Question Help with RGB fans ?

[MAC262]

Hi I am currently building my first PC but am quite confused by RGB fans. On my motherboard my JRGB header is a 4 pin connecter but the cable from my rgb hub is only a 3 pin connector. Where/how should i plug it in and should i even be using an RGB hub...?

- i have 4 rgb fans, 1 is a Corsair LL120 and 3 are Corsair SP120 fans
-I have plugged all fans into a fan hub and a corsair RGB hub but i have no idea how to connect the RGB hub to the motherboard.

HERE IS WHAT THE CABLE LOOKS LIKE -

https://imgur.com/a/ko9NahV

View: https://imgur.com/a/ko9NahV

 

[Darkbreeze]

What is the model of the RGB hub? What is the model of your motherboard?

If your hub is 3 pin and you ONLY have 4 pin headers on your board, then they are not compatible with each other. Do not attempt to plug your 3 pin cable into that 4 pin header or you are going to let some magic smoke out and fry some hardware.

 

[MAC262]

What is the model of the RGB hub? What is the model of your motherboard?

If your hub is 3 pin and you ONLY have 4 pin headers on your board, then they are not compatible with each other. Do not attempt to plug your 3 pin cable into that 4 pin header or you are going to let some magic smoke out and fry some hardware.

my motherboard is
MSI X670E Carbon Max Wifi
and my RGB hub is just the Corsair RGB LED Hub Controller - here is the link to it https://www.amazon.co.uk/Case-Acc-Corsair-RGB-Fan-Noir/dp/B075GWMJ68

 

[Darkbreeze]

Are you sure? Because both Google and the MSI website don't seem to believe there is any such board as the X670E Carbon Max WiFi. There is an X670E Carbon WiFi, but not a "Carbon Max WiFi" and that one word can often mean the difference between two different models. I suspect yours is just the Carbon WiFi but let's be certain.

 

[MAC262]

Are you sure? Because both Google and the MSI website don't seem to believe there is any such board as the X670E Carbon Max WiFi. There is an X670E Carbon WiFi, but not a "Carbon Max WiFi" and that one word can often mean the difference between two different models. I suspect yours is just the Carbon WiFi but let's be certain.

Apologies you are totally correct.

 

[Darkbreeze]

So, your board has one JRGB header that supports 12v, 3 amp, 4 pin RGB connections.

It also has two JARGBv2 (A-RGB Gen 2) headers that support 5V, 3 amp, 3 pin ARGB connections. This header LOOKS like it is 4 pin, but one pin in the connector is blank so it is only 3 pin like most all addressable RGB connections.

I'm interested in seeing, or knowing, what cable you are referencing in terms of your hub as all the information I've looked at on that unit indicates that one of the major problems and complaints with it is that it DOESN'T even come with a cable. It also seems as though you must have an additional component like the lighting node pro to even USE that thing. Personally, if you just bought this, I'd return it and look at other options because it says right in the product description:

This product is an addon component, it will not solely control your lighting. You will need a Corsair Lighting Node Pro / Commander Pro to control your lighting.

So by itself, that hub is just an expansion component for connecting additional devices to an existing RGB controller. It is not itself a controller at all and should not be connected to a motherboard. It should only be connected to to a Lighting node pro or Commander Pro.

 

[MAC262]

So, your board has one JRGB header that supports 12v, 3 amp, 4 pin RGB connections.

It also has two JARGBv2 (A-RGB Gen 2) headers that support 5V, 3 amp, 3 pin ARGB connections. This header LOOKS like it is 4 pin, but one pin in the connector is blank so it is only 3 pin like most all addressable RGB connections.

I'm interested in seeing, or knowing, what cable you are referencing in terms of your hub as all the information I've looked at on that unit indicates that one of the major problems and complaints with it is that it DOESN'T even come with a cable. It also seems as though you must have an additional component like the lighting node pro to even USE that thing. Personally, if you just bought this, I'd return it and look at other options because it says right in the product description:



So by itself, that hub is just an expansion component for connecting additional devices to an existing RGB controller. It is not itself a controller at all and should not be connected to a motherboard. It should only be connected to to a Lighting node pro or Commander Pro.

Thanks I will get that. Although it does come with a cable and it is shown above.

 

[Darkbreeze]

Right. So that cable is entirely different from any standard "3 pin" ARGB cable. That is, I assume, meant ONLY for use between the Corsair hub and Corsair controller. That is a proprietary cable, so don't try to connect it with anything other than devices from that specific ecosystem.

 

[Darkbreeze]

Your fans are part of the Corsair ecosystem then. The connector on your picture above is NOT a standard 3 pin A-RGB connector. Those look like this:

And standard 12 volt 4 pin RGB connectors look like this:

And clearly, yours are not like that, so yes, they are different. But if you want to plug yours into one of those systems because you feel I am not giving you accurate information, then by all means do so. I would have a fire extinguisher handy though when you do.

 

[MAC262]

So, your board has one JRGB header that supports 12v, 3 amp, 4 pin RGB connections.

It also has two JARGBv2 (A-RGB Gen 2) headers that support 5V, 3 amp, 3 pin ARGB connections. This header LOOKS like it is 4 pin, but one pin in the connector is blank so it is only 3 pin like most all addressable RGB connections.

I'm interested in seeing, or knowing, what cable you are referencing in terms of your hub as all the information I've looked at on that unit indicates that one of the major problems and complaints with it is that it DOESN'T even come with a cable. It also seems as though you must have an additional component like the lighting node pro to even USE that thing. Personally, if you just bought this, I'd return it and look at other options because it says right in the product description:



So by itself, that hub is just an expansion component for connecting additional devices to an existing RGB controller. It is not itself a controller at all and should not be connected to a motherboard. It should only be connected to to a Lighting node pro or Commander Pro.

Thanks, i didn't see that.

 

[MAC262]

Your fans are part of the Corsair ecosystem then. The connector on your picture above is NOT a standard 3 pin A-RGB connector. Those look like this:

And standard 12 volt 4 pin RGB connectors look like this:

And clearly, yours are not like that, so yes, they are different. But if you want to plug yours into one of those systems because you feel I am not giving you accurate information, then by all means do so. I would have a fire extinguisher handy though when you do.

Sorry if i sounded like i did not believe you, i am just trying to understand why the RGB cable on my Corsair fans look like the picture in my original post. Is it because it is designed to go into an RGB hub which then has the standard 12volt 4 pin connector???

 

[Darkbreeze]

What model are your fans, exactly? I say "exactly" because I know there are early and late versions of many of Corsair's RGB and A-RGB fans, and I'm pretty sure some of them use different connectors even when they are the same series as things have evolved over the last ten years, and evolved a lot over the last five. But primarily I believe that your Corsair hub and controller have some proprietary connections, but I don't know if your fans do as well. I'd like to think that the actual fan connections are standard, but I'd want to see that first as I don't generally work with Corsair fans very often, and honestly, I rarely deal with RGB and ARGB fans at all since they are usually known to have diminished performance compared to non-RGB/A-RGB fans.

That is because there is only so much room for the fan motor and any electronics required for PWM control and lighting, so when you have additional electronics that need to live in that area as well something has to give and usually it's the size and quality of the electric motor that gives way.

 

[MAC262]

What model are your fans, exactly? I say "exactly" because I know there are early and late versions of many of Corsair's RGB and A-RGB fans, and I'm pretty sure some of them use different connectors even when they are the same series as things have evolved over the last ten years, and evolved a lot over the last five. But primarily I believe that your Corsair hub and controller have some proprietary connections, but I don't know if your fans do as well. I'd like to think that the actual fan connections are standard, but I'd want to see that first as I don't generally work with Corsair fans very often, and honestly, I rarely deal with RGB and ARGB fans at all since they are usually known to have diminished performance compared to non-RGB/A-RGB fans.

That is because there is only so much room for the fan motor and any electronics required for PWM control and lighting, so when you have additional electronics that need to live in that area as well something has to give and usually it's the size and quality of the electric motor that gives way.

I have one Corsair LL120 RGB 120mm Dual Light Loop PWM RGB Fans
and three CORSAIR SP RGB ELITE 120mm fans -

 

[Darkbreeze]

So, turns out ALL of those Corsair products are proprietary. They must all be used with Corsair controller and hub from what I am seeing. There might be adapters to connect them directly to motherboards or other controllers, but if so, I am not seeing that.

So, it seems that all of the Corsair RGB and ARGB family of products must be used only within it's own ecosystem of Corsair products. The controller though itself SHOULD be able to connect to the board if a connection is even necessary which I don't think it is. I think much like many of NZXT's products, the Lighting node pro and Commander pro just plug into USB headers and SATA power and then are controlled via iCue software, with no connections to the motherboard aside from that.

 

[MAC262]

So, turns out ALL of those Corsair products are proprietary. They must all be used with Corsair controller and hub from what I am seeing. There might be adapters to connect them directly to motherboards or other controllers, but if so, I am not seeing that.

So, it seems that all of the Corsair RGB and ARGB family of products must be used only within it's own ecosystem of Corsair products. The controller though itself SHOULD be able to connect to the board if a connection is even necessary which I don't think it is. I think much like many of NZXT's products, the Lighting node pro and Commander pro just plug into USB headers and SATA power and then are controlled via iCue software, with no connections to the motherboard aside from that.

Thanks, this has been really useful and greatly appreciated. Just one more question (sorry!) should it work normally if i use the commander pro.

 

[Darkbreeze]

From what I am able to determine, yes, it should. Either the commander pro or the node pro should work, but it would be prudent to maybe, and I only say this BECAUSE I don't have that much experience with Corsair's lighting system, to maybe check in on the Corsair forum and get an additional confirmation. It is always a good idea, not that I want to chase people away from here because usually we have a good idea on most things, but occasionally, G.Skill, Corsair, ASUS, whoever it is, there tends to be more SPECIFIC information on a given model or item than what you'll find on general forums. Plus, contacting support if nothing becomes clear, is never a bad idea either. But I think you are cool if you go with either of those products. Sucks that they do things proprietary, but that unfortunately is how many companies get people to ONLY buy THEIR accessories these days.

Which is why I say F Corsair for anything like RGB fans, controllers, etc. I'm cool with their cases, memory (For non-Ryzen systems, mostly) power supplies (Most of them anyhow, but not all) etc.