I've got myself a Lian Li PC60 with a window and white lights. I say its old school cool. I still think windows and lights can look good if they are subtle. Not a load of flashing multicoloured lights in a cheap premod case. Having said that, my next mod won't have any windows, internal lights but that's because it'll be an htpc.
I like mods like that. I like most mods as long as it doesn't look a bit half-arsed. But IMO, any time more than one color of lighting/highlight color is used the case just looks much worse to me.
I think a few more options should be added to reflect the different types of lighting methods since they all look different. I'm up for the classic cold cathode, as long as it matches a theme. Can't stand LEDs, sound-reactive or UV, though, because I don't want a bioreactive lightshow eminating from my computer. Keep the lighting simple and clean.
I'm still a fan of a nice lit up window mod. I just prefer my windows in shapes And blue LEDs work well if you position them properly...
Problem with case windows or clear acrylic cases are that everyone who would care about a modded case knows what a motherboard and daughter boards looks like, and unless that motherboard or daughter boards are something special who cares? So unless you're building a Orac3 or a technological marvel (dual processors, quad SLI, Raided Raptors x24, LN2 cooling) leave case windows to manufacturer's trade shows. That said modding is still a personal artistic hobby and if that artistic vision is old school cool and you can pull it off then go for it.
Well true, everybody knows what the parts look like - in the technical circles at least. Neat cabling and well cut windows, along with a subtle white (or yellow hue'd) light can turn your system's interior into a work of art for those not so good around systems. The same goes for meticulous routing of UV sleeving and the like. When it's not on the "show floor" so to speak? Just switch the lights off.
That's the perfect answer. To each his own. excuse the post snippin' spec... Now personally, I use a few green cathodes behind dark green plex and when they're off, its black. When they're on, its all lit up. Works for me.
Mods I think modding has evolved now to be more about the shape and design of the case, rather than just banging in a window and a few eyeburning led's.
I think windows are OK, and lighting needs to be subtle, with the abilitity to trun them off. I'm sitting next to an original Coolermaster ATCS 201 without a panel, and have to say that it is a cool case and look damn good without lights or anything of that sort. Only problem is the harware inside.
Yes it does depend on how it is done if it's "classic" then you can totally tell.. but when it is freaking "THERMAL TAKE" and its's all pre-loaded and they buy it because it soooo cooool! Ugh. Big plastic, ugly pieces of crap with salmagundi of tribal patterns and cheap. And now they come pre-loaded with terrible PSU's, and cobra faces and robot stuff. You guys did do it pretty much first. Here in the U.S. my friends and I totally love this site, and the window + lights craze was pretty huge. Not so much anymore.
i used to like lit cases, but very few are done in a nice sleek style i like lately. As for my own PC its just a black v1000 without a window. not too show-offy
Almost anything can be ruined if done wrong and though a window and some lights has become a bit mainstream now there still are some good new ones.
some case lighting can be pretty cool, but the majority, like 90% of it is a complete waste of time, and if you don't make the inside of your case look nice, your also wasting your time plus its frigging annoying to have a lit case in a dark room
I have DFI Lanparty UT which is about 50% UV reactive so pair that up with orange cable sleeving so UV lights work wonders. but it really all depends on how the lighting is done and if the case is in a tidy condition or not.
I can't really comment unbias-ly right now, seeing as im sitting next to a Thermaltake Soprano with the massive "X" window which is light up by the blue PSU and the red cathodes..... haha But yeh, my case at the moment is bearable, its not bright and lary, its, actually quite subtle as you cant see any of the lights. But most of the time, with very VERY inexperienced modders, they come along and say, look at this blinding case mod ive just done, it took 4 weeks, and finally its done, then they post a picture of this see through acrylic case with 50 cathodes and 3000 led's lining the edges of every component. It just looks crap and wasnt worth the effort tbh. I'm very much supporting of electronics and the way electronically controlled mecahnical aspects of mdos can be incorporated. Oh and yes, i have one in the pipeline that does just that. Still in design, have been for the past 3 months. dragon