PC building has changed over the years. In the beginning computer component manufacturers were satisfied with beige and boring designs, but DIY home builders were not. Over time, the manufacturers learned about this, and gradually began to modify their cases to meet the market demand. Today cases are mostly wild and wooly, with colored fans and plexiglass windows to show off their interiors. But they are still lacking. People want to see the "hot rod" components inside their case, not some vague shadowy outlines, and lighting has always been tricky. For years their has been ccfl, and colored leds, but things were always statatic. BUT if you wanted a really "custom" look, a lot of times, brands like Alienware had abilities to have custom lighting that were just not available to you. You could come close, but not quite replicate it.
Now you can.
The NZXT Hue+ is the size of a tall 2.5" drive and will fit nicely in a drive bay. The unit is powered by a DC which can be plugged in to the old standard 4 pin molex (just 2 pins used), and has a data link through the USB by plugging directly from a mini USB port on the device to a motherboard USB header with the supplied cable. I imagine that the device would work the same way plugged into an external USB, but uses the header to access the standby power. This power is enough to allow the unit to keep your presets in memory and allow your preset pattern to load on startup.
When I first installed the unit (yesterday) and installed the software, the unit began downloading firmware, so it is encouraging that you are getting hardware that has the ability to be updated, and will be supported by firmware updates. While installing the system is no problem for an experienced case builder, I would highly suggest powering up the unit before taping down the strips. The RGB strips are magnetic, which should allow them to "stick" to the case without tape, but since the magnets can move, you might just use the magnets to try out configurations, and then tape them down when you know how you like them.
The strips themselves have connectors which must be connected a certain way with an arrow lining up with a black line. I personally found the black line hard to spot, but it is a lot easier just to flip the connector if you have it backwards with the power on. That way, if the strip is powered, then you have it right!
Now, people who are unfamiliar with LED's might not understand, but the best way to use these lights is to have them "shine on something." You don't want to look "at the lights." Same concept goes with lamps. That's why they have lamp shades. So, hide them behind a panel...generally the best way to use them is hide them on the frame of the door with the window on the case. That way you can't see them, and they illuminate the entire contents of the case.
So, on to the software. The software has a lot of monitoring features, and of course, you can sign in through google plus or facebook if you don't want an account. The monitoring features might seem like bunk to you, but they work with the lights. You can turn on "smart" lights, which works with temperature monitoring of your motherboard or your videocard. For this reason, I don't find the system monitoring aspect of the software intrusive. I don't plan on using this feature, but it is nice to have. There are similar features that can be used during gaming, and I have not tested these.
However, I feel most people will be using the custom lighting features. Each channel can be customized, which is based off of the four pin proprietary plugs used in this system. The base unit has 2 plugs, but the software allows for up to 4 channels...so you need accessories to get to this level. I find 2 channels more than enough.
The set comes with four strips, and plenty of connectors to connect the strips allowing for plenty of placement options. The software may then be programmed to one of the many modes available which include breathing, pulse, marquee, etc. Most of these modes allow you to go with preset colors, or choose your own custom colors. When you choose your own custom color for that mode, you get a chance to name your custom mode/color, otherwise it will call it custom 1, custom 2, etc. Most modes are single color, while some are bicolor, and some are tricolor, and there is one multicolor cycle. Each mode also allows you to set the speed from 1 of 5 presets (slowest to fastest). When combined with multiple channels, this gives you enough creativity to unlock some interesting lighting patterns for your case. The lights are extremely bright, and give you more than enough illumination for any situation. I find the need to use less bright colors so as to not overdo the lighting.
While this software is still not as customizable as the Alienware software which I have used, it is still very nice, and very welcome. The lights themselves perform EXTREMELY well, and the device is easy to install with lots of cabled accessories to fit any requirements. While the price is definitely on the expensive side, I feel that it is justified for the uniqueness of the product you are getting. Stand alone customized lighting is pretty special. The kind of special that makes my customized overclocked rig seem that much more awesome. And I don't mind paying for that.
| Brand | NZXT |
|---|---|
| Item model number | 8c-hue0000-00b |
| Hardware Platform | PC |
| Item Weight | 6.4 ounces |
| Product Dimensions | 5.5 x 5.25 x 1.5 inches |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 5.5 x 5.25 x 1.5 inches |
| Color | Black |
| Manufacturer | NZXT Technologies |
| ASIN | B008RWT2IY |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Date First Available | July 1, 2012 |
