Jump to content

Cold Cathode? LED?

Faceman
By Faceman
in Cases and Mods
 Share
Posted

I'm looking for a nice quality blue or white cold cathode or LED lighting strip to add to my Phanteks Enthoo Pro.  I have never done any kind of internal lightning before, could anyone make some recommendations on a good brand please?

"I genuinely dislike the promulgation of false information, especially to people who are asking for help selecting new parts."

Link to comment
https://linustechtips.com/topic/189860-cold-cathode-led/
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

I saw a pic of an exploded cold cathode once......don't do it. Can't find the pic anymore but it took a lot of the hardware down as well. There was basically fire in the PC. LEDs just die. They stop working. So take those, just my opinion.

 

I use Bitfenix Alchemy Connect LEDs. They were ok to install. I used super glue to stick them to my top panel though, because the tape was too weak. The lighting effect is nice though.

PC: AMD Ryzen 7 7700 || Noctua NH-U12S SE2 || 32GB DDR5 6000 CL32  || 
|| Powercolor RX 9070 Reaper || Asus B650E-I  || WD 850X 2TB ||  Corsair SF600 || Intertech IM 1 |||
Peripherals: Sennheiser PC  360 G4ME || AOC CQ27G2U || Viewsonic PX701HD || Keychron V1 || Logitech G303 Shroud Edition||| Laptop: XPS 13 2in1 7390 || Steam Deck 256 GB (64GB Version) ||| Cameras: Fujifilm XH-1 || Fujifilm X100T

 

 

Elite 110 build log (update:05/15/2018)

Link to comment
https://linustechtips.com/topic/189860-cold-cathode-led/#findComment-2557217
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted
  • Author

Thanks for the quick replies, LED certainly seems like the way to go.

 

Checking out the Bitfenix Alchemy ones now.

"I genuinely dislike the promulgation of false information, especially to people who are asking for help selecting new parts."

Link to comment
https://linustechtips.com/topic/189860-cold-cathode-led/#findComment-2557244
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

I saw a pic of an exploded cold cathode once......don't do it. Can't find the pic anymore but it took a lot of the hardware down as well. There was basically fire in the PC. LEDs just die. They stop working. So take those, just my opinion.

 

I use Bitfenix Alchemy Connect LEDs. They were ok to install. I used super glue to stick them to my top panel though, because the tape was too weak. The lighting effect is nice though.

I saw a 15CM cold cathode that exploded a guys house. I cant find it anymore though. They had to evacuate a 300 mile area round his house incase the other one blew.

 

 

 

 

I'm looking for a nice quality blue or white cold cathode or LED lighting strip to add to my Phanteks Enthoo Pro.  I have never done any kind of internal lightning before, could anyone make some recommendations on a good brand please?

LED strips are really chaep on ebay. You can get 5 meters of RGB LED strip for like £10. If you are capable of soldering 3 (for RGB strips, 2 for normal single colour strips) cables onto it after cutting it to length then you would be much better off using that.

Link to comment
https://linustechtips.com/topic/189860-cold-cathode-led/#findComment-2557249
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted
  • Author

I'm liking the NZXT Sleeved LED Strips.  Sooo much less expensive and it gives you 2 meters worth of lights to work with, a lot more than what I need, but the price for the Alchemy one is outrageous, although the lighting effect is very appealing.

 

I will most likely just use one or two strips on the top and bottom of my front panel window.

"I genuinely dislike the promulgation of false information, especially to people who are asking for help selecting new parts."

Link to comment
https://linustechtips.com/topic/189860-cold-cathode-led/#findComment-2557314
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted
  • Author

Oh yea, definitely going with the NZXT Sleeved LED Strip.  A lot less expensive, and it gives you a lot more lights to work with.

 

Very first review I found on youtube:

"I genuinely dislike the promulgation of false information, especially to people who are asking for help selecting new parts."

Link to comment
https://linustechtips.com/topic/189860-cold-cathode-led/#findComment-2557347
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

NZXT HUE. I'm so pissed at Bitfenix I can never stand behind one of their products and feel good about it.

Main rig on profile

VAULT - File Server

Spoiler

Intel Core i5 11400 w/ Shadow Rock LP, 2x16GB SP GAMING 3200MHz CL16, ASUS PRIME Z590-A, 2x LSI 9211-8i, Fractal Define 7, 256GB Team MP33, 3x 6TB WD Red Pro (general storage), 5x 8TB WD White Label/Red (Plex) (both arrays in their respective Windows Parity storage spaces), 1TB Teamgroup MP33 (dumping ground) Corsair RM750x, TrueNAS Scale

Sleeper HP Pavilion A6137C

Spoiler

Intel Core i7 6700K @ 4.4GHz, 4x8GB G.SKILL Ares 1800MHz CL10, ASUS Z170M-E D3, 128GB Team MP33, 1TB Seagate Barracuda, MSI GTX 970 100ME, EVGA 650G1, Windows 11 Pro

OptiPlex 7040M

Spoiler

Intel Core i7 6700, 2x16GB Mushkin Redline (stuck at 2133MHz CL13), 240GB Corsair MP510, 2TB Seagate Barracuda 2.5", 130w Dell power brick, Windows 11 Pro

Mac Mini (Late 2020)

Spoiler

Apple M1, 8GB RAM, 256GB, macOS Sonoma

Consoles: Steam Deck LCD (512GB), Softmodded 1.4 Xbox w/ 500GB HDD, Xbox 360 Elite 120GB Falcon, XB1X w/2TB MX500, Xbox Series X, PS1 1001, PS2 Slim 70000 w/ FreeMcBoot, PS4 Pro 7015B 1TB, PS5 Digital, Nintendo Switch OLED, Nintendo Wii RVL-001 (black)

Link to comment
https://linustechtips.com/topic/189860-cold-cathode-led/#findComment-2557372
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

I saw a 15CM cold cathode that exploded a guys house. I cant find it anymore though. They had to evacuate a 300 mile area round his house incase the other one blew.

 

...they actually contain uranium. Not funny dude, not funny! You would be a nuclear threat to your neighborhood.

PC: AMD Ryzen 7 7700 || Noctua NH-U12S SE2 || 32GB DDR5 6000 CL32  || 
|| Powercolor RX 9070 Reaper || Asus B650E-I  || WD 850X 2TB ||  Corsair SF600 || Intertech IM 1 |||
Peripherals: Sennheiser PC  360 G4ME || AOC CQ27G2U || Viewsonic PX701HD || Keychron V1 || Logitech G303 Shroud Edition||| Laptop: XPS 13 2in1 7390 || Steam Deck 256 GB (64GB Version) ||| Cameras: Fujifilm XH-1 || Fujifilm X100T

 

 

Elite 110 build log (update:05/15/2018)

Link to comment
https://linustechtips.com/topic/189860-cold-cathode-led/#findComment-2557395
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted
  • Author

NZXT HUE. I'm so pissed at Bitfenix I can never stand behind one of their products and feel good about it.

I am liking the HUE a lot.

"I genuinely dislike the promulgation of false information, especially to people who are asking for help selecting new parts."

Link to comment
https://linustechtips.com/topic/189860-cold-cathode-led/#findComment-2557466
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

I am liking the HUE a lot.

Me too. Gotta get all 'dem colors.

Main rig on profile

VAULT - File Server

Spoiler

Intel Core i5 11400 w/ Shadow Rock LP, 2x16GB SP GAMING 3200MHz CL16, ASUS PRIME Z590-A, 2x LSI 9211-8i, Fractal Define 7, 256GB Team MP33, 3x 6TB WD Red Pro (general storage), 5x 8TB WD White Label/Red (Plex) (both arrays in their respective Windows Parity storage spaces), 1TB Teamgroup MP33 (dumping ground) Corsair RM750x, TrueNAS Scale

Sleeper HP Pavilion A6137C

Spoiler

Intel Core i7 6700K @ 4.4GHz, 4x8GB G.SKILL Ares 1800MHz CL10, ASUS Z170M-E D3, 128GB Team MP33, 1TB Seagate Barracuda, MSI GTX 970 100ME, EVGA 650G1, Windows 11 Pro

OptiPlex 7040M

Spoiler

Intel Core i7 6700, 2x16GB Mushkin Redline (stuck at 2133MHz CL13), 240GB Corsair MP510, 2TB Seagate Barracuda 2.5", 130w Dell power brick, Windows 11 Pro

Mac Mini (Late 2020)

Spoiler

Apple M1, 8GB RAM, 256GB, macOS Sonoma

Consoles: Steam Deck LCD (512GB), Softmodded 1.4 Xbox w/ 500GB HDD, Xbox 360 Elite 120GB Falcon, XB1X w/2TB MX500, Xbox Series X, PS1 1001, PS2 Slim 70000 w/ FreeMcBoot, PS4 Pro 7015B 1TB, PS5 Digital, Nintendo Switch OLED, Nintendo Wii RVL-001 (black)

Link to comment
https://linustechtips.com/topic/189860-cold-cathode-led/#findComment-2557489
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted
  • Author

I just replaced all my Cold cathodes with and RGB LED kit I bought and modded off amazon. its so much cheaper and you get more for your buck. I went this route because I needed more then 2 feet of LED strip but I also didn't want to spend $40+ on it.

 

http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IN4Y7VS/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

I just modded the power connector with an extra molex cable that came with one of my fans.

the tools you need are wire cutters, soldering iron.  It was actually really easy to do and took me about 10 minutes to do. this is coming from someone who as soldered about 2 things in his life and have never modded a molex connector before. it would have been even easier to do if I went with a strip with only 1 color since that eliminates the control box. you just need to make sure you hook the strip up to the 12v on the molex connector.

 

my only advice is with the RGB kit when it makes white it just turns on all the LEDs. but if you hide the strip well it will light the case in white but the strip will be red,green,blue.

Thats a neat idea, and I do own a soldering iron so it is something I will consider, I do love DIY projects like that and you get a TON of lights for a low price.

"I genuinely dislike the promulgation of false information, especially to people who are asking for help selecting new parts."

Link to comment
https://linustechtips.com/topic/189860-cold-cathode-led/#findComment-2557532
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted
  • Author

yeah had got one at radio shack for like 10 bucks a few years ago. I figured if I messed it up or didn't like it I was only out 20 bucks. Ill post some pictures of it in my build log page for the green monster here in a few minutes. it turned out way better than I was expecting especially considering the price.

Link it to this thread please so I can view it!

"I genuinely dislike the promulgation of false information, especially to people who are asking for help selecting new parts."

Link to comment
https://linustechtips.com/topic/189860-cold-cathode-led/#findComment-2557566
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing Cases and Mods

×