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Viggen0 · 04:10 PM

Bought some cathodes and fan grilles for my G5. Check it out:

http://www.rit.edu/~mmp6772/g5.jpg
http://www.rit.edu/~mmp6772/g5front.jpg
tooki says: no huge inline images!

SamuraiDL · Mar 8, 2004, 10:55 PM

how did you install the light?

SouthPaW1227 · Mar 8, 2004, 10:56 PM

Absolutely SWEET! Welcome to the forums!

Lateralus · Mar 8, 2004, 11:02 PM

Kinky!

Viggen0 · Mar 8, 2004, 11:07 PM

Originally posted by SamuraiDL:
how did you install the light?

Bought a $20 cold cathode kit from CompUSA. It came with two tubes, and an inverter, the plugs i needed. You don't even have to buy a Y-splitter for your molex connection, because it takes care of that too. Pretty sweet.

Vader�s Pinch of Death · Mar 8, 2004, 11:13 PM

Flames on the fans?

Do you have those lights under your car as well?

SamuraiDL · Mar 8, 2004, 11:20 PM

20 bucks you say? Right on man.

Viggen0 · Mar 8, 2004, 11:25 PM

Originally posted by Vader�s Pinch of Death:
Flames on the fans?

Do you have those lights under your car as well?

Ummm, no.... I only rice out my computer.

teknik · Mar 8, 2004, 11:32 PM

It's very unique! Who cares what others say, it's all about personality

Viggen0 · Mar 8, 2004, 11:33 PM

Originally posted by teknik:
It's very unique! Who cares what others say, it's all about personality

I really did it to show off the inside of the g5 since it's so nice looking.

Viggen0 · Mar 8, 2004, 11:52 PM

Originally posted by SouthPaW1227:
Absolutely SWEET! Welcome to the forums!

Funny that you say that, being i registered here like 3 years ago but never posted hehe. I'm more one of the chat people, not a forum person heh.

Vader�s Pinch of Death · Mar 9, 2004, 01:37 AM

Good thing you have it in the window like that, it can alert all the thieves to its attention.

Viggen0 · Mar 9, 2004, 01:47 AM

Originally posted by Vader�s Pinch of Death:
Good thing you have it in the window like that, it can alert all the thieves to its attention.

My room is always locked, and there are 17 people living in this house. And I'm on the second floor.

Vader�s Pinch of Death · Mar 9, 2004, 02:57 AM

So how do you install those lights and where do they plug into?

Viggen0 · Mar 9, 2004, 03:18 AM

Originally posted by Vader�s Pinch of Death:
So how do you install those lights and where do they plug into?

Directly into the power connector on the back of my cd drive, and then the power from the powersupply piggybacks onto the back of that, so both the drive and cathode tubes can get power. Very simple, required absolutely no modification of my case whatsoever.

This is what I used, got it right at CompUSA:

http://www.compusa.com/products/prod...669&pfp=SEARCH

Vader�s Pinch of Death · Mar 9, 2004, 03:26 AM

Ok second question... what kind of Subway sandwich did you get?

hyteckit · Mar 9, 2004, 05:03 AM

Heh... I actually like this light mod. Good job!

Viggen0 · Mar 9, 2004, 10:34 AM

Originally posted by Vader�s Pinch of Death:
Ok second question... what kind of Subway sandwich did you get?

Chicken breast on italian bread, with buffalo sauce, lettuce, tomato, onion and green pepper.

Gankdawg · Mar 9, 2004, 12:26 PM

Nice looking, good job!

GoGoReggieXPowars · Mar 9, 2004, 12:28 PM

I wouldn't keep it by the window like that with the light turned on!

I'd like to see one that's half as bright, for a more subtle look. But that looks wild, as if being able to run with the clear side wasn't cool enough.

Nivag · Mar 9, 2004, 12:45 PM

nice job!
You could always get the clear side panel from this place... Mac Skinz the guy that owns it seems a decent chap!

Viggen0 · Mar 9, 2004, 01:06 PM

Originally posted by GoGoReggieXPowars:
I wouldn't keep it by the window like that with the light turned on!

I'd like to see one that's half as bright, for a more subtle look. But that looks wild, as if being able to run with the clear side wasn't cool enough.

Yes it would be nice if these were dimmable. Anyone know if cold cathode tubes are dimmable with a potentiometer?

djohnson · Mar 9, 2004, 02:41 PM

Hmm... Dont think I like it. It makes the G5 case look like a cheap pc case....

soul searching · Mar 9, 2004, 02:44 PM

Looks interesting.

Originally posted by Viggen0:
Chicken breast on italian bread, with buffalo sauce, lettuce, tomato, onion and green pepper.

I'll have the same without the onions

angelmb · Mar 9, 2004, 03:09 PM

Welcome mate.

Just my opinion, but I think that the lights and so make the G5 look pc-ish and distract the objective user about the real beaty of the G5.

After all, is all about personal tastes.

-Q- · Mar 9, 2004, 04:06 PM

Can't say it suits me personally, but nice job on the work. Glad you can fit everything w/out modding that gorgeous case.

Turias · Mar 9, 2004, 04:29 PM

I think it looks pretty nice. I don't really like the flames in front of the fans though... Aren't you worried about them blocking airflow to the CPU?

EdipisReks · Mar 9, 2004, 05:11 PM

Originally posted by Turias:
I think it looks pretty nice. I don't really like the flames in front of the fans though... Aren't you worried about them blocking airflow to the CPU?

i had similar grills when i had a high end gaming PC, and they were never a problem.

Turias · Mar 9, 2004, 05:18 PM

Originally posted by EdipisReks:
i had similar grills when i had a high end gaming PC, and they were never a problem.

Yeah, but the G5 is more sensitive to air flow than most PCs.

Link · Mar 9, 2004, 05:45 PM

those fan grillse are more for show than they are for protection, and don't cover up TOO much, if anything the fans will rev up easier because of them but I doubt the CPUs will suffer..

It's a tradeoff huh..

Viggen0 · Mar 9, 2004, 08:50 PM

Originally posted by Link:
those fan grillse are more for show than they are for protection, and don't cover up TOO much, if anything the fans will rev up easier because of them but I doubt the CPUs will suffer..

It's a tradeoff huh..

No the fans are running all the same as they were before.

d0ubled0wn · Mar 9, 2004, 11:52 PM

schweeet. next up, hydraulic suspension hopper... Make that G5 hop awwwjeahhh!

mac_addict415 · Mar 10, 2004, 01:13 AM

Can you post some pictures of where the lights plug into, and where did you place the lights?

Viggen0 · Mar 10, 2004, 03:50 PM

Originally posted by mac_addict415:
Can you post some pictures of where the lights plug into, and where did you place the lights?

I can try, but it would require me to remove the cd drive to show you where it works. I'll try posting some pics later tonight.

Viggen0 · 04:11 PM

OK, here is how it is set up, it's very nice looking as you will see:

Here is the wiring setup:

http://www.rit.edu/~mmp6772/wiring.jpg
NO BIG INLINE IMAGES!

Here is the side cathode:

http://www.rit.edu/~mmp6772/sidecathode.jpg

This is the view of the side cathode from the front:

http://www.rit.edu/~mmp6772/sidecathodefront.jpg

This is the second cathode, next to the radeon card. You can see how I have covered the outer half of the tube with black electrical tape so the tube doesn't glare light out of the side of the case:

http://www.rit.edu/~mmp6772/middlecathode.jpg

Here is the second cathode as seen through the PCI slots in the back of the machine:

http://www.rit.edu/~mmp6772/middlecathodeback.jpg

Here is where I store the power inverter and the wires, above the cd drive. You can also see the switch, but I haven't found a good place for it, so it just hangs out on top there:

http://www.rit.edu/~mmp6772/switch.jpg

Cadaver · Mar 11, 2004, 09:17 PM

Computers with lights go faster than computers without.

Viggen0 · Mar 11, 2004, 11:23 PM

Originally posted by Cadaver:
Computers with lights go faster than computers without.

Seriously.

masugu · Mar 12, 2004, 01:23 AM

If the lights are blinking tho...it may slow the Mac down

dr. zoidberg · Mar 12, 2004, 06:21 AM

man, this is a seriously cool job! i have seen that other light mod (with the glowing X) back then, but this one looks much better. i also like the flamboyant grilles ... woot!

Viggen0 · Mar 12, 2004, 10:51 AM

Originally posted by dr. zoidberg:
man, this is a seriously cool job! i have seen that other light mod (with the glowing X) back then, but this one looks much better. i also like the flamboyant grilles ... woot!

I'm thinking of painting the flame grilles a UV-active color, and then putting a small UV light in front ofthem so they glow.

barbarian · Mar 12, 2004, 10:21 PM

does the light generate any heat?

icemank121 · Mar 12, 2004, 10:27 PM

No, thats why its a "Cold" Cathode, and thats why most case modders use them

israces · Mar 12, 2004, 11:03 PM

Someone needs to come up with a hack to hook those cathodes up to the same thing that controls the Powermate lighting. Then you could have them be brighter when the CPU load is high and crap like that.

slboett · Mar 12, 2004, 11:04 PM

Here he is when he's not "ricin" his G5:
http://www.icyhotstunta.com/

SB

x user · Mar 12, 2004, 11:21 PM

Originally posted by slboett:
Here he is when he's not "ricin" his G5:
http://www.icyhotstunta.com/

SB

LOL, that reminds me of some of the people that have wannabe ricers here in LA. Word yo, ya gotz to be asian to have a phat ricer.

BTW, i'm not Asian, and I drive a Saturn

.

But I really do like that case mod, reminds me of my iBook mods for some reason...

boardsurfer · Mar 13, 2004, 12:04 AM

I love how the light comes through the grill. That kicks MUCH @ss.

jedi1yoda1 · 12:43 AM

Man, $20 dollars, you got ripped off. $5-10 from PCToyLand.com right now, they have all sorts of stuff.

This picture doesn't do much justice. I usually leave it closed up. When the lights are out, the light above the graphics card emits a nice glow out the front grill. I'll try to get some more picks up when my camera battery recharges.

If you want more info on G5 moding, check out the Feb. 2004 issue of MacAddict. They give detailed instructions for installation of CC lights.

Also check out pcmods.com, and crazypc.com. Most lighting kits should work on your G5's

willc · Mar 13, 2004, 01:31 AM

these things all look really cool and artistic. I didn't read through the whole thread so I have to ask, has anyone mentioned that by pulling extra power off of the built in power supply like that you not only void your warranty but will reduce the life of the power supply?

endrmtc · Mar 13, 2004, 01:49 AM

"these things all look really cool and artistic. I didn't read through the whole thread so I have to ask, has anyone mentioned that by pulling extra power off of the built in power supply like that you not only void your warranty but will reduce the life of the power supply?"

Uhm, what? since when does adding an internal device "reduce the life of the power supply"? You can add extra hard drives internally that use a lot more power than the lights.

And it would not void your warranty at all.

jedi1yoda1 · 02:54 AM

"these things all look really cool and artistic. I didn't read through the whole thread so I have to ask, has anyone mentioned that by pulling extra power off of the built in power supply like that you not only void your warranty but will reduce the life of the power supply?"

Uhm, what? since when does adding an internal device "reduce the life of the power supply"? You can add extra hard drives internally that use a lot more power than the lights.

And it would not void your warranty at all.

Yeah, there are PCI cards, RAM, Hard Drive combinations, all which take more power than these lights. Geesh, I probably have more power coming from my USB/Firewire ports with all the extra crap I have connected than what's coming out of the lights. Each set uses about 3-4W of power.

The only thing I can think of that will void your warranty is drilling holes into any part of your case, including the airflow guard. Also, don't cut any wires.

if something were to burn out the power supply and you were still under warranty. If you haven't made any holes or cut anything, just take everything out (remove the evidence) and take it in. Unless they've seen it, they probably won't think anything of it.

However, don't take my word for it. If someone here has experience with this, please correct me.

P.S. Here are some more picks