Hardware for wired PC-only lighting

[YeshYyyK]

Hi, I'm interested in running HyperHDR only on my PC and wondering what controller I can purchase to "plug and play" along with LED strip(s) and a PSU

i.e. I don't need/want HDMI related hardware (I'm using DP anyhow)

#1051

https://github.com/awawa-dev/HyperSerialPico

Based off these 2 links, can I simply buy one of the RP2040s mentioned? Anything else/other to recommend?

[awawa-dev]

Hi
yes, one of these boards: https://github.com/awawa-dev/HyperSerialPico?tab=readme-ov-file#recommended-boards-with-a-built-in-level-shifter if you not going above 300LEDs it doesn't matter which + sk6812 RGBW LEDs (for PC you can choose between 30 or 60 LEDs per meter, individual choice) + 5v power supply (for small setup preferable laptop style). Before buying anything you can test the software screen grabber if it works as expected in your setup.

[YeshYyyK]

I found this but it's... 320LED / way more LED/m, would it still be suitable (but it's not RGBW)?
https://www.amazon.com/BTF-LIGHTING-Individual-Addressable-Flexible-Controller/dp/B0CNXKQCK4

My monitor is about 90 inch / 2.3m perimeter by the way (so 368LED with this)

[awawa-dev]

This is an RGB COB LED strip, I don't use them myself so it's hard to tell me more about them, whether it can be easily cut and connected. And doesn't it differ in any way from the typical ws2812b. In the case of an RGB LED strip (and not RBGW) up to 400 leds you don't have to worry about the controller, the simplest Adafruit ItsyBitsy rp2040 will be enough, while Adafruit Scorpio rp2040 will handle multi-segment which is described in the Wiki or on my blog and we use it especially in large setups.

[YeshYyyK]

Okay so while I did just buy the normal SK6812 60LED/m strip, I 'accidentally' bought a non-Scorpio 'Feather'

https://www.adafruit.com/product/4884

it doesn't have the 5V shifter so I'm assuming it'd be incompatible?

Also since I'm going to cut down my 5m strip, I assume (since I don't want to solder) I would need something like these in order to both make the connection to the RP2040 and/or get power on the other side?

Or is it just a matter of getting the green wire/data in stable contact with the right GPIO pin?

Sorry for noob questions

[awawa-dev]

Data and ground connections only, you do not need +5v. This pico may work with standard firmware but you must locate GPIO2: I dont know this model. Without a 3.3V to 5V level-shifter there is no guarantee it work fine, same dilemma as with a generic rp2040.

[YeshYyyK]

Okay so I ended up just buying a Pimoroni Plasma 2040 since it has the presoldered wire points, along with the adapter above I think I won't need to solder this way

I flashed HyperSerialPico_sk6812Cold.uf2 to the 2040

I am wondering do I do the "loop" like this?

PC to Pico > SK6812 to PSU

(where > is the direction of the data as indicated on the strip)

Or is it the other way around and do I do > Pico

(And I'm 99% sure I only plug in the middle data & ground wire to the Pico, while I do both outer non data wires to the PSU?)

Just making sure...