Summary

Building a new gaming computer and want to add some RGB lights?

You should first decide whether you want RGB or ARGB.

This article will explain what the difference is and also help you decide which one is right for you.

RGB keyboard, headset, and mouse-pad.

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What is RGB?

RGB means “red, green, and blue.

“By combining these three primary colors, a equipment can create all colors in the visible spectrum.

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The Corsair iCUE H150i Elite LCD XT offers slick design, mountains of RGB, and excellent cooling performance. It can get loud under strenuous loads but it’s very quiet during normal usage.

They’re especially common onbudget RGB fansand LED strip lights.

What is ARGB?

ARGB stands for “addressable red, green, blue.”

Powerful personal computer gaming rig in a room with RGB lighting.

Gorodenkoff/Shutterstock.com

ARGB uses a 5V system, and only one of the pins transfers all color data.

ARGB Is Better

ARGB is like 12V RGB on steroids.

You get everything that 12V RGB can do, such as static colors, color fading, and more.

A 4-pin RGB header on a motherboard.

Ismar Hrnjicevic / How-To Geek

But there’s a caveatthere’s no standard ARGB tech.

Several PC hardware manufacturers have proprietary RGB tech, such as Gigabyte’sRGB Fusionand Corsair’s iCUE.

The Corsair iCUE H150i Elite LCD XT offers slick design, mountains of RGB, and excellent cooling performance.

It can get loud under strenuous loads but it’s very quiet during normal usage.

Thankfully, there are a few different solutions to sync up your ARGB.

I use SignalRGB to sync up my Corsair keyboard and Logitech mouse, and it works flawlessly.

However, universal RGB programs are somewhat limited in scope and compatibility; they work best with peripherals.

A controller is the best but also the priciest solution.

For example, theRazer Chroma ARGB Controllerhas six headers and works well with almost any ARGB gadget.

Or you could just stick with the same manufacturer for all parts and use their proprietary RGB software.

RGB and ARGB Use Different Connectors

Traditional RGB devices use a four-pin connector.

ARGB has the same four-pin style connector but only uses three pins.

Even though they look similar, 12V RGB and 5V ARGB connectors arenot compatible.

ButRGB shouldn’t be the be-all and end-all of your gaming aesthetic.

Too manybright lights can be distracting and even mess with your sleep.

More importantly, you’ve got the option to save some money on your PC parts.