DIY Blue Backlit Steel-Series Keyboard MOD for MSI GT683R (May also work for MSI GX660 GT660 and similar models)

bump ...

 

This might be helpful, for those who wouldn't want to damage the mobo pins. Any Updates, Ultra?

 

Do laptop SATA ports have the 12v lines? If I'm not mistaken 2.5" drives do not use them, so can't we just tap into the secondary HDD's 12V?

Sorry if it's a stupid question...

 

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no updates, busy with family and work so much I dont even know where did I hide the LED pcb again

my MSI laptop does not have 12V line in any of the sata connectors, not in either HDD sata port, and neither in ODD sata port. Like I said there are multiple ~3.3V lines on the port near the GPU heatsink thats unused and there are like 15pins total, and I measured more than 3 pins with this voltage, that I can bridge with diodes multiple 3.3v lines to on to get appropriate voltage for backilght

 

Wire yourself up a transformer?

 

^^^ LOL ^^^

If I only would find some spare time I would have done this long ago, once the ideas prove themselves being positively proven its just a matter of few hours job... I got to find time and finish building this thing

 

Just random, dumb curiosity here.

Is it at all difficult to plumb one of the backlit keyboards into a GX600 laptop? Just the data part for the main function of the keyboard?
Was thinking if the "data" connector is the same (more or less) I could rig a bunch of the LEDS (as you mentioned the 12 pin connector I assume this is separate to the data lead) to the simple "turn on the pointless showy lights" button now mines out of warranty. A single colour backlight would more than do me.

The missus uses it mostly and managed to throw most of a glass of orange over it. Only touched the keyboard luckily but as it's annoying, sticky and likely getting replaced I'd give the "single colour backlight" option a try if it was looking remotely possible.

 

Usually the data connector on these is pretty standard, though the space for the keyboard itself is not.

 

Any updates on this front?

 

good morning, yea Im willing to finish backight mod before I possibly part with my MSI laptop, so stay in touch hope within next 2 weeks!

Since have another machine to keep my back this can go under the surgery

 

We await with bated breath. ^^

 

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Well, it was fun while it lasted.

Good luck with your new AW, judging by the signature.

 

Thanks, you can never know, today it is AW, tomorrow it may be again MSI

 

I'd like to pick up and see this through, think you can PM me the sale details? Also thanks for all the effort put into this so far, Ultra. =)

 

Hey e3ray, let me know if you need someone to do some testing on a system. I have a 680R with the SS keyboard but no working light. I had been waiting to see what Ultra was going to do as well.

 

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Hi guys,

Thanks Ultra for the inspiration so I did my mod on my MSI GE620dx. and it worked

 

did your motherboard had dedicated socket for backlit keyboard connection? Nice job!

 

No I hook it up to my AC adapter port and put a switch plus 1W resistors to avoid over heating thanks!

 

Great stuff man! REP+!

 

Nice! You even got different colors on. Any chance for more pics/tutorial of the mod?

 

I am supporting ;D

 

Edward, Ultra, any updates?

 

Starting to think I might have a different LED strip than the rest. Pulled it off the Keyboard earlier and got a few of the LED's to light up with a battery and some wires, but still have no idea how to make them light up all at once.


Please feel free to reuse if it can further this mod's progress!

 

doesnt look much different to be honest from what I remember, I have a piece of paper where I did all the mapping and drawing for the pinout including colours, I will check and find that and upload it for you later if thats going to work.

 

Might just do it, thanks. Gone back to the crap stock keyboard at the meantime, can really feel the difference.

 

Hi again, I know its has been a while since last time I checked in...

So I took the papers/drawings I had and compared to your PCB flex photo, and yea they are different. so there's no go with my schematic, and so it will be different again on every revision of this keyboard.

Im gonna make massive thread of parts for sale including this keyboard some time this week, so keep an eye on NBR market place and drop me a PM of what you may need or want.

BR

Mario

 

Is it possible to put the keyboard Clevo backlit instead msi? of course to gt683

 

everything is possible, question is are you willing to do it yourself and put your effort trying? The possibility option only is valid if you are going to do this or wait till somebody else will and will succeed

 

hmmm i will try but i dont know the cables are the same as in msi ;/

 

dont know that either. I have mod job done on steelseries msi keyboard with blue backlight mod active. if interested PM em about that keyboard

 

Hi. i've been really interested in your work and registered today to talk to you. however, i cant find the PM function. Well, Im not a genius in this field but I know how to replace keyboards and stuff. Are you saying that it is possible to use the gt780 backlit keyboard on my gt683 with backlit without changing any of the boards?

 

Hi, welcome to NBR and hope you find this community helpfull and supportive

Yes and No

Physically it fits OK , but it will not light up as there is no connector in the GT680 board for the backlit keyboard.

So to make the backlight work you need to track down the required pins from the flex connector on the backlit keyboard and see which colour you desire, wire them to 12v+ line somewhere from your motherboard(or from external low amperage 12v DC supply)

I have done this but have never had enough time to do further reasearch for stable 12V line so I can finalize the project. I have made backlit keyboard from GT60 to light up in blue colour and its ready to connect to your chosen 12v+ line and install the keyboard, and it will work. same for GX660 GT680 etc and GX60 .


You will be able to use PM (Private messaging system) after you reach 5+ posts on your account.

So hope I answered to all your questions

 

Wow. Ok. Thanks.

So are you saying that you're going to sell the one that can be connected at least in blue?

 

Also, do you have any plans on continuing the project or are you leaving it unfinished?

 

I have this keyboard left as finished half project, keyboard has thin wires mod-fitted to it so all the NEW OWNER is left to do is just to connect it to 12V+ line of your own choice, find internal connector or use external power supply of 12V+.

Yes keyboard is for sale cheap enough from me.
I have sold the laptop before I found any time to finish the project so, laptop got sold with basic configuration only and is standard keyboard, and I have kept the steelseries backlit keyboard that I have finished modified, only left is to connect it.

 

There seems to be an empty internal connector near the VGA card; is this a possible slot to power up the keyboard? How much are you willing to sell the keyboard?

 

im trying to use the PM function but some how I still cant find it. (I have 5+ posts)
do you mind contacting via skype or email?

 

hey. i have sent a PM yesterday. please give me a reply when you can. thanks

 

Ok, so for those still interested, I picked up GT683R which Im gonna equip with my remaining goodies like AUO V4 95% NTSC RGB LED LCD Screen, BD-RE drive and SteelSeries Backlit keyboard, and I will make this keyboard to light up and then when project is finished it will go for sale. please subscribe for updates

 

Alrighty, It has been a while Ok so I still got the laptop gathering some dust, but eventually my goodies has arrived just today - voltage regulators and diodes, I will grab my tools home with me before xmas holidays and will try do the final DIY to power up that steel-series LED backlit keyboard nothing more than couple hours of handy precise job

However, stated above I was gonna load-up that MSI with goodies - that aint gonna happen, I am gonna keep the AUO 95% NTSC RGB panel and make a standalone secondary monitor for my home desktop setup, BD-RE aint gonna be loaded there either, however it will come with BLU-Ray ROM/DVD-RW drive as standard and etc etc... and Im afraid no HDD's hence gonna be cheap grab-a-bargain hit when it gets finished more details in my sig spoiler for those interested.

Ok back to the topic

 

Hi,

I'm new at this forum and English is not my first language, so excuse me if I make any mistake.

I was searching around the web looking for a retro illuminated keyboard for my MSI GT680R or if it was possible to make a DYI modification, when I found this thread and I saw that your last post is from today.

In case it could be done, I just want to illuminate the keys (in red or orange if possible) and I wouldn't mind giving up the side LEDs on my laptop if that means an easy way for getting the necessary power supply, since I understand that it's one of the biggest problems.

Is a DYI modification possible?

Thank you in advance and happy holidays!

 

DIY is what it needs, nothing more nothing less, keyboard work is already done at mine end... well I was aiming to have all my amber-LED strips power lines scarified and by having 3 controllable positive lines (enable/disable one of 3 or some combination zones) you can make some nice colours to backlit the keyboard, well just the interface would be still old standard LED stripes interface. However, I have been little missfortunate and partially damaged my LED strip of the keyboard, hence was able to have only BLUE LED's to light up all at once after all, so here I am, keyboard tested @ 12v and low amps backlits in nice blue LED colour.

FYI LED's are 3 colour each 3-in-1 LED's - RGB LED's RED-GREEN-BLUE, so you can either have one of the colours or play with the rainbow and combine two and see what you'll get

So I have got voltage regulators and diodes and that's seemingly all I need to make this work. Now I just need pin-point positive 12V line that comes to life after machine is powered up and connect my diodes and voltage reg and all is done. I hope I will do it real quick since I know that I've got all on my hands now.

So if you want to do it and you're hoping to have it done in near future, you can be sure pre-order your LED keyboard now.

PS: sharp and precise soldering skill WILL BE INVOLVED, and whatever damage you cause or if you mess-up - ITS YOUR OWN RESPONSIBILITY

 

@ MOD's

Please clean up this thread leaving only the first Post in this thread. Project is now complete!

Also please rename the thread title to:

DIY Blue Backlit Steel-Series Keyboard MOD for MSI GT683R (May also work for MSI GX660 GT660 and similar models)


Thanks!

BR

For update - please read first post of this thread

 

Realy nice work, congrats.

Regards from Brazil.

 

Hola bebotrip soy de españa y me gustaria contactar para que me explicaras unas cosas sobre el teclado luminoso del msi 683r , entiendo poco el inglés y ando perdido muchas graciasssss

Many thanks everybody