Understanding RGB
Solvedjumulka Posted messages 12090 Registration date Status Member Last intervention -
Hello,
To explain myself properly, I have some computer components lying around at home:
- A graphics card: MSI 2070 Ventus
- A power supply: Corsair RM750x modular
- And two M.2 SSDs (3.0): a Western Digital 250GB and a Samsung 970 Evo Plus 500GB
While I was making announcements on Facebook and Leboncoin to sell all of this, I remembered that one of my brothers has a birthday coming up (early December)... And on top of that, he's still using an old PC from 2015-2016 (like a GTX 1050 or 1060, a motherboard with DDR3, and an old i5 from the 4th or 5th generation, not to mention the case without a window and no front ventilation, you get the picture)
So I went to check Top Achat, Rue du Commerce, and Cdiscount, and then I ordered this:
- Case: MSI Mag Vampiric 010c (the one with RGB lighting at the front)
- Motherboard: Gigabyte B550 Aorus Elite v2 (with BIOS update)
- Processor: Ryzen 7 5700x
- RAM: DDR4 Kingston Fury Beast RGB 16 GB (2x8GB) - 3200 MHz - CL16
- Water cooling: Cooler Master MasterLiquid ML240L V2 RGB (2x 120mm)
- And two fans (for the front of the case): Be Quiet Pure Wings 2 - 140mm
After this lovely story, let's get to my problem, which is the RGB:
I just spent a good hour watching tutorial videos, where they talk about ecosystem systems, hubs that must be compatible with RGB and the fans, or that the motherboard must be RGB compatible; I really don't understand anything. And that's why I'm here asking for your help, to get a clearer understanding of all this mess. So if a kind soul has the time to explain it all to me clearly, that would be really great! So I can make sure everything is synchronized together and manageable via software (if possible).
2 answers
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Hello,
I have never dealt with rgb but I've read quite a bit after going through cm manuals ^^
The rgb is either managed through the motherboard and the brand's software, or through a controller box. (As long as you plug into the rgb connectors on the motherboard, it's fine)
On the motherboard, you have a 12v rgb led_cpu connector, 2 connectors for 5v data grnd (D_led1/D_led2), 2 connectors for 12v rgb (led_c1/led_c2), see manual pages 15-16 > https://download.gigabyte.com/FileList/Manual/mb_manual_b550-aorus-elite-ax-v2_e.pdf?v=24d24cf9acc76ba2c833adbcf9dfc9c7
Be careful with the orientation of the connectors, everything is marked in the manual
For the water cooling, just see how to connect it in the manual: https://coolermaster.egnyte.com/dl/QPqTuLtoJE part 2,
This part goes on the motherboard on the cpu_led connector, the other connector marked pwm goes to cpu_opt or sys_fan
For the case (manual) the fan goes on a D_led connector (don’t pay attention to the ARGB part, it’s not for your case)
The ram seems to be powered directly by the ram slot and should be addressable by the motherboard software I think
For the software, I assume it's RGB FUSION downloadable from the gigabyte site > https://www.gigabyte.com/fr/Motherboard/B550-AORUS-ELITE-V2-rev-10/support#support-dl-utility
I think that's everything
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I greatly thank you for your help and especially for your detailed explanation
If I have to summarize (you'll tell me if it's good or not):
- The LED strip on the front of the case on "7" (D_LED1)
- The two fans of the water cooling on "7" (D_LED2), since it is at the top of the motherboard + the two other wires that come out of the fans on the "block" provided with the water cooling.
- The rear fan on "8" (LED_C1 or LED_C2)
- The pump on "5" (CPU_OPT) + the LEDs of the pump on the "block" provided with the water cooling.
- Then the two Be Quiet fans on "4" (Let’s say SYS_FAN 1 and SYS_FAN 3)
Once this is done, I will download and install the RGB FUSION application from the Gigabyte website, and then I should be able to change the colors of the whole machine.
_ _ _ _ _ _
Just concerning the water cooling block (see image below):
Will it not cause any problems? Will I still be able to control the LEDs of the fans with RGB Fusion or will the block prevent me from doing that?
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Otherwise, I just have another question, I saw that the RGB FUSION software also controls the RGB of the keyboard and mouse... Do keyboards and mice from brands other than Gigabyte/Aorus work with RGB Fusion software?
If so, is there a way to ensure that they are not supported by the RGB Fusion software? Because my brother has a mouse and keyboard from the brand Razer, which depends on the Razer Synapse software...- The LED strip, from what I've seen, connects to the power supply via a SATA connector, so it cannot be controlled (we'll see once we have the case in hand if that's right, but I think so)
- The LEDs of the 2 fans + pump LED should be connected to the 3 to 1 adapter on "6"LED_CPU
- (If you want a different LED behavior between the pump and the fans, you can connect the pump LED to "6"LED_CPU and the fans to "8"LED_C1 or C2, depending on the software capabilities, I don't know)
- The LED of the rear fan should be connected to "7"D_LED1 or D_LED2 depending on what suits you best during installation (do not connect it to LED_C1 or C2 as you risk burning it out, it's not the same voltage)
- You can connect the pump to "3"CPU_FAN or "5"CPU_OPT
- The WC fans can be connected to "3"CPU_FAN or "5"CPU_OPT
- What is important is that there is at least one connected to "3"CPU_FAN; otherwise, you will get an error message at startup
- The be-quiet fans and the rear fan should definitely go on SYS_FAN
CPU_FAN, CPU_OPT, and SYS_FAN do the same job; it’s just the labeling that differs + the verification of CPU_FAN by the motherboard
Be careful with the orientation when connecting the LED connectors; at best it won’t work, at worst you’ll destroy them
For the software, this is it (in theory, I’ve never done it in practice ^^)
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Regarding the WC adapter, only use the 3 to 1 part that you directly connect to "6"LED_CPU, do not use the controller box; it’s used when the motherboard does not handle the LEDs, then we use this box connected to the power supply
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I don't know about the software and keyboards/mice, you'll have to test it
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Everything is fine for me and I thank you for the time you have given me, and especially for your intervention that was a great help to me...
I will receive the case tomorrow morning if all goes well, so I can look into the LED strip. Then, if it can't control the LED strip from the case, it's not a big deal, as long as it can play with the colors in the box, that will be fine.
Otherwise, yes I will be careful when connecting the LED connectors, there is normally a mark on the connector and on the motherboard, I just need to look carefully and I shouldn't install them backwards. As for the water cooling adapter (the famous controller block), that's what I thought, it is unnecessary in my case.
And finally, technically for the keyboard/mouse, it shouldn't cause any problems. But I just wanted to make sure of that. Anyway, I will need to go take a look at RGB FUSION to explain to him how it works on the day.
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Hello, I'm here to give you a little feedback...
So everything works, the RGB on the front is well powered by the power supply (via a 15-pin SATA cable) which makes the front RGB independent (it is controlled via a small button on the front). It's just the rear fan that cannot be synchronized with the other two because it's an ARBG type; however, it is still possible to control it via RGB Fusion (for example, setting a fixed color). Regarding the fans (the sys_fan cables), I took a 4 to 1 cable so that I don't have a bunch of cables lying around everywhere.
I'm leaving you a little video: https://youtu.be/3wjQosELvOU
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