PCFx - AlienFX lighting depending on things like CPU temperature

PCFx 0.5 (Supported M14x Chassis, possibly others too)

Other chassis can be supported, let me know if you have problems.

Description:
Allows the user to identify computer activity or statistics such as CPU temperature from colour variations on the AlienFX laptop. Simply select what you want the zone to show and the low and high colours. Values that are in between low and high colours will be visualised as a gradient, so gradual colour changes rather than sudden colour changes.

PCFx currently updates colours every 1/5th of a second (200ms), uses the LightFX.dll from the AlienFX SDK and is able to retrieve the sensor information such as CPU core temperatures without third party programs.

Screenshot:


Known Bugs:
- (ViolentArmy) Status lights dropdown box has some old options that are no longer required. This will be corrected in version 0.6+.

Future Improvements:
- 'Battery Capacity %' added to all dropdown boxes as an option.
- Dynamic calibration of supported chassis zones, e.g. M15x has zones which work somewhere else other than where PCFx states.
- Control temperature low and high values.

Virus Scan Report from VirusTotal:
VirusTotal - Free Online Virus, Malware and URL Scanner - Version 0.1 Alpha x86

Download is attached to this post. Extract it, run it, and enjoy! Any questions or ideas please feel free to suggest, and as always if you find the program useful and want to make a donation please do so via the donation button in the program.

Please choose the correct version for your operating system, e.g. if you run 32-bit please download x86, otherwise download x64 if you run 64-bit.

 

Excellent idea - we need more folks with the desire to play with the AlienFX API. Sounds interesting. Look forward to seeing how your project progresses if you decide to go forward.

Have fun!

 

you got my vote .... that's an amazing idea though.......

 

Amazing idea for the colors depends of the temps, so no need to alt tab while gaming to know if the system is getting hot or not. Can't wait.

 

Well based on the positive replies so far I've decided to start an alpha version now, it won't be anywhere near as complete as I want, but initially it will be able to control keyboard elements on all laptop models (or at least that's what I believe from reading the AlienFX SDK and what I've coded so far on my M14x).

Progress as of this post is as follows:
- GUI is 70% complete, just need to add some helpful elements to explain certain things (e.g. About PCFx).
- Changing the left, left middle, right middle, and finally the right zones on the keyboard are possible, with four settings. The settings are Solid Colour, CPU Load (% scale), CPU #0 Temperature (Low as 40C, gradient colour/morph up to 100C as High), Disk #0 Load (% scale).
- Changing the Low and High colours for each zone is possible, rather than having one Low and High colour for all zones.
- Saving settings will be done shortly.

Requirements:
- .NET Framework 4, which all AlienFX laptops should theoretically have anyway as AlienFX requires it.
- An AlienFX capable laptop.

 

Superb idea, can't believe no ones thought of this before.

Good luck!

 

Project released as 0.1 alpha. Could a moderator change the thread name with the name of my post so that it's not longer an idea, but an actual release.

 

I support you! This is a great idea!

 

Awesome +rep

 

Title changed and link added to NET 4.0 installer in post#1. While the current version of Command Center on the 11xR3, 14x, 17xR3 and 18x require NET 4.0, the older systems do not have this requirement for their CC version. Before attempting to run the OPs app, I suggest everyone run the .NET 4.0 installer. Just to confirm.

OP, nice job!

A side note, the legacy AW Systems (pre-dell) probably will not support this as the AlienFX package was a bit different then. Legacy owners, use at your own risk.

 

PCFx has been updated to 0.2 alpha with some improvements.

+ Added support for zones displaying memory load (%).
+ Added a report for unsupported models/chassis, which you submit to me along with your LightFX.dll on your system (not the one with the program).
* Fixed a problem with the same WMI on multiple zones not being read correctly.
* Optimised the code a bit.
- Removed the ability to maximise the window.

 

This is awesome! Great idea! Will this work for m11x though?

 

Ixel states that he designed it on his m14x, however in theory it should work work with all Dell Alienware Alienfx enabled models due to pre-Dell Alienfx being packaged differently

 

You might have to send me a report that it comes up with to support your model, but apart from that it should work. I'm working on changing 0.3 to no longer use the .NET AlienFX (LightFX.dll) DLL and instead use the one in C:\Windows\System32\LightFX.dll which is an unmanaged DLL, so version differences shouldn't be a bother then.

 

i get an error about some file named "AlienwareAlienFXtool" couldn't be loaded on my M17x-R1. Unfortunately it's in danish so you probably won't understand it

 

Update for 0.3 alpha released.

+ Added fading gradient options to the dropdown menus with varying speeds.
+ Added tray/notify icon support.
* Optimised code further, removed .NET assembly LightFX.dll and changed it to work with the LightFX.DLL in System32 folder.

 

Keep going man this is great!

 

Really nice project, awesomely useful.

 

Doesn't work on my M11x R3, i get the following error message: "PCFx was unable to start the LightFX controller. Reason: Initialisation resulted in LFX_Failure."

 

Works fairly great on the M17x R3, but CPU temperature monitor shows up as blank, turned off. Excellent Idea. Thank you.