I am about to buy a new computer after my eight-year-old Mac Pro stopped working (Heh... Don't try to overclock those ), I already have an Eye on the computer case i am getting - and it includes a nice clear window on the side panel.
Just this morning i thought about adding Led strips myself and adding a cool lighting setup inside, but it dawned upon me that i could do much more than just that using Arduino.
I want to basically create a lighting system that would change color according to the System temperature and load, or any other parameters.
Basically - Connect Arduino internally to the computer - Add Led RGB Strips - Code in a basic program that would allow to set RGB Values according to temperature and/or computer load
I learned about Arduino only very recently, and i have only a slight background with Java.
How would i go about doing this? What parts would i have to buy besides Arduino and the led strip?
What connectors etc, and more importantly - how do i get started on the program?
Is this even possible?
They are very easy to use, bright, can display a wide range of colours and you can even control each led individually to make animated displays. Hardware-wise, you don't need any complicated circuits with transistors or driver chips, you can just hook the data up to the Arduino and supply the strip from the PC's 5V power line. (Don't try to feed the 5V through the Arduino, those leds draw too much current).
Use a Nano 3.0 Arduino: they are compact and have built-in USB for communications with the PC.
Do you want to use CPU temperature to control the colour, or do you want to measure the air temp inside the case?
Hey Paul, I'd like to measure the actual CPU temperature (Or GPU), I'm looking to actually grabbing the temperatures threw code and not a sensor that i would have to buy.
And thanks, I'll opt to get that version of the Arduino, but shipping might be hard where i live, would any other Arduino work? like the Uno Rev3 which i have already found at a store near where i live?
Tomshalev01:
Hey Paul, I'd like to measure the actual CPU temperature (Or GPU), I'm looking to actually grabbing the temperatures threw code and not a sensor that i would have to buy.
I'm not sure how to do that but I know it can be done. Someone on this forum will know. Some piece of software/script will need to run on the PC to read the CPU temp and send it to the Arduino.
Tomshalev01:
would any other Arduino work? like the Uno Rev3
@Tomshalev01, you posted the same question under "LEDs & Multiplexing". This is called "Cross-Posting" and is considered bad behavior on this forum. Delete that before the moderators see it!
), I already have an Eye on the computer case i am getting - and it includes a nice clear window on the side panel.