The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    laptop led mod - looking for info

    Discussion in 'Notebook Cosmetic Modifications and Custom Builds' started by Solidus, Jan 31, 2008.

  1. Solidus

    Solidus Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    3
    Messages:
    157
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Anyone have any info on how to mod a laptop with leds?

    I'm getting an inspiron in 2 days, but right now I'm looking at my compaq presario v5000 (motherboard fried) and it just doesn't look like there is enough room. Any help?
     
    Solidus, Jan 31, 2008
    #1
  2. nizzy1115

    nizzy1115 Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    2,557
    Messages:
    6,682
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    205
    Why does everyone have a fascination with making their laptops look like christmas trees?
     
    nizzy1115, Jan 31, 2008
    #2
  3. Jason

    Jason Overclocker NBR Reviewer

    Reputations:
    908
    Messages:
    5,056
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    206
    Whats the inspiron model and where are you looking to put these LED's? I wouldn't mind some nice blue LED's myself :p
     
    Jason, Jan 31, 2008
    #3
  4. Solidus

    Solidus Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    3
    Messages:
    157
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    haha well I'll be working with an older laptop of mine just to see how everything goes.

    I'm just wondering, does anyone think the inspiron 1520 has enough room for LEDs in it? I'd say like... 8-12 LEDs.
     
    Solidus, Jan 31, 2008
    #4
  5. K-TRON

    K-TRON Hi, I'm Jimmy Diesel ^_^

    Reputations:
    4,412
    Messages:
    8,077
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    205
    Dont use LED's youre going to regret it, their huge and not that powerful because mostly all of them are diffused. Look for surface mount LED's, their very small and very powerful ones can be bought for cheap. I have 30 5300MCD green dialight surface mount leds in my laptop lid, which I modded, and they were actually so bright, I had to buy a diffuser, and resistors to cut the insanely bright light.

    Here's a pic: (there are 15 lights in each AMD logo)
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    I hope this helped, you can see how small the surface mount leds are in the pics.

    Here's a tip, make sure you get the voltage right, or else you burn all of the leds out. all 30 surface mount leds on my lid, only draw 90mah, which is equivalent to the laser in your mouse.

    By the way, get the led's from Mouser Electronics, they have 1000's to choose from.

    K-TRON
     
    K-TRON, Jan 31, 2008
    #5