ARGB queries

[+Nik Louch Subscriber²]

I'm looking at going down the ARGB route for the fans in my new build, but have a few questions - so if anyone informed can answer, or discuss - then that would be appreciated.

So my cooling setup is likely to involve 8 ARGB fans (2 base, 2 front, 3 top, 1 exhaust).  I'm not here to discuss cooling, but I feel that this context may be relevant.

Lets assume a single ARGB header on the motherboard - this leaves me with a few options:

• ARGB splitter - meh, it just repeats whats on one fan onto another?
• ARGB hub - as above but more fans
• ARGB controller - so this is what I think I want for the ability to control multiple fans (or any ARGB devices) DIFFERENTLY from each other?

Also, I'm aware that I can daisy-chain ARGB devices.  Does this simply do the same as an ARGB splitter, or is it more intelligent insofar as - lets say a fan has 8 addressable LEDs, I am now presenting 16 - so can segregate and light as I wish?

I'm almost tempted to buy my fans in advance, get the Razer Chroma ARGB controller and play before any kind of case fitting.

Thank you!

[Mindovermaster Global Moderator]

As far as I understand..

A splitter, yea fans will be in the same configuration that you set it to.

A hub, yes, like a splitter, but allows for more fans.

A controller, yes, lets you configure multiple devices at once.

Daisy chain is like a splitter, yes. You can only set one fan to control all others.

That's what I know. Anyone else?

[+Nik Louch Subscriber²]

  On 14/01/2025 at 15:50, Mindovermaster said:

Daisy chain is like a splitter, yes. You can only set one fan to control all others.

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So firstly, thank you.

But here's where I'm confused... They are digital.  So say that my fan has 8 LEDs... it's really just a fan with an 8-led strip around.  And I kinda read somewhere that if you daisy chain 2, it presents as a 16-led pattern.

I genuinely haven't found an answer to any of this on youtube

[ShadeOfBlue]

Not counting proprietary solutions, all the fans will light up in the same pattern, unless either:

1. You use an ARGB controller with a separate output for each device (or group of devices) you want to control independently
2. You use a controller and devices that support the Gen2 version of the protocol. These may all be connected through splitters and be controlled independently, but there is a max number of devices per port.

Basically, it's possible, but you need to scrutinize the documentation for the controller and fans you are buying (or the motherboard in the case of an on-board controller) to make sure they support this feature.

The technology behind this is interesting, so let's get into it...

(My understanding is from this, along with reading the datasheet of the WS2812 chip that is inside addressable LEDs.)

Every ARGB device has the data pins of the LEDs wired in series. The controller is connected to the first LED, the first is connected to the second, and so on. During operation, the controller sends a set of red, green, and blue values (which I will refer to as a "tuple" from now on) for every LED in one long sequence. (e.g. RGBRGBRGB... where each color is an intensity value from 0 to 255).

The first LED acts on the first RGB tuple, then retransmits ONLY the remaining tuples to the next LED. The next LED does the same thing. And so on. In this way, the LEDs display the color from the long sequence that corresponds to their position in the chain of LEDs.

This is why, if you use a splitter or hub with Gen1 hardware, every device will light up the exact same way. The controller would then be connected to multiple "first" LEDs at the same time. So they would all read and act on the first RGB tuple. Each would independently pass the remaining tuples along to their own personal neighbors, which would display the second tuple, and so on.

But with Gen2, the controller will identify the connected devices (I'll skip how it does so for brevity). Then, it can send the address of the device before the RGBRGBRGB sequence that belongs to it, send the address of another device and the RGB sequence that belongs to it, and so on for the remaining devices.

So, to answer your question, it's possible to control each Gen2 device independently at the hardware level (two 8-LED devices don't act like a single 16-LED device, to use your example). But it also depends on what features are included in the controller software.

[+Nik Louch Subscriber²]

  On 15/01/2025 at 00:15, ShadeOfBlue said:

Basically

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Thank you for this post, it makes more sense than 99% of what else I have found on other sources!

[Sulphy]

I had a similar quandry some time ago.... in the end i went for these, as they are daisy chain capable, the controller and software are pretty straight-forward... and the lcd's on the fans are awesome! The RGB looks amazing as well, very smooth and way better than others i have used/tried in the past!

Uni Fan LCD

These were recently updated as well, to a wireless controller which looks nifty, less wires to have to deal with  

Hope this helps!!

[+Nik Louch Subscriber²]

  On 15/01/2025 at 09:40, Sulphy said:

I had a similar quandry some time ago.... in the end i went for these, as they are daisy chain capable, the controller and software are pretty straight-forward... and the lcd's on the fans are awesome! The RGB looks amazing as well, very smooth and way better than others i have used/tried in the past!

Uni Fan LCD

These were recently updated as well, to a wireless controller which looks nifty, less wires to have to deal with  

Hope this helps!!

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They are gorgeous, but also maaaaaaaaan they are expensive.  Seeing as my case comes with most of the fans I will be needing, I am going to simply buy more of the same.  Sure, they are very standard ARGB fans (both normal and reverse), but they get decent enough reviews.

However, going down a rabbit hole here, have you seen that Lian-Li power supply with additional USB and fan headers?  That to my mind just makes sense!

[Sulphy]

  On 15/01/2025 at 12:11, Dick Montage said:

They are gorgeous, but also maaaaaaaaan they are expensive.  Seeing as my case comes with most of the fans I will be needing, I am going to simply buy more of the same.  Sure, they are very standard ARGB fans (both normal and reverse), but they get decent enough reviews.

However, going down a rabbit hole here, have you seen that Lian-Li power supply with additional USB and fan headers?  That to my mind just makes sense!

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Indeed, they are pricey! BUT, if you have a case that shows alot of the internals, they look incredible... and work pretty decently! For fans that are hidden in my case, i have the Silent Wings. 

I have seen that PSU, and it is pretty sweet!