ChIck3n

Hi, I am getting ready to put some lighting into my case. One thing I want to do puts a light very close to my CPU heatsink. I have heard that "cold" cathodes put off some heat. I am debating either getting this LED:
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/64...pc=14565#blank

or this CCFL set:
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/30...9s&mv_pc=14725

The CCFL is cheaper, and I get 2. But if it puts off any heat I do not want to put it near my heatsink. Would the LEDs put off any heat (I would not think they would). Any tips? I am also thinking of putting a set of those CCFLs by my front intake fans. Again, I do not want to heat up the air before it even gets pulled into my PC. I was thinking about EL wire, but everyone says it emits a buzzy sound (even the smallest buzz drives me insane). Thanks, ChIck3n

theCanadian

Generally LED's don't generate much heat. I have some small ones on the front of my case, very bright but they feel like room temperature. Light is energy, heat is energy. I don't know much about LED's and such, but in a conventional light bulb, once the current passes through the resistor, anything that isn't converted into light is converted into heat.

But LED's are different so I don't know for sure. Either way LED's shouldn't be a concern for you heat wise.

radodrill

CCFLs don't really put off any heat at all; the inverters for them may run a hare above ambient temps but they produce hardly any heat. CCFLs generally provide more light than an LED would.

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coppertop4646

how are those ccfl's powered...i take it you just plug the LEDs in with a spare 4 pin connector from your psu? just wondering cause i plan on adding lighting to my case soon

s0nniez

Yes, just connect it to the 4pin molex

coppertop4646

what if my psu only has one 4 pin can i buy an adapter that splits the one into two anywhere?

theCanadian

most definitely Newegg has about 20 different "Y" splitters. Runs you about $1 (plus shipping )

Edit: If you really wanted, if you had an old or a dead PSU, you could rig one up yourself in about 15 minutes. I've done it. But that's just me. I'm cheap like that

radodrill

Most CCFL kits include a wiring harness that has a PCI bracket with a switch and a connects to a molex connector with a pass-through molex so you don't have to worry about it using up extra molex connectors.

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ChIck3n

Great, thanks for the replies. You say the CCFLs are brighter, do you think 2 4" red CCFLs would overwhelm my 2 12" UV CCFLs? I plan to have one of the 4 inchers tucked away in a corner by my cpu and another directly above my heatsink (shining down into the HS). The rest of my wiring will have UV sleeves (blue and green). I would hate to order all this stuff, then have all my UVness washed out by a too bright red cathode.

radodrill

the colored CCFL will decrease the luminance of UV active components but don't 100% render it useless.

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Project RAD GT

SR-1/2 radobases for Crazy Carl's Antec 900 mod

Modding/electronics/hardware supply thread