also depends on Chassis.

[arronleeds]

if you have a window on the back showing your good cable management skills then it would be ok but other than that its really pointless.

 

it would be like leaving the front of your car looking like shit but making the back look nice.

 

[You_are_a_cunt]

Some motherboards have a bit of semi-transparent lining (MSI 970 Gaming, for example) which is lit by small SMD LEDs on the back of the board. If the spacing between the motherboard tray and the motherboard itself is wide enough you can get a nice backlit edge in the case, but afaik the distance is pretty standardized (unless we're talking custom case or modded case)

[arronleeds]

tell you what would look nice, if you could put led strips going all the way around the motherboard on the edges.

[0ld_Chicken]

I think he's hoping the light will shine through around the edges from underneath. I think it'd look cool if done right. You'd have to pick a case that does not "inlay" the motherboard in metal. Mine is kinda sunken in so i don't think much light would get through but if you picked a case with a flat mobo tray it could work (as long as you securely cover all connections on the leds too prevent shorting)

[You_are_a_cunt]

I'm actually trying to figure out a layout for my own rig and this gave me an idea. Will post pics as soon as I find a supplier for cheap(er) SMD strips (cheapest I can find in stores is $25 for a 50-cm strip that absolutely needs a controller that is another $25-30 and they don't even have red ones)

[0ld_Chicken]

I found some super cheap single color leds on ebay. Dunno if you're going for quality or rgb thou. I'll find the link

edit: http://www.ebay.com/itm/161517802180?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&var=460541950912&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT 

I'm actually trying to figure out a layout for my own rig and this gave me an idea. Will post pics as soon as I find a supplier for cheap(er) SMD strips (cheapest I can find in stores is $25 for a 50-cm strip that absolutely needs a controller that is another $25-30 and they don't even have red ones)

[You_are_a_cunt]

I found some super cheap single color leds on ebay. Dunno if you're going for quality or rgb thou. I'll find the link

 

eBay takes too long to ship. I just need red strips, I can do all the necessary soldering myself. Found a guy selling 4 meter strips for ~$15, might buy from him

 

protip for people looking to buy SMD strips: you can find the 12V SMD strips at some auto shops, since it's essentially the same thing used for interior lighting and they also come with clear silicone covering, which is better than "naked" SMDs, since it diffuses the light

[0ld_Chicken]

eBay takes too long to ship. I just need red strips, I can do all the necessary soldering myself. Found a guy selling 4 meter strips for ~$15, might buy from him

 

protip for people looking to buy SMD strips: you can find the 12V SMD strips at some auto shops, since it's essentially the same thing used for interior lighting and they also come with clear silicone covering, which is better than "naked" SMDs, since it diffuses the light

I feel you on the shipping.  they did come quite a bit faster than quoted shipping but its still quite a wait.

[You_are_a_cunt]

I feel you on the shipping.  they did come quite a bit faster than quoted shipping but its still quite a wait.

Last time I ordered off eBay it took over a month for my stuff to arrive. No thanks.

 

Checked a local classifieds site. Found a seller that offers 5 meter rolls for $15 or 1 meter strips for $3.5 Gonna hit him up when the paycheck hits later this week. Wooo! Weekend project! (if I can get my soldering station to work or find one I can borrow)

[0ld_Chicken]

Last time I ordered off eBay it took over a month for my stuff to arrive. No thanks.

Checked a local classifieds site. Found a seller that offers 5 meter rolls for $15 or 1 meter strips for $3.5 Gonna hit him up when the paycheck hits later this week. Wooo! Weekend project! (if I can get my soldering station to work or find one I can borrow)

yeah i think it took a couple weeks to get them here. That's not a bad price though for yours (probably better quality anyways). I've never really messed with electrical soldering but i should try it out. It'd come in handy

[You_are_a_cunt]

yeah i think it took a couple weeks to get them here. That's not a bad price though for yours (probably better quality anyways). I've never really messed with electrical soldering but i should try it out. It'd come in handy

 

Been into electronics way before I was into computers

Comes in handy quite often

[cragger89]

I've thought of doing this with my build after building my brother's rig - he has a Socket 2011 v3 Asus ROG board which has LEDs shining through some portions of the board which have no traces/silkscreen over the top. Can look quite cool.

 

Again, take precautions to ensure nothing gets shorted out, but there'd only be any point if you have some areas which aren't totally opaque - test it with a torch or something first or you'll be wasting some time and money getting hold of the lights and fitting them.

[W-L]

Just wanted to know if it's actually safe and if there's any precautions to take?

 

It can be done fairly easily just be sure to strips are thin enough behind there first and to properly heatshrink the connections to ensure nothing shorts to the case or motherboard.

 

Here is the idea:

http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/36214-led-strips-behind-motherboard/

 

Been into electronics way before I was into computers

Comes in handy quite often

Try Amazon if your looking for RGB LED's this isn't bad:

http://www.amazon.com/SUPERNIGHT-Waterproof-300LEDs-Flexible-Controller/dp/B00B2F3KDQ/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1438714786&sr=8-3&

 

For single color LED's:

http://www.amazon.com/SUPERNIGHT-Waterproof-300LEDs-Flexible-Lighting/dp/B00DTOAX0Q/ref=pd_sim_60_4?ie=UTF8&refRID=00FE02VBYA07NDDAVNRW

[RobTapps]

Use LED tape strips with the plastic covering over them.. No shorts.. Nice hue from behind the board..

[RobTapps]

Lol you guys are all missing the point of the mod.. To get a glow from behind the board highlighting the components..

[akhil_lincoln]

Yes, I'm getting Silicone covered LED Strips, the strips are going to be run underneath, close to the edge so its going to give a glow effect around the visible parts of the motherboard, trust me its gonna look good if it works out...