Struggling with RGB

Associate
Joined
7 Aug 2011
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Northern Ireland
My motherboard is a Crosshair V Forumla - super old I know but still works great.
I upgraded my computer water cooling and i now use a EK-XRES 140 Revo D5 RGB PWM.

Ek gave me an RGBW cable that looks like this -
d_rgb_adapter_cable_set_1.gt.v1.jpg



Now as far as I am aware, I dont have any header on my motherboard to support RGB.
I took a look at Corsairs Lightning node Pro but I have been unable to find out if it works with non Corsair products. However the lightning node pro controls RGB cables that look like this
71BphaR8HPL.jpg

61mv-FKseeL._SL1500_.jpg


So my questions are
  1. Can my EK's RGB lighting strip work with the lightning node pro
  2. If yes, then what adapter do i need
  3. If no, then how can i make it work with my motherboard
  4. What is the diference between the two difference types of cable.
Thanks for your help!
 
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bedlam
I don't know if the ek cable was supposed to adapt 4 to 3 or 3 to 4 pin

The cables you linked will all fit together but I don't know if it will work in the way you need it to.

You should buy the xspc part that's made to work the way you need it to.
 
Soldato
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Beds
There are two basic standards of RGB:

The older 4-pin style allows an entire device such as a strip or fan to be one colour. The 4 wires typically carry a positive supply (12V), plus grounding signals for Red, Green and Blue. Different manufacturers use different plugs or wire order, but they're electrically compatible.

Then there is addressable RGB, typically using 3 wires. This is a digital communication system which can tell each individual LED which colour to be, meaning you can have movement, spectrum/rainbow effects and more.

The two systems are not naturally compatible so it's best to find a controller for your reservoir as mentioned above.
 
Soldato
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Older boards have 12v non-addressable ports, some 4 or 5 pin. [12v][G][R]{B} or [12v][G][R]{B}[W]

More recent boards also have 5v addressable ports, either 3 or 4 pin [5v][D][G] or [5v][D][-][G]

Non-addressable and addressable (digital) are not interchangeable or adaptable.




The EK-XRES 140 Revo D5 RGB is a 4 pin 12v non addressable [12v][G][R]{B}

The EK-D-RGB Adapter Cable Set converts a 4 pin addressable motherboard header to a 3 pin [5v][D][-][G] to [5v][D][G]

You could use a 12v RGB controller that uses an internal usb header. But it will be limited to the older 12v LED's strips and fans.
 
Last edited:
Associate
Joined
19 Mar 2014
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499
There are two basic standards of RGB:

The older 4-pin style allows an entire device such as a strip or fan to be one colour. The 4 wires typically carry a positive supply (12V), plus grounding signals for Red, Green and Blue. Different manufacturers use different plugs or wire order, but they're electrically compatible.

Then there is addressable RGB, typically using 3 wires. This is a digital communication system which can tell each individual LED which colour to be, meaning you can have movement, spectrum/rainbow effects and more.

The two systems are not naturally compatible so it's best to find a controller for your reservoir as mentioned above.

Just to add that addressable RGB (aRGB) is 5 volts so plugging into a four pin header will blow the device.

The Corsair Lighting Node Pro can support aRGB and standard RGB, just not on the same channel. Realistically I would find an aRGB hub that supports AuraSync.

You could try this for the EKWB:

http://www.coolermaster.com/cooling/cooling-rgb-accessories/rgb-led-controller/

You will need two internal USB connections, one for each ecosystem.
 
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