Thermaltake UV IDE cables.

[BroncoBob]

Anybody using these? How about Vantec?

I'm asking because I got these generic blue UV reactive (supposedly) cables from Xoxide (http://www.xoxide.com/18uvsedudero.html) and they don't glow worth squat! I don't wanna waste my money again so seeking advice here seems like a good idea.

Thanx guys!

[DeViL_909]

Quick question for you. How many UV cathodes do you have in your case? Are there any other kind of lighting in it (aka led fans)? Either one of those could keep things from glowing like they should. Also do you have a pic of your case so we can see what we are working with.

[BroncoBob]

Quick question for you. How many UV cathodes do you have in your case? Are there any other kind of lighting in it (aka led fans)? Either one of those could keep things from glowing like they should. Also do you have a pic of your case so we can see what we are working with.

I don't have any UV cathodes in the case right now, and that's yet another question. Should I get UV cathodes of LEDs?

Anyway, the two side fans in the picture are UV reactive plastic with 4(ea) UV LEDs. I can see a UV ziptie glowing anywhere in the case - that's not in complete shadow - but I can't see even a little bit of glow from an IDE cable that is, ATM, touching the side of one of the UV fans.

I do have blue CCFLs, and I think understand that this light will drown out the UV effect, but they obviously don't have any effect when they are off.

http://www.bighorn4x4.com/members/rsteele/antec_window/13-Top-Light.jpg

[neonblingbling]

I don't have any UV cathodes in the case right now, and that's yet another question. Should I get UV cathodes of LEDs?


Did I just read corretly? :eh?: No UV cathodes/Independent LEDs, and you expect your cables to glow? :rolleyes:

[BroncoBob]

Did I just read corretly? :eh?: No UV cathodes/Independent LEDs, and you expect your cables to glow? :rolleyes:

Yeah I do. When a supposedly UV product is bare millimeters away from a UV light source, even if that source is mounted in a fan, I expect to see some glow. The fact that I see nothing but the reflection off the clear housing does not bode well the the final outcome.

So, can anyone recommend one over the other? Vantec or Thermaltake? I should have known better than to buy cheap, but since I now have to buy double I'd like to get the most bang for my buck. And yes, I'll have UV LEDs coming in the same order.

[Hookem]

You have to have UV black lights to have any of your UV stuff glow...

[DeViL_909]

See this is why I ask questions like this. UV leds will not cut it when it comes to making most stuff glow. You are going to have to break down and buy some uv cathodes. 2 of the big ones should be fine. Also are those leds uv or blue? Blue will make uv stuf glow a little, but when in presence of uv light, the blue will kep things from glowing like they should. Always keep in mind that any light other than uv, will kill the glow on uv stuff.

[BroncoBob]

See this is why I ask questions like this. UV leds will not cut it when it comes to making most stuff glow. You are going to have to break down and buy some uv cathodes. 2 of the big ones should be fine. Also are those leds uv or blue? Blue will make uv stuf glow a little, but when in presence of uv light, the blue will kep things from glowing like they should. Always keep in mind that any light other than uv, will kill the glow on uv stuff.

The UV LEDs (http://www.ocforums.com/showpost.php?p=2769661&postcount=31) in FarEast's big mod look pretty darn bright! You really think I need two 12-inch UV cathodes to light up a couple of IDE cables? Maybe you're right, I'll buy a Dual Tube UV kit, a couple sets of UV Laser LEDs.

The LEDs in the side fans are UV. The fans look blue in the photo but they appear quite purple to my eyes.

Thank you for the helpful reply, but do you have any experience with Tt or Vantec UV cables? I still have to buy another set of cables for the other box that's also in the halfway state...

Have a good one!

[DeViL_909]

Really it depends on the case and what all you plan on putting in it. So far UV leds don't put out a whole lota glowing love unless they are in or right next to the uv products. You are not going to be able to run the blue cathode in their and the UV. It will keep you from getting the look you want. Don't just take my word though. I have not had good experience with the LEDs and right now I have UV fans, Watercooling, wires, etc in my case. I have 2 12' cathodes and 2 4" cathodes. Everything looks good. If you want to see it, I will post a pic. Good luck though. I hope I have been a little help.

[dj_2004]

i have svc brand uv ide cables and around 5 uv cathodes and 2 fan uv halo lights and it barely lit up. i just gave up on them and went with black cables. so if TT brand cables are made the same dont expect much.

[BroncoBob]

i have svc brand uv ide cables and around 5 uv cathodes and 2 fan uv halo lights and it barely lit up. i just gave up on them and went with black cables. so if TT brand cables are made the same dont expect much.

I remember seeing something in the vendor forums about Xoxide buying a lot of their stuff from SVC. I don't know how accurate that is, but I'd bet it's another case of "cheap generic." I found a review of the Tt cables (http://www.techtastic.ca/reviews2/xround.html) and they don't look half bad. For $4.75 I guess it's worth a try.

Devil_909: Thanx for the tips. Throw that photo up! :cool:

[SniperXX]

Those TT ones look pretty good. Very bright but I would check other reviews, the camera could have adjusted to the low light and made them look brighter. But I dunno if that would happen.. :confused:

[BroncoBob]

Those TT ones look pretty good. Very bright but I would check other reviews, the camera could have adjusted to the low light and made them look brighter. But I dunno if that would happen.. :confused:

Yeah, that happens... in two different ways. 1) Improper exposure length (1sec, 1.2sec, etc.) and various other camera settings can yield an image that is far from accurate. 2) The human eye percieves light differently than a camera catches, and displays it. Typically with low-light photos, glowing stuff appears to glow much better than it seems to when you look at it.

As far as the Tt cables go... I bought some. I thought a splash of color would be nice for the blue case, so I bought green for it. Got some yellow cables for a case I'm doing in mostly red. Photo below.

[neonblingbling]

Yellow? You could tell me those are regular IDE cables... :-/

[BroncoBob]

Yellow? You could tell me those are regular IDE cables... :-/

Erm, I said I just bought them. As in "30 minutes ago." Thanks for clueing us in that I still have flat cables in there, braniac. :rolleyes:

[DeViL_909]

Please forgive my crappy pictures, but you can get an idea of how much this stuff glows at least.
http://tinypic.com/2jbt4
http://tinypic.com/2jbwp

Enjoy

[BroncoBob]

Not too shabby. That IDE cables really lights up! I have UV CCFLs, a UV LED kit and the cables on the way. Lookin forward to experimenting!

Have good one!

[DeViL_909]

Keep us posted when you get your stuff in. Yea the the pics may not be the best, but I think you get a good idea of how much the stuff glows in my case. Hopfully yours will come out much better. Good luck and have a good one.

[Daewood]

i have the svc brand with 2 12 inch uv cathodes and they light up a ton

[dj_2004]

strange maybe i got defective ones :(
post pics if you can when you get them lit up Bronco

[BroncoBob]

strange maybe i got defective ones :(
post pics if you can when you get them lit up Bronco

Yeah, it's possible we both did. I'll probably have 'em mounted up next weekend (9/18) and we'll see.

[BroncoBob]

Well I got the new cables and lights in. You were right, Devil_909. Those LED lights don't cast nearly the amount of light that the CFFL does. I'm quite satisfied with the quality of the Tt cables, although the green is not what I was hoping for with the blue case. I may end up getting a set of blue UV Tt cables and see how those look

Here's a pic of the Tt cables installed. I only have one CCFL installed above the cables and the Laser UV LED kit installed on the floor of the case, aimed at the cables to light the front/bottom of the cables.
http://www.bighorn4x4.com/members/rsteele/antec_window/090704%20082_resize.jpg

Here's one of the Xoxide blue UV cables that I was not happy with. Lights are in the same position.
http://www.bighorn4x4.com/members/rsteele/antec_window/090704%20089_resize.jpg

Here's one from across the room of the other machine. A single UV CCFL lights these.
http://www.bighorn4x4.com/members/rsteele/antec_window/090704%20109_resize.jpg