RGB vs ARGB
Should I purchase a RGB or ARGB device?
ARGB is superior in terms of customization and lighting performance. If you have the capability to control ARGB devices, either via your motherboard or through an external controller, we recommend purchasing ARGB devices.
If your motherboard doesn't have any ARGB headers, you have two choices. You can either use RGB devices, or purchase an external controller. External controllers often provide more flexibility in terms of number of devices that they can control. Please consult the Lighting Controllers section of our website before purchasing an ARGB controller to use with SignalRGB.
So what is the difference between RGB and ARGB?
To put it simply:
12volt RGB means that all the LEDs on a specific device (whether the device is a Fan or LED strip) will be the same color.
5volt ARGB allows multiple colors per device as each LED "pixel" can be addressed separately providing a different color value, allowing greater customization and immersion.
Mirror/Hub behavior
Individual behavior (ARGB)
How do you tell the difference?
The best way to know immediately is that 12 volt RGB requires a 4 pin connection, while 5 volt ARGB only has 3 pins.
Please see image below for the differences between the two connectors.
Daisy-chain
Most of the time when you see that a device can be daisy-chained, it will probably be what we call "false" daisy-chain, it will work the same as a hub, sending the same data/signal to all connected devices while on a "true" daisy-chain hub, it will allow individual control of all connected devices on a single port.
Supported ARGB Controllers
¹ Warning: Multiple same model controllers may not work due to hardware limitations.
These generic ARGB Controllers that are using the default 5v 3pin ARGB plugs are supported:
- Razer Chroma Addressable RGB Controller (6x 5v 3pin ARGB headers)
- Cooler Master ARGB LED Small Controller (1x 5v 3pin ARGB headers)
- Cooler Master ARGB Controller (4x 5v 3pin ARGB + 1x 12v 4pin RGB headers)
- Cooler Master Gen2 ARGB Controller A1 (3x 5v 3pin ARGB headers)
- Aquacomputer Farbwerk 360 (4x 5v 3pin ARGB headers)
- Aquacomputer Farbwerk Nano (1x 5v 4pin RGBpx header) (Requires adapter - RGBpx adapter for components with mainboard connection)
- ZALMAN ZSYNC (8x 5v 3pin ARGB headers)
- Razer Chroma Light Strip Set (3x 5v 3pin ARGB headers)
- Prism 8 (8x 5v 3pin argb headers)
- Nollie32 (16x 5v 3 pin argb)
These DIY ARGB controllers require a bit of work but can be quite versatile: (more info on DIY Products on our Discord server)
- SRGBmods LED Controller v1 (up to 8 devices, 800 leds max)
- SRGBmods LED Controller v2 (up to 41 devices, 4056 leds max)
For all of the above we highly recommend acquiring a NZXT internal USB hub to help with connecting them to the motherboard