I've been tinkering with computers in one way or another since the early 80's, almost 40 years. It started with Atari computers until the mid 90's when I bought my first PC, a Packard Bell, which was a popular brand in the US until 2000. I believe it still exists in european markets and is owned by ACER. Those early Atari computers, 8 bit and 16bit machines, were something special, maybe it was because I was young and just at that right age, but the memory of those machines will always stick with me. The games, the sounds, the graphics and the culture that came along with it, everything seemed to be memorable.
That packard bell and maybe even the first PC or two I built never really seemed to have that same emotional punch. Dont get me wrong they were amazing and I kind of wish I still had that packard bell sitting around just for nostalgic reasons.
I started building my own PC"s in the late 90's. I really just wanted to play the latest games and although building PC's was enjoyable, we didn't build it for looks, it was built in a standard case and then stuck in that little cubby in a desk and the door closed. It was only to add an occasional game CD, perform some maintenance or a repair that it ever saw the light of day. They were highly functional machines, they just weren't built with any aesthetic in mind. I did spend substantial amounts of time meticulously dressing cables, but that was for my own satisfaction. I don't recall there being any market for really any visual improvements.
Over the years, gaming cases were introduced with small plexi glass windows to get a glimpse of the hardware lurking inside. LED fans were becoming more popular. I, admittedly regarding alot of this as just unnecessary and relegated to the young crowd.
It wasn't until a few years ago when my dinosaur PC that had been my daily driver died after years of faithful service and I was looking at some new PC builds that it hit me. RGB lighting looks great. I had been dipping my toe into phillips Hue lighting for the home and really enjoyed the ambience it was able to provide.
After building a decent PC with Corsair LL120 fans, LED strips and the controllers I've had some time to reflect on that decision.
A couple of facts that you are probably already aware of is that RGB lighting does not make your PC play games better. The games are not dependent on RGB lighting and therefore, lighting does not make them any better, at least directly. Aside from (the very cool) feature of using lights to signal what your temps are, fps rates and more there is no functionality gained from some small little LED lights.
RGB lighting takes up space in your case, sometimes making cable routing more difficult, each fan has two cables, one for lighting, other for power and control for example. Adding controllers, LED Strips and fans will definitely add to your cost substantially depending on the brand, although you can mitigate this to some degree. There are PC enthusiasts and gamers who loathe RGB lighting and the fact every new product it seems has them. Then there is the fussing around with additonal software, motherboard controls and bios controls to get the lighting effects you desire.
So, why should you add RGB lighting to your PC?.....Because it's amazing looking!!! I found that I really love the ambience that RGB lighting provides, not only with products like Phillips Hue, but with Glass tempered cases, amazing aestethics can be achieved using LED strips, fans and more....With the addition of synchronization kits that sync lights to the onscreen action and light your wall and surroundings, there is a wide range of possibilities with RGB lighting. It's fun to be creative and for myself, brings back a little bit of computing fun and an appreciation for the machines used for that purpose.
I put together this website in order to discuss and demonstrate as well as play with past/present/future RGB lighting produces and much more.
Go create something amazing!
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