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Logisys Cold Cathode Kits |
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Written by Mikhail Ivanenkov
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Sunday, 01 July 2007 |
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Thanks to Sidewinder Computers for the product samples.
Cold cathodes are currently the main source of case lighting: they're cheap, bright and reliable. They also give off minimal heat. Though the first versions had some major issues (bulbs breaking, inverters burning out after an hour of operation, etc) subsequent revisions addressed all of these issues to some degree. Logisys is a newcomer to the case mod market, but they've already established a foothold in several areas. Today we'll be taking a look at two of their "plain" CCFL kits.
Each kit comes retail packed with everything you need: bulb, inverter, wiring, velco strips, and as an added bonus, a PCI slot on/off switch. They're available in red, green (12" only), blue, tricolor (12" only) and UV, in 12" and 4" lengths (the latter well suited for SFF PCs). I received one each of the red and blue. The red has a clear case with the bulb inside while the blue has blue lines printed on the casing. These are only there to differentiate the CCFL as blue since the actual bulb appears white when turned off.
Each inverter can power two bulbs and has cutouts on top for ventilation (the electronics inside can get a bit warm). It still makes a tiny bit of noise when working, but nothing noticeable more than a few inches away. The provided velcro strips are cut to size and have adhesive backing for easy application, allowing you to mount the lights anywhere in a case. The cables are good length so placing two cathodes on opposite ends of a case is no problem.
The molex connector is pass-through and is wired to a PCI slot with a simple on/off switch. Even better, this switch is removable so if you aren't satisfied with it being mounted in the rear of the case you can easy place it anywhere else with screw holes or plain old tape. As for the bulbs, they're rated for 30,000 hours of operation or approximately 3.5 years of continuous use. Assuming you don't have your computer on 24/7, these could very well last you into the next decade.
Logisys claims their red cathode to be "true red" as opposed to the majority out there which appear pink. I'm not sure if I agree with it being "true red" (at least in my notion of red), but it's certainly not pink. It does have a slight orange tint and can better be described as poppy red. Personally I like it more than then the common pink/magenta varieties. It also appears redder when placed next to a blue cathode as some of the orange is drowned out by the blue.
Logisys' cold cathodes are bright. I had no problem lighting up my living room at night with just two running. They do warm up like all cathodes so if you're worried about a fraction of a degree Celsius (at most) in case temperature rise it's something to consider. My only complaint is that the lamp isn't secured on both sides; one side sort of dangles there (or rests on the interior of the case). I don't see it as a serious threat so long as you're careful when transporting your case and avoiding any major sudden bumps. Overall I'm very satisfied with these kits: they have all the makings of a good CCFL and thanks to the current state of the market, they're dirt cheap: at $6 per 12" kit ($5 per 4" kit) they're a very effective and inexpensive way to instantly upgrade your case to "modder status".
Pros
- Complete package
- Has removable on/off switch
- Very bright
- Low heat emission and inaudible past a few inches
- Red cathode looks a lot "redder" than typical pink/magenta variants
- Dirt cheap! ($5-6 depending on cathode size)
Cons
- Lamp isn't mounted on both ends
Logisys hit the nail on the head with these lights and did so without breaking the bank. Low budget users can now afford to add some flare to their boring rig. Though you can't purchase individual bulbs, the kits are so inexpensive that it wouldn't be economically feasible to sell them separately. Besides, this way if an inverter were to choke you always have a spare. In the end, if you're shopping for some new cathodes this is one opportunity you don't want to pass up. Grab yours here and good luck with the case bling.
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