Question Connecting ARGB fan to RGB LED header ?

[Shujee]

I just bought Cooler Master SickleFlow 120 ARGB for my NZXT S340 White case and AsRock Z370 Killer SLI/ac motherboard. Even though the case or motherboard are not unusually large, the connector cable provided with the fan is too short to reach the fan header on the motherboard. What should I do about it? Secondly the fan has an extra 3-pin cable that I think is supposed to be attached to the RGB header. My motherboard does appear to have a RGB header, but it is labeled RGB LED Header (RGB_LED). Can I plug fan's RGB connector into this header or does it have different pin configuration or voltage etc.

 

[Lutfij]

ARGB and RGB connectors aren't interchangeable and are not wired the same way. If you want to work with ARGB devices on a platform that doesn't have ARGB headers/controllers, then you will need a controller like this;

Addressable RGB LED Controller

The Addressable RGB LED Controlleris a compact size Addressable RGB LED controller that allows you to easily customize your ARGB devices without the need for either an ARGB capable motherboard or software. With different lighting modes, you can have full customization and your PC illumination...

www.coolermaster.com

 

[Shujee]

ARGB and RGB connectors aren't interchangeable and are not wired the same way. If you want to work with ARGB devices on a platform that doesn't have ARGB headers/controllers, then you will need a controller like this;

Addressable RGB LED Controller

The Addressable RGB LED Controlleris a compact size Addressable RGB LED controller that allows you to easily customize your ARGB devices without the need for either an ARGB capable motherboard or software. With different lighting modes, you can have full customization and your PC illumination...

www.coolermaster.com

Thanks. Is this thing of any use for my purpose? It is a 4-pin12V to 3-pin ARGB converter and specifically mentions AsRock RGB LED in the description.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003680148761.html

Or is it only for RGB strips?

 

[CountMike]

Thanks. Is this thing of any use for my purpose? It is a 4-pin12V to 3-pin ARGB converter and specifically mentions AsRock RGB LED in the description.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003680148761.html

Or is it only for RGB strips?

Strips work same as fan LEDs, same rules apply.
RGB works at 12v and each lead controls one color LED. Red, Green and Blue.
ARGB (A is for Addressable/digital) each LED can display all 3 colors which are chosen by digital signal of 5v.
Any converter has to be active and SW for color control controls it. RGB and ARGB are controlled by SW usually supplied by MB manufacturer and that's why it mentions Asroc. There is other, universal SW but it has to be compatible with Asroc too.

 

[Paperdoc]

There are substantial differences between plain RGB (4-pin, 12 VDC) and ARGB (3-pin, 5VDC) lighting systems, The VOLTAGE is different, so feeding a ARGB lights from a 12 VDC plain RGB header can burn them out! CONTROL of the display is very different. In plain RGB there are separate lines for each of the three LED colours. In ARGB there is a single digital signal line for all lighting nodes, and the lights have special controller chips at each node to respond to only the signal packets addressed to that chip. So any item that claims to convert one to the other needs a lot of "smarts" to translate from one signal system to another.

The item you linked, OP, is NOT such a translator. It is merely a set of TWO extension cords to reach from a mobo header to a lighting unit. ONE is for use in 4- pin 12 VDC plain RGB systems. The OTHER is for 3-pin 5VDC ARGB systems. So it could help with your problem of reaching over a distance. But it can NOT let you plug your ARGB lights into a mobo plain RGB header!

 

[Shujee]

There are substantial differences between plain RGB (4-pin, 12 VDC) and ARGB (3-pin, 5VDC) lighting systems, The VOLTAGE is different, so feeding a ARGB lights from a 12 VDC plain RGB header can burn them out! CONTROL of the display is very different. In plain RGB there are separate lines for each of the three LED colours. In ARGB there is a single digital signal line for all lighting nodes, and the lights have special controller chips at each node to respond to only the signal packets addressed to that chip. So any item that claims to convert one to the other needs a lot of "smarts" to translate from one signal system to another.

The item you linked, OP, is NOT such a translator. It is merely a set of TWO extension cords to reach from a mobo header to a lighting unit. ONE is for use in 4- pin 12 VDC plain RGB systems. The OTHER is for 3-pin 5VDC ARGB systems. So it could help with your problem of reaching over a distance. But it can NOT let you plug your ARGB lights into a mobo plain RGB header!

Thanks. Can you suggest a budget solution for the second problem? Something that is affordable but compatible with my mobo and fan? Also am I correct in assuming that even with a "smart" converter that connects the ARGB fan to my 4-pin RGB header, I'll not be able to control lighting from software? Does a USB to 3-pin ARGB converter work better in this regard, mean would that allow controlling fan lights from Cooler Master's lighting software?

N.B: Found this thing. It is cheap but I'm pretty sure I can't control lighting from software with it, correct?

 

[CountMike]

Thanks. Can you suggest a budget solution for the second problem? Something that is affordable but compatible with my mobo and fan? Also am I correct in assuming that even with a "smart" converter that connects the ARGB fan to my 4-pin RGB header, I'll not be able to control lighting from software? Does a USB to 3-pin ARGB converter work better in this regard, mean would that allow controlling fan lights from Cooler Master's lighting software?

N.B: Found this thing. It is cheap but I'm pretty sure I can't control lighting from software with it, correct?

Correct , it's controlled only from it's remote controller.

 

[Paperdoc]

Shujee, The item you linked to is an ARGB Controller, but very basic. It gets power from a SATA power output connector from your PSU, and has several lighting patterns in it own "smarts" that you can choose using the three buttons on the module in the middle of the cable. Those are for Mode (pattern and changes), Speed (of changes to the display), and Colour (you can set a particular colour). NOTE that the ONLY way to change any light display is using that manual set of buttons. That means you have to arrange the items so that the cable from one end goes to a PSU output, and the other cable goes to your fan lighting connectors, and STILL somehow YOU must be able to reach the buttons on the middle box. There is no way to use software with this system. Moreover, although the page shows a manually-operated remote control box beside the basic unit, it does NOT say anything at all about that. So I expect that remote is NOT included in this system!

Some products on the market for what you want have been discontinued. But this one is available currently from Amazon.com for US$40

Amazon.com

That's NOT cheap, unfortunately, but it does give you full control of your ARGB lights using the Cooler Master software utility MasterPlus+. Actually, this is the latest design that can work with the newest version of ARGB called Gen2. Your lights probably are the original version, and this unit CAN work with that, too.

Cooler Master also sells for much less money a controller designed like that cheap unit from Ali Express you linked to. It is a box with manual buttons you mount inside your case with connecting cables you need to be able to reach. Be careful, though. Cooler Master also sells units for plain RGB (4-pin, 12 VDC) systems, so be SURE to look for their Addressable RGB units.

The other option for you to consider is third-party ARGB Controller systems that DO include a hand-held manual remote control box. You do NOT get to use software for control, but the hand-held button box is easier to use than a box inside your case.

I just noticed you marked my earlier post Best Solution. Thanks.