Connecting 3 pin and 4 pin RGB devices to the motherboard 4 pin header

[tender igloo]

So I just want to check if I can connect 3 pin and 4 pin RGB devices to the motherboard header? I have a 4 pin splitter & a 4 pin to 3 pin converter.

Motherboard: Asus Prime B350 M-A 1
Motherboard RGB header type: 4 pin
No. Of RGB devices: 1 AIO pump block, 5 RGB 120mm fans
AIO: Deepcool Gammax 120mm
PSU: Corsair 650W
CPU Ryzen 5 3500
RAM: 32GB DDR4
GPU: RTX 2060 6GB

[tame spoke]

How many devices are you connecting to 1 4 pin header?

IIRC max is 3, 2 is comfortable.

[willow whale]

You can't connect 4 pin rgb devices to a 3 pin header.

[tame spoke]

Using an adapter

[willow whale]

You need a controller for this not adapters

[tame spoke]

Corsair make an adapter that does just this

As do many others

[blazing plinth]

The adapter must have some kind of logic because they’re powered and controlled very differently

[tender igloo]

AIO pump block, AIO fan & 4 case fans

[tender igloo]

I found only pwm fan controllers, I don't need that. I just need a controller for the RGB.

[tender igloo]

Yes I understood, but I haven't found a good one.

[blazing plinth]

I’d get a usb argb hub for your argb devices tbh. Both of these are compatible with signal rgb so controlling is easy
https://www.amazon.com/Airgoo-16-Port-Signal-Controller-Configuration/dp/B0F3VV65WD/ref=mp_s_a_1_3

https://www.amazon.com/Iesooy-Controller-Interface-Powered-SignalRGB/dp/B0FQBZBDCS/ref=mp_s_a_1_2

[tame spoke]

This. Too many fans for that header/converter

[tender igloo]

Oh alright, I use Open RGB. But it looks like they work with either programs

[tender igloo]

So I keep the 4 pin RGB cable of the aio pump block & the 120mm fan that came with it connected to the motherboard & use a RGB hub for the 4 case fans?

[blazing plinth]

Yep. Best not to try to mix argb and rgb

[tender igloo]

Got it 🫡

[tender igloo]

https://amzn.in/d/aJqMDJF
Will this work?

[blazing plinth]

They are lying about the argb nature. 3 pin argb has each individual led able to be set to any color
4 pin rgb (what’s on that hub) only allows every led on the strip to be 1 color

Either that or the pictures are wrong, but they clearly show 4 pin connectors

[tender igloo]

Hmmmmmm, this is such a pain......

I don't understand how the PC industry is so advanced & we still don't have a universal RGB protocol\connector....

What about this one?
https://amzn.in/d/gdD6fZG

[tame spoke]

Well there’s only 2… that’s like saying I don’t know why Intel and AMD don’t just use the same cpu socket

[tender igloo]

Well, you're not wrong. But it's such a pain when you buy things & they just aren't compatible....🙂

[blazing plinth]

This one needs a 3 pin argb connector on the motherboard, which you don’t have

[tender igloo]

It's always something or the other......😞

Will try to search for something suitable

[blazing plinth]

Can you take a picture of your 4 pin to 3 pin converter?

[tender igloo]

I've pinned the image to the post, it's the Corsair cable.

[blazing plinth]

Can you remove it from the packaging and take a picture of the connectors?

[tender igloo]

Here you go @blazing plinth

[blazing plinth]

so that is a 3 pin to some kind of proprietary connector. I don’t think it will work for your situation

[tender igloo]

But it says 4 pin to 3 pin @blazing plinth

[blazing plinth]

Okay so it’s Corsair; that’s what I was thinking

Usually that 3 pin connector sends signal the other way though I think

[blazing plinth]

Do you have Corsair rgb devices?

[willow whale]

Those are most likely for the commander core, xt, pro series of controllers/hub

[tender igloo]

Nope

[tender igloo]

I don't own either of those

[willow whale]

so then these wouldn't be what you need

[blazing plinth]

You need a regular argb hub or/and rgb hub. An rgb hub can be plugged into your motherboard while an argb hub will need to be usb controlled