4 pin to 3 pin RGB adapter (?)

[Divergent.01]

Hello.

I have an Asus TUF H370 Pro Gaming motherboard with a 4 pin (12V) RGB header. I want to power and sync a WS2812b LED Strip having a 3 pin (5V) connector. Is this possible? Are there any adapters available out there?
If no, can I DIY it? Or, are there any long cheap LED strips for a 4 pin connector?

Thank you.

Motherboard : https://www.asus.com/Motherboards/TUF-H370-PRO-GAMING/
LED Strip : https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32682015405.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.6bc51c60nZfnAX&algo_pvid=e3c4733d-851e-4ba3-ba24-b32bffb39a85&algo_expid=e3c4733d-851e-4ba3-ba24-b32bffb39a85-0&btsid=d318c058-fb9d-4ec3-9e63-b2ace0493022&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_4,searchweb201603_53

[Constantin]

there must bust some nodes in the market for that use i supose

[Hackentosher]

Yeah no, that wont work. The 4 pin LEDs work by PWM control of the anodes of all three colors in the LED strip. That way you can control each color within the strip individually, but all the LEDs are wired together in parallel. WS2812s on the other hand are more like little computers. The three wires are power, ground, and data. That data line accepts a serial protocol that tells each LED what to do. This protocol allows each LED to be addressable, so you can tell LED 0 to be off, 1 to be pink, and 3 to be orange. You can't do that with the 4 wire LEDs and that control structure. Basically what I'm trying to get at is no, you need some kind of controller, I think an NZXT Hue might support addressable LEDs. Or, if you're like me, you throw an arduino in some corner of your computer and write your own program using the FastLED or Neopixel libraries.

[Divergent.01]

18 hours ago, Hackentosher said:

Yeah no, that wont work. The 4 pin LEDs work by PWM control of the anodes of all three colors in the LED strip. That way you can control each color within the strip individually, but all the LEDs are wired together in parallel. WS2812s on the other hand are more like little computers. The three wires are power, ground, and data. That data line accepts a serial protocol that tells each LED what to do. This protocol allows each LED to be addressable, so you can tell LED 0 to be off, 1 to be pink, and 3 to be orange. You can't do that with the 4 wire LEDs and that control structure. Basically what I'm trying to get at is no, you need some kind of controller, I think an NZXT Hue might support addressable LEDs. Or, if you're like me, you throw an arduino in some corner of your computer and write your own program using the FastLED or Neopixel libraries.

Can I use SMD 5050s then? I see they have 4 pins. If no, then I'll probably get an arduino.

[Scheer]

Not a direct adapter, per se, but there are controllers you can install: https://www.amazon.com/Asus-Addressable-Controller-Four-Ports-ROG/dp/B07J6MY5CJ

 

3528s or 5050s will work with your motherboard header, just might have to solder on the correct plug, your motherboard is just standard .1" pitch header. You have to be careful of the amperage draw though, if you get high density 5050 strips you likely wouldn't be able to go all the way around your case without them drawing too much power. Check the specs for the maximum of the motherboard and the amp draw per foot/meter of the strips you want to buy.

[Scheer]

Just now, Scheer said:

Not a direct adapter, per se, but there are controllers you can install: https://www.amazon.com/Asus-Addressable-Controller-Four-Ports-ROG/dp/B07J6MY5CJ

 

3528s or 5050s will work with your motherboard header, just might have to solder on the correct plug, your motherboard is just standard round .1" pitch header. You have to be careful of the amperage draw though, if you get high density 5050 strips you likely wouldn't be able to go all the way around your case without them drawing too much power. Check the specs for the maximum of the motherboard and the amp draw per foot/meter of the strips you want to buy.

 

[Hackentosher]

13 hours ago, Divergent.01 said:

Can I use SMD 5050s then? I see they have 4 pins. If no, then I'll probably get an arduino.

"SMD 5050" refers to the physical package of the led. Smd means Surface Mounted Device, aka SMT or Surface Mounted Technology. The 5050 bit refers to the physical size, or 5x5mm. You need to search for the actual led IC model name, such as Ws2812b or sk6812

 

Here's a Neopixel matrix I have. Adafruit's Neopixel branded boards use Ws2812b ICs or they're knockoff (and slightly superior) counterpart, the sk6812. Both ICs are commonly a 5x5mm package, but are available in other sizes. You can get sk6812s in a 1515, or 1.5x1.5mm package! Freaking tiny, but that's another conversation. 

[thrasher_565]

On 9/24/2019 at 5:57 AM, Divergent.01 said:

Hello.

I have an Asus TUF H370 Pro Gaming motherboard with a 4 pin (12V) RGB header. I want to power and sync a WS2812b LED Strip having a 3 pin (5V) connector. Is this possible? Are there any adapters available out there?
If no, can I DIY it? Or, are there any long cheap LED strips for a 4 pin connector?

Thank you.

Motherboard : https://www.asus.com/Motherboards/TUF-H370-PRO-GAMING/
LED Strip : https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32682015405.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.6bc51c60nZfnAX&algo_pvid=e3c4733d-851e-4ba3-ba24-b32bffb39a85&algo_expid=e3c4733d-851e-4ba3-ba24-b32bffb39a85-0&btsid=d318c058-fb9d-4ec3-9e63-b2ace0493022&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_4,searchweb201603_53

there is an adapter the can go form 12v mb to 5v argb device deep cool rgb convertor

there are plenty of cheap 12v rgb strips out there.