I've recently upgraded my GPU and case to a Montech XR, and I'm really pleased with the setup. However, I hit a snag with the Montech fans—while they have power connectors and 3-pin 5V ARGB connectors, my older Gigabyte Z370-HD3P motherboard only has a 12V 4-pin LED strip slot. The fans are working fine for power, but I can't figure out how to connect the ARGB to light them up. Is there an alternative solution or a converter to make this work?
3 Answers
One option is to buy a USB controller like the ones from Cooler Master or Nollie. This way, you can manage your ARGB without needing it to connect to your motherboard directly. It might open up more possibilities for controlling your lights.
The easiest method is to bypass the motherboard completely. You can use a SATA-powered 3-pin ARGB controller like this: [5V 3Pin ARGB Controller Splitter Cable](https://amzn.eu/d/gzryEbU). Just make sure to grab a splitter cable to connect all the fans. Some controllers even come with remotes, which makes it easy to switch lighting modes directly without motherboard support, but it won't be as feature-full as motherboard control. Just be careful—don't try to mix 12V and 5V connections directly as that can be dangerous.
Keep in mind that a 4-pin is for 12V analog, while your fans are 5V digital with 3 pins. If you want to convert them, you’d need a complex setup with a microcontroller and a DC buck, which might be overkill. I recommend just getting an ARGB controller instead; it'll simplify things and avoid compatibility headaches.
Thanks for the tip! I did find that ASUS hub but not too many options around here.
Thanks for the suggestion! I found a hub from ASUS that I can get locally. Do you think it would work? [ASUS ARGB Hub](https://www.asus.com/motherboards-components/cooling/tuf-gaming/tuf-gaming-argb-pwm-fan-hub/)