Question 3 pin to 4 pin...

[SPECOPS70]

Hello all.

Cannot seem to find it or if it exists.

One of the oldie boards I have a asus b 450 f gaming does not have a 3 pin argb connector. Is there an adapter I can use to make my argb case fans work?

Best.

 

[COLGeek]

Apparently some options can be found here:

https://www.reddit.com/r/pcmasterrace/comments/kd4vju/pcmr_rgb_primer_v2/

For example: https://www.msi.com/PC-Component/MAG-MAX-ARGB

 

[Eximo]

Probably be easier to just buy an appropriate ARGB fan hub and use that instead.

Aura is 12V RGB and is the path you should have gone down when using that board.

 

[SPECOPS70]

That path is long gone. I bought that board years ago.

 

[SPECOPS70]

Found this one.

https://www.amazon.com/DeepCool-5v-...-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1

But wont the cable running to the board still need a 3 pin which i dont have?

 

[Paperdoc]

You have a couple of options. BOTH involve buying / installing a third-party ARGB lighting Controller that CAN power and control your 3-pin ARGB lights, whether they are simple light strips or lights built into a fan frame. SOME such units ALSO contain a fan MOTOR control Hub, too, so they are two Hubs in one box.

The straightforward way is a Controller that operates independent of your mobo's 4-pin RGB header. The simplest of these is a box with a few buttons on it that you mount inside your case and connect to your lights, and to a PSU power supply. You must be able to reach the buttons to make changes, although some may allow you to connect the box to your case's front panel Reset button to use for certain changes. A more convenient design comes with a hand-held Remote Control full of buttons so you make your adjustments with that and do NOT need direct access to the Controller inside your case. The MSI unit linked above by COLGeek is an example of this type. The MOST convenient type has NO hand-held remote box, but has an additional connection to the Controller from a mobo USB2 header and comes with a free software utility you use from your keyboard and screen. With that tool you make all your settings. Many of these have a way to connect to a mobo 3-pin ARGB header so you can allow the Controller to turn over control to your MOBO and its utilities. HOWEVER, that would not help you for SOME choices because you do NOT have a 3-pin ARGB header.

The most advanced option is a Controller like this from Cooler Master

https://www.coolermaster.com/catalog/coolers/rgb-accessories/argb-led-controller/#specifications

https://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-Controller-3-Pin-Ports/dp/B07Z7WLWD5/ref=sr_1_59?crid=12H8FZVUCWMFY&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.psdkYWyj6OOx_XNAi2oXg6hOHKBov_2aRUaCf-GNpWiDNa2MTVgJ1K5qEyKYwx6yYFf8rruUwXGtxyPpf-XGVenoOtFjsTrHnpWrwvQxjoHHUbS6_khvEk_d6ZoNEODmqpYhFKbDaPftRVARJDtC9NCoQuk_IoWGqKcUHIYfR1H5vcnWFL5SO09TZmaeHwM-.xSPY-c2421kRLX1dUMUM7xA0ydytYnqE2D9RTsJHOI4&dib_tag=se&keywords=argb+controller&qid=1713282680&sprefix=ARGB+Con,aps,104&sr=8-59&th=1

This is much like the last option I just mentioned. BUT it has an additional feature. It has an input port you can connect to a 4-pin plain RGB mobo header such as you have. This Controller can use the Cooler Master MasterPlus+ software utility to adjust its displays. ONE option is to let your mobo RGB header control all the ARGB lights you have. It does this by "translating" the plain RGB signals into ones the ARGB lights can use safely. BUT that has a limit. ARGB lights can do much more complex displays that you can get with plain RGB. But the only displays that a plain RGB header can generate means you would NOT be doing the most complex ARGB displays that way. IF you want ALL of the ARGB capabilities, you would choose NOT to have them controlled from your RGB mobo header, and have the Controller itself uses its full capabilities. If you were going to do that anyway, then you do not need this partuclar Controller type that can do the "translation" job. An ARGB controller the does NOT accept mobo plain RGB signals can power and control your ARGB lights independent of the mobo.

To answer your query about the Deepcool Hub you linked to just above, you are right. That is NOT a Controller that can control ARGB lights. It is an ARGB HUB, and it can only relay signals from a mobo 3-pin ARGB header to the lights. Without that header, it is useless to you.

 

[SPECOPS70]

Thank you for your explanation. Pricey. I will just buy a MOBO with a 3 pin on it. Saw a good one from MSI for 105. Best.

 

[Paperdoc]

Good solution. I bet that new mobo has several other useful features not on that old board.