Corsair RGB Question (Core+Node)

[PwnyTheTiger]

I'm currently looking at upgrading my case and with it, adding RGB strips to the case on top of my current RGB setup. What I'm curious of, as someone who isn't the most familiar with RGB and how it works is whether or not I'd be able to properly do this. Currently I'm running a Corsair h100i Elite Capellix, with the included Commander Core running 6 Corsair RGB fans. My motherboard (A Gigabyte X570 I Aorus Pro Wifi) has 1 addressable LED Strip header as well as a RGB LED Strip header listed in the manual. I'm fairly certain the Commander is just connected to the USB internal header for control, as both of the aforementioned RGB headers are unpopulated. With the Corsair RGB strip sets I'm looking at, they come with a Lightning Node Pro. So ultimately what I'm curious of is whether or not I'd be able to use both the Core and Node in this current config, or if there are any options that are iCUE compatible that would allow me to use these headers in the software.. I know I *could* go and buy a Commander Pro, which would be able to do this I'm pretty sure, but I also don't want to fork over that money for a new controller and be stuck with my old one doing nothing, collecting dust.

 

EDIT: Looking into it, seems most of the Corsair RGB products all use a proprietary RGB 3-pin connector, so I believe my only option would be splitting my only internal USB 2.0 header into 2 for both the Core and Node to use. Is this correct?

[Stahlmann]

36 minutes ago, PwnyTheTiger said:

EDIT: Looking into it, seems most of the Corsair RGB products all use a proprietary RGB 3-pin connector, so I believe my only option would be splitting my only internal USB 2.0 header into 2 for both the Core and Node to use. Is this correct?

Exactly. All Corsair RGB controllers only work through internal USB 2 connectors and iCUE. There is no way to utilize standard 3-pin 5V or 4-pin 12V RGB connectors from your mobo. If you don't have enough USB 2 connectors on your motherboard you can get a splitter.

 

The commander pro can also function as a splitter. It has 2 additional USB 2 headers for other stuff to plug in.

[Blai5e]

26 minutes ago, PwnyTheTiger said:

EDIT: Looking into it, seems most of the Corsair RGB products all use a proprietary RGB 3-pin connector, so I believe my only option would be splitting my only internal USB 2.0 header into 2 for both the Core and Node to use. Is this correct?

What are you trying to do? Control your strips with ICUE or with Gigabyte's Fusion? If you simply want to control the strips using the motherboard's ARGB (3 pin) header, you can purchase a conversion cable like this one from PirateDog Tech. There are others who make similar cables as well (curiously, Corsair make one as well but it is only available bundled with some of their products).  Incidentally, I run the reverse (using this PirateDog Tech cable) to a Commander Pro so I can control my GPU's water block's RGB via ICUE.

[PwnyTheTiger]

1 hour ago, Blai5e said:

What are you trying to do? Control your strips with ICUE or with Gigabyte's Fusion? If you simply want to control the strips using the motherboard's ARGB (3 pin) header, you can purchase a conversion cable like this one from PirateDog Tech. There are others who make similar cables as well (curiously, Corsair make one as well but it is only available bundled with some of their products).  Incidentally, I run the reverse (using this PirateDog Tech cable) to a Commander Pro so I can control my GPU's water block's RGB via ICUE.

Control with iCUE since all the other RGB in my case is controlled by it.

 

1 hour ago, Stahlmann said:

If you don't have enough USB 2 connectors on your motherboard you can get a splitter.

Would there be any sort of issue with splitting it into a Core and a Node regarding power or etc?

[Stahlmann]

1 minute ago, PwnyTheTiger said:

Control with iCUE since all the other RGB in my case is controlled by it.

 

Would there be any sort of issue with splitting it into a Core and a Node regarding power or etc?

No. There should not be a problem using 2 or 3 of them on a single USB2 header.

[thrasher_565]

9 hours ago, Stahlmann said:

Exactly. All Corsair RGB controllers only work through internal USB 2 connectors and iCUE. There is no way to utilize standard 3-pin 5V or 4-pin 12V RGB connectors from your mobo. If you don't have enough USB 2 connectors on your motherboard you can get a splitter.

 

The commander pro can also function as a splitter. It has 2 additional USB 2 headers for other stuff to plug in.

well there is with aftermarket cables

[thrasher_565]

10 hours ago, PwnyTheTiger said:

I'm currently looking at upgrading my case and with it, adding RGB strips to the case on top of my current RGB setup. What I'm curious of, as someone who isn't the most familiar with RGB and how it works is whether or not I'd be able to properly do this. Currently I'm running a Corsair h100i Elite Capellix, with the included Commander Core running 6 Corsair RGB fans. My motherboard (A Gigabyte X570 I Aorus Pro Wifi) has 1 addressable LED Strip header as well as a RGB LED Strip header listed in the manual. I'm fairly certain the Commander is just connected to the USB internal header for control, as both of the aforementioned RGB headers are unpopulated. With the Corsair RGB strip sets I'm looking at, they come with a Lightning Node Pro. So ultimately what I'm curious of is whether or not I'd be able to use both the Core and Node in this current config, or if there are any options that are iCUE compatible that would allow me to use these headers in the software.. I know I *could* go and buy a Commander Pro, which would be able to do this I'm pretty sure, but I also don't want to fork over that money for a new controller and be stuck with my old one doing nothing, collecting dust.

 

EDIT: Looking into it, seems most of the Corsair RGB products all use a proprietary RGB 3-pin connector, so I believe my only option would be splitting my only internal USB 2.0 header into 2 for both the Core and Node to use. Is this correct?

so the lighting node pro powers and controls just the lights well the commander pro controls the lights and fans. the lighting node core is newer and includes the hub built in to it so no corsair strips cant be plugged in to it as there 3 pin and the core is 4pin. the commander core is the same as the commander but newer with the built in hub and i think they got rid of the janky usb hub.

 

corsair uses 4pin argb for there fans and 3pin argb for there strips. 4pin on hub, cores, 3 pin on commander and lightning node pro. the hub pluges in too the 3 pin.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 19, 2021 by thrasher_565

[PwnyTheTiger]

5 hours ago, thrasher_565 said:

so the lighting node pro powers and controls just the lights well the commander pro controls the lights and fans. the lighting node core is newer and includes the hub built in to it so no corsair strips cant be plugged in to it as there 3 pin and the core is 4pin. the commander core is the same as the commander but newer with the built in hub and i think they got rid of the janky usb hub.

 

corsair uses 4pin argb for there fans and 3pin argb for there strips. 4pin on hub, cores, 3 pin on commander and lightning node pro. the hub pluges in too the 3 pin.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for the info, but already got a solution to the issue as seen above. Just going to split my 1 USB 2.0 header into the Core and Node separately, the Core will continue to run my fans and the Node will be powering and controlling the LED strips.

[thrasher_565]

2 minutes ago, PwnyTheTiger said:

Thanks for the info, but already got a solution to the issue as seen above. Just going to split my 1 USB 2.0 header into the Core and Node separately, the Core will continue to run my fans and the Node will be powering and controlling the LED strips.

the core can do light and fans i think your mixing the names up but w/e

[PwnyTheTiger]

4 minutes ago, thrasher_565 said:

the core can do light and fans i think your mixing the names up but w/e

I know. I have the Commander Core that came with my AIO, it's running both RGB and control for my fans. The Node comes with the Corsair LED strips.