Does the MSI Gaming M3 h170 mobo have support for LED strips?

[WillJackman]

The title pretty much. Was gonna get some strips to put in to spruce up my PC a little bit and it just occurred to me that my mobo might not have support for them.

 

[junii421]

I think so. Don't take my word for this one though.

 

[raisonjohn]

No. The MSI H170 Gaming M3 does not have any RGB LED Headers. You can only install the RGB LED system in your case in a separate controller (segregated system from the motherboard).

 

[WillJackman]

No. The MSI H170 Gaming M3 does not have any RGB LED Headers. You can only install the RGB LED system in your case in a separate controller (segregated system from the motherboard).

Ah, how would I go about doing it with a controller?

 

[raisonjohn]

There are a lot of available LED Kits with the controller included (such as the NZXT Hue+ or the DeepCool RGB 350 or 360).

In the case of the NZXT Hue+, you have a small control box (the size of an SSD) installed inside your chassis. It then has 2 channels for connections to a maximum of 4x 300mm-long LED strips per channel (4 are included in the kit). This control box is powered using the included cable adapter which you can plug into a molex connector directly to the PSU. The box also needs a connection to your motherboard via an available USB2.0 Header. This USB connection is how you control the lights/effects/etc. via the NZXT's CAM Software (free to download in their website). In short, instead of controlling the lights via the motherboard header (which your motherboard has none), you control the lights via the manufacturers software.

In the case of DeepCool RGB 350/360, they are similar with the NZXT by having its own control box. However, no connection is required to the motherboard. The kit includes a remote control where you can change the color/led effect/etc as you do when changing TV channels.

These are but a few examples of how a separate controller works. Some also have "manual" control knobs that can be plugged in to your 5.25" external bay of your case.

 

[WillJackman]

There are a lot of available LED Kits with the controller included (such as the NZXT Hue+ or the DeepCool RGB 350 or 360).

In the case of the NZXT Hue+, you have a small control box (the size of an SSD) installed inside your chassis. It then has 2 channels for connections to a maximum of 4x 300mm-long LED strips per channel (4 are included in the kit). This control box is powered using the included cable adapter which you can plug into a molex connector directly to the PSU. The box also needs a connection to your motherboard via an available USB2.0 Header. This USB connection is how you control the lights/effects/etc. via the NZXT's CAM Software (free to download in their website). In short, instead of controlling the lights via the motherboard header (which your motherboard has none), you control the lights via the manufacturers software.

In the case of DeepCool RGB 350/360, they are similar with the NZXT by having its own control box. However, no connection is required to the motherboard. The kit includes a remote control where you can change the color/led effect/etc as you do when changing TV channels.

These are but a few examples of how a separate controller works. Some also have "manual" control knobs that can be plugged in to your 5.25" external bay of your case.

Thanks a lot! Hue+ sounds like a god option for me.