I'm about to build a new PC and I'm curious about whether RGB lighting has any effect on performance. Do the RGB LEDs themselves make a difference, or is it just the software that controls them that can affect performance?
5 Answers
Honestly, RGB is mostly a gimmick and doesn't affect your PC's performance. Some people joke that it gives you a few extra FPS, but that's just not true—unless you’ve got some RGB software running in the background, you should be all good.
The RGB lights themselves don’t really affect performance at all. However, the software you use to manage them can potentially be weighty on your system resources. For instance, if you’re using ASUS's Armory Crate or similar software from other motherboard manufacturers, it could lead to a slight performance dip. A more efficient option would be something like OpenRGB, which is open-source and more lightweight.
If you're just using RGB without any controlling software, you'll be fine. But if you've got management software running in the background, it might affect performance a bit—though honestly, unless you're running a very outdated system, it shouldn't be a big deal. Additionally, some RGB RAM can potentially overclock a bit lower than non-RGB counterparts, but it's usually negligible.
I have a lot of RGB with around 200 lights including strips and fans. I haven’t noticed any real performance hit while playing, but I did encounter a few crashes. I usually stick to static lighting because I like it less flashy while gaming!
RGB lights won't affect your performance normally, but remember that RGB management software can sometimes slow things down if you're running multiple applications simultaneously. If you're running a modern setup, it's generally not something to worry about. Just do what makes you happy with your PC!

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