Go Back   PCMech Forums > Help & Discussion > Computer Hardware

Need Some Help? Type Your Keywords Here:

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Search this Thread Rate Thread Display Modes
Old 11-14-2006, 09:26 PM   #1
Not so new
 
newbuilder14's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Maryland, United States
Posts: 2,576
Send a message via AIM to newbuilder14
Cold Cathode Kits

I was thinking about getting these cathodes:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16800999371

To put in this case:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811119077

With these cables:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16812183042

Would this be a reliable solution to make my case look 'cool?' Are the cathodes honestly gonna explode on me?
__________________
“To me there are three things everyone should do every day. Number one is laugh. Number two is think -- spend some time in thought. Number three, you should have your emotions move you to tears. If you laugh, think and cry, that's a heck of a day.” - Jim Valvano
newbuilder14 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-14-2006, 09:37 PM   #2
Member (6 bit)
 
chipdip's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 53
Send a message via ICQ to chipdip Send a message via AIM to chipdip
I really don't that the cathodes will explode. I have only heard of one case where that has happened, and the lights were REALLY defective.
chipdip is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-14-2006, 10:17 PM   #3
Not so new
 
newbuilder14's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Maryland, United States
Posts: 2,576
Send a message via AIM to newbuilder14
Okay thank you. I will probably go ahead and get them. They make for some sweet lighting.
newbuilder14 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-14-2006, 10:58 PM   #4
Member (8 bit)
 
fleeingpepper's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Tulsa, OK
Posts: 185
Send a message via AIM to fleeingpepper
Non-cheap ones like the ones you picked out are more likely to not blow up....And it's not the cathodes that blow up, it's the inverters.
fleeingpepper is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-17-2006, 09:26 PM   #5
Not so new
 
newbuilder14's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Maryland, United States
Posts: 2,576
Send a message via AIM to newbuilder14
So what are the most reliable kits? I really feel unsure about trusting my hardware on them, but I like the fact that you can turn them off and on. Anyone have anything bad to say about them?

If it helps, I'm looking at these: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811994001

Last edited by newbuilder14; 11-17-2006 at 09:30 PM.
newbuilder14 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-18-2006, 04:01 PM   #6
Not so new
 
newbuilder14's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Maryland, United States
Posts: 2,576
Send a message via AIM to newbuilder14
I'm not sure if it is better to get a 35dBA case fan for $1 cheaper or get the cathode lights above - at least the fan will be a reliable choice. I really need some opinions on the reliability of these things.
newbuilder14 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-18-2006, 04:24 PM   #7
V12
 
Mr.Ferrari's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Houston, T.E.X.A.S
Posts: 3,488
Send a message via AIM to Mr.Ferrari
35DBA?? You sure you can handle that kinda noise??

I used to use cathodes and other lighting alot in my previous cases/builds. Ive recently stopped due to my quest for a more cleaner looking computer ;P.

However the ones that failed on me the most were the logisys lights. They broke very easily and always tended to loose their brightness after a while.

I think you should be ok with them though.

I do hear great things about ULTRA cathodes, however they are very expensive. Vastech and thermaltake are also decent..
__________________
“We must not let ourselves get driven off course, no matter what happens we must stick to our natural game”
-Zenedine Zidane
Mr.Ferrari is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-01-2006, 08:59 PM   #8
Not so new
 
newbuilder14's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Maryland, United States
Posts: 2,576
Send a message via AIM to newbuilder14
If my aunt chooses to get me those Logisys ones off my wishlist I will use them.

Any last words on their safety?

Sure they are a risk, but so are most things in life.
newbuilder14 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-01-2006, 09:06 PM   #9
V12
 
Mr.Ferrari's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Houston, T.E.X.A.S
Posts: 3,488
Send a message via AIM to Mr.Ferrari
Seriously..they are not dangerous...I mean its the same chance of one of the caps on your motherboard blowing up and burning everthing down, or your powersupply blowing up lol..
Mr.Ferrari is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-01-2006, 09:44 PM   #10
Shiro Usagi
Premium Member
 
Cricket's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Kaneohe, Hawaii
Posts: 34,002
If you're that worried about the chances of them bursting into flames, don't get them...it's called "Peace of mind".

Cricket
Cricket is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-01-2006, 09:46 PM   #11
Not so new
 
newbuilder14's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Maryland, United States
Posts: 2,576
Send a message via AIM to newbuilder14
The fact that I can leave them off unless I am taking pictures relieves me a bit. Chances are my aunt won't choose them off my wishlist anyway, so...

This is just too cool :
http://usera.imagecave.com/Technohol...d/DSC08037.JPG

Last edited by newbuilder14; 12-01-2006 at 09:49 PM.
newbuilder14 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-01-2006, 09:50 PM   #12
Shiro Usagi
Premium Member
 
Cricket's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Kaneohe, Hawaii
Posts: 34,002
Think about it...they're just lights, that's all...just lights. What's more important? Pretty lights or a working computer?

Cricket

Last edited by Cricket; 12-01-2006 at 09:52 PM.
Cricket is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-01-2006, 09:50 PM   #13
Not so new
 
newbuilder14's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Maryland, United States
Posts: 2,576
Send a message via AIM to newbuilder14
Alright Cricket. You know what, all your advice to me has always worked, so I'm going with you on that one.
newbuilder14 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-01-2006, 09:57 PM   #14
Shiro Usagi
Premium Member
 
Cricket's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Kaneohe, Hawaii
Posts: 34,002
Now you don't have to worry about your computer or your house burning down.

Cricket
Cricket is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-01-2006, 10:12 PM   #15
Member (8 bit)
 
fleeingpepper's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Tulsa, OK
Posts: 185
Send a message via AIM to fleeingpepper
If you ever are looking to a good alternative to cathodes, apparently there's a way to hook up automotive brake lights up to your computer (the ones with 40 LED's inside them and such). I've seen a few pics of computers with those and they are really, really bright.
fleeingpepper is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-01-2006, 10:17 PM   #16
Not so new
 
newbuilder14's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Maryland, United States
Posts: 2,576
Send a message via AIM to newbuilder14
Good to know, thanks.

Also I have another idea: UV Reactive cables + UV Cable Sleeving + UV Reactive fans = Ownage? Question directed to those who mod cases and know what looks 'cool.' I'm looking for a solid blue lighting effect in my case.

Anyone know of good, quiet fans that give off blue light and would make my cables glow? Is there such a thing as a blue LED fan that can give off UV light?

Can I just use plain blue LED fans? - Would they make the UV blue cables react?

Last edited by newbuilder14; 12-01-2006 at 10:26 PM.
newbuilder14 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-01-2006, 10:40 PM   #17
V12
 
Mr.Ferrari's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Houston, T.E.X.A.S
Posts: 3,488
Send a message via AIM to Mr.Ferrari
They will make the cables react..a bit. But essentially UV lighting is Purple. Not blue. UV lighting is what'll bring the best out.

Just one thing, a while back I used to be just like you, buying all this lighting and UV crap until one day all that brightness kinda pissed me off and I just threw it all away.

But thats just me. .

And for the fans. The quietest led fans IMO are the Yate Loon D12-SL's and anything from CoolerMaster.
Mr.Ferrari is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-01-2006, 10:51 PM   #18
Not so new
 
newbuilder14's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Maryland, United States
Posts: 2,576
Send a message via AIM to newbuilder14
Well, I've been living with beige PCs all my life, and I like to get creative. Here is my list now:

1 of these http://store.yahoo.com/svcompucycle/a2068.html
1 of these http://store.yahoo.com/svcompucycle/10bluvresaca.html
1 of these http://store.yahoo.com/svcompucycle/tlr-s82-eb.html
And, how many of these http://store.yahoo.com/svcompucycle/ziptie-blu.html do you think I need? I was thinking maybe 10 or 15 at most.
newbuilder14 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-02-2006, 12:54 PM   #19
Not so new
 
newbuilder14's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Maryland, United States
Posts: 2,576
Send a message via AIM to newbuilder14
Any last comments on the things above? If not I will go ahead and choose those items to make my case look better.

Is SVC any good? How is their customer service, etc.?
newbuilder14 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-02-2006, 03:30 PM   #20
V12
 
Mr.Ferrari's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Houston, T.E.X.A.S
Posts: 3,488
Send a message via AIM to Mr.Ferrari
List looks good, and get as many zip ties as you need, then get 5 more. Because if you ever need more, you'll end up paying a few bucks shipping. I would also take a look over at radioshack, thats where I get all my zip ties from.

As far as customer service...one of the best. I know a few guys there, always reply promptly to inquires and do their best with shipping.

Once I forgot 4 fan screws and they shipped me 100 for free.
Mr.Ferrari is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-02-2006, 06:44 PM   #21
Member (9 bit)
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Indiana
Posts: 500
Send a message via AIM to andper10
Will you PM me when you get those fans in and remind me to check back here for a loudness/quietness report? I have a few noisy 80mm fans that I wouldn't mind replacing if I knew someone else that recommended a good replacement. -Thanks, and enjoy your case modding.

BTW, I have a cathode story. I bought a set of cool cathodes off ebay that were suppossed to be logsys brand, but they were unicom brand, and i plugged them in, and whenever i would turn them off or on, my system would restart. As far as I can tell, they didn't do any damage, but I unplugged them for good after that. The conclusion that I draw from that is get good brand name cathodes, and maybe make a little box coated with fire retardant to put your inverter into so that it won't burn everything down if it explodes .
__________________
| i7 950 @ 4.0 Ghz | Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme | 4870 1GB | 6GB DDR3 1600 Kingston | Gigabyte X58A-UD3R | 1TB, 500GB, 320GB, & 160GB Seagates | Corsair 520W | HDTV Tuner | Logsis Green Transparent Case | Windows 7 Home Premium | 25" Hanspree 1080p LCD | Cyber Acoustics 5.1 Surround Sound | Chaintech AV710 w/ Via Envy 24 | 17,478 3DMark06 (Old CPU) |
andper10 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-02-2006, 06:56 PM   #22
Not so new
 
newbuilder14's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Maryland, United States
Posts: 2,576
Send a message via AIM to newbuilder14
Sorry - I opted for a Newegg gift card instead. I will tell you one thing, though - the 80mm fan included in my Cooler Master Centurion 5 is not the quietest, but when you are 5 feet away from it you cannot hear it.
newbuilder14 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-02-2006, 07:01 PM   #23
Member (9 bit)
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Indiana
Posts: 500
Send a message via AIM to andper10
OK, Enjoy whatever you get with it!
andper10 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-03-2006, 04:41 PM   #24
Not so new
 
newbuilder14's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Maryland, United States
Posts: 2,576
Send a message via AIM to newbuilder14
I have $45 to spend at Newegg thanks to my aunt, so if anyone has any suggestions, I'm here to take them. I was thinking about a cable sleeving kit but that looks like a pain in the neck.
newbuilder14 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-08-2006, 06:45 PM   #25
Not so new
 
newbuilder14's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Maryland, United States
Posts: 2,576
Send a message via AIM to newbuilder14
I have them in and turned on and they are fine. The effect is very cool. If I keep the switch off, but it is still plugged into the molex connector, would the inverter still be at risk of blowing up because it is connected to the molex connector?
newbuilder14 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-08-2006, 06:51 PM   #26
V12
 
Mr.Ferrari's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Houston, T.E.X.A.S
Posts: 3,488
Send a message via AIM to Mr.Ferrari
No....
Mr.Ferrari is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-08-2006, 06:58 PM   #27
Not so new
 
newbuilder14's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Maryland, United States
Posts: 2,576
Send a message via AIM to newbuilder14
Okay, lol. My case looks dark without them.
newbuilder14 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-08-2006, 09:07 PM   #28
Member (6 bit)
 
xplosiv3's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 42
This is something ive always found a cool lightin effect,without risking chances of cathodes Kits going wrong, and i always get bored easily with just the same colour just has a little flip switch on the back to change from 3 colours and has a fan controller

Asp_Cham550.jpg


and the wires are UV Wraped ....Green thou..as its called Chameleon.....no chioces there...but! you can buy UV Green cable ties

Chameleon.jpg
xplosiv3 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-08-2006, 09:31 PM   #29
Not so new
 
newbuilder14's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Maryland, United States
Posts: 2,576
Send a message via AIM to newbuilder14
I appreciate your imput, however I personally find Aspire units to be low quality.
newbuilder14 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-08-2006, 10:27 PM   #30
Defenestrator
 
Stuey's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: NYC & NJ
Posts: 1,371
Darn it, how did I miss this thread!!

Anyways, if the switch is off, no current flows to the inverters so even a defective unit should be perfectly safe.

Can we see some pics? And have you done the sleeving or not yet?
__________________
ToolGuyd.com - My Tool Blog
Stuey is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Still Need Help? Type Your Keywords Here:


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Cold Cathode really cold? comp615 Computer Hardware 16 06-16-2004 05:33 AM
Cold Cathode ?s tech_wiz19 Computer Hardware 7 03-19-2004 11:29 AM
smallest cold cathode? Spyda Computer Hardware 3 04-18-2003 03:51 PM
cold cathode light scott_d Computer Hardware 4 11-01-2002 04:28 PM
Cold Cathode, Neon lights, or LEDs? robo555 Computer Hardware 2 02-16-2002 06:51 PM


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:33 AM.
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.6
Copyright ©2000 - 2012, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
SEO by vBSEO 3.6.0