Case lighting questions - should I go UV?

Sean · Post by **Sean** » Wed Apr 23, 2003 10:13 pm

Ok. For my future case mods, I'll be getting a side panel w/ window from Directron, and will be drilling a 92mm hole in there, where I think it fits best.

Therefore, I'd like to get a lighted 92mm fan. Over at xoxide.com, they have a 4 LED 92mm fan, which looks pretty awesome. Problem is, this side panel fan will most likely be intake, and I want to limit dust! I'd figure that out. But, my main question is, can I turn the lights off (for any lit fans) while keeping the fan on? I'm going to guess...NO. Probably because it shares the same power the fan gets. This would lead to the lighting dimming if I had the fan hooked to a fanbus, with the speed slower than normal, correct? But, in any case. I want to get a lit fan to go in my side panel. I'd probably only use it while in heavy operation, so maybe not having a filter would be ok. It would sure look a lot better without the filter.

Now, Cold Cathodes. I see lots of the dual sets flying around. I don't remember where, but 1 set I found lets me get a 12" and a 4", exactly what I want! However, since its on the same inverter, does that mean I can't have one off, or have them on seperately? I'm thinkin, since they share the same inverter, that when on, both are on, and when off, both are off, no options. It'd be cool if I'm wrong. I'd like to put 2 rocker switches in the front of my case.

It'd be really cool if I could have rocker switches for all the lit fans too..but, probably not going to happen.

Also on cold cathodes, as stated above, I want a 12" and a 4". I'd put the 12" on the bottom of my case, below the edge of the window and I'd put the 4" inside my front fan grill, in my antec case. Would that work? Nore sure, I still need to research it. I think it would work, but, just how thick are cold cathodes? they look like they're about 1/2in max in thickness...

Ultra Violet lights seem really cool. I'd probably get a few UV reactive things. I'm thinking about putting that premade clear cover, from xoxide, on my psu, I could get the UV one there. I could probably also get a few UV reactive fans. Then, maybe some other stuff... Is it worth it? Or, would it just be cool to have 2 blue cold cathodes, and some blue fans. Everything would be blue, except my fan bus. Is that no fun? Do cases look better with multiple colors? (Like blue and red, which I think would look pretty cool)

Yeah, I want my case to look awesome, need some help with it though!

Thanks!

blade · Post by **blade** » Wed Apr 23, 2003 10:43 pm

Whew! das a lot

can I turn the lights off (for any lit fans) while keeping the fan on?

No. Only way is to have something like these. They attach to a fan so you can control the light seperately from the fan.

If a regular lighted fan is on a fan controller, then the leds will also be dimmed.

If you use 2 cathodes on the same inverter then they will be controlled the same. Only way is to get another inverter to have another switch.

The newer cathodes are very thin so your idea should work, placement wise. If the cables are long enough.

I've heard some say that UV lights can cause your eyes to hurt if you look at them a lot. Cathodes provide more actual light, but UV has more color.

I've tried my case with 2 blue cathodes, the super bright ones from svc. And also have 2 blue led fans as exhaust and 2 as intake. Even tried a 80mm and a 92mm as my cpu fan. Having just the fans on with their blue leds, provides a nice blue glow. That's how I have it most of the time.

Turn on the 2 blue cathodes it does brighten it up a lot, but is more of a washed out lighter blue. Then I placed a angel mod on my side panel window fan. At first I was convinced the angel mod cathodes are far brighter than the regular cathodes. But it is that placement that makes them appear brighter. With one angel mod on my side fan it is brighter than 2 cathodes.

And what I do is use have the fans and lights attached to my sunbeam rhoebus. It is one of the few that turns off, so that makes it great for lights.

btw, I'd check the prices on what you want at either svc, kdc or crazypc. I think you can do better than xoxide.

Sean · Post by **Sean** » Wed Apr 23, 2003 11:19 pm

Yeah, xoxide.com was what I was using cause they have nice variety. I was too lazy to look elsewhere.

Thanks, yes, I know that's a lot. You answered almost all my questions though.

That sunbeam rheobus. The only thing keeping me from buying that is that it using 3 pin connectors. I want to use bare wire connectors. I have the wires run around my case already.

Would there be an easy way to convert these to 3pin?

Also, would one channel on this sunbeam support two 92mm fans? I know my PCMods 4 port fanbus does jsut fine. And, the sunbeam rheobus is 3.5 in, isn't it? Another perk.

4 knobs, and they go from off to all teh way to 12v, right? Didn't you do a review on that?

Thanks blade!

K, foudn that review. Bummer, not 3.5". Which one was? Also, how would that aluminum cover look in my beige case? :-\ I'm still trying to think of a way I could get my wires hooked to those. Maybe I just need to find some 3 pin connectors? and hotwire em. But, I'm not very good at soldering...not sure why.

blade · Post by **blade** » Wed Apr 23, 2003 11:36 pm

The sunbeam supports up to 20watts per channel, so 2 92mm fans are no problem. But it is for a 5.25" bay though. There are some various fan controllers that do fit in a 3.5" bay. Not sure how good they all are. Something like <a href="http://www.pcabusers.com/reviews/baybus ... l">this</a> may be what you want, if you can find it in a 3.5" version.

At one time I saw a version of the sunbeam at xoixide that did use bare wire leads. Can't find it now. Only way to convert your bare leads to 3 pin is if you have the 3 pin connectors. Or you could splice them into something like this . To do it easily, just use electrical tape to seal the conection.

Sean · Post by **Sean** » Wed Apr 23, 2003 11:36 pm

Sweet. SVC has an awesome selection. I'll be browsing that store for some cool stuff after I get my new upgrdaes installed. (I'm waiting to see if I win that contest over at AMDMB, I sure could use a $50 gift card at NewEgg.

)

I'm also waiting to see if ram prices go down a bit more. Slight raise in em, and I'm buyin.

Yeah, i think I'll sell of 4 switch fanbus if I get a rheobus. That 3.5" version seems REALLY sheap. This sunbeam one seems awesome.

Would 2pin connectors work? I have quite a few old Pentium systems that probably have 2pin connectors in them. I'd much rather save myself $4

Also, those UV sensetive fans looks pretty dang cool. However, I like my current 92mm fans, with their onboard rheobuses as well.. I'll look into all options.

RugbyRoy · Post by **RugbyRoy** » Wed Apr 23, 2003 11:51 pm

If you're worried about light being too much then the UV fans are great. I had a whole heap of 4 LED blue fans and a blue cc and it was sooo bright. Now I have two UV cc's and 4 UV coated fans and it looks sweet as hell and isn't that bright. I put my LED fans in my hard drive cooler and front intake slots, so the front bezel of my case glows blue and looks hella cool.