RBGW LED strip vs Digital LED strip

jebediah · 29 Nov 2017 at 18:46

So recently i bought a Gigabyte z370 Aurus Gaming 7 board.
Since all of this LEDs are new to me i have no clue what's the different between these two.

I have 4 connectors, two D_LED (Digital LED strip headers) with 3 pins and two RBGW LED strip headers with 5 pins.
So what's the big different? Can't remember i ever seen a LED strip with 3 pins.

Radox-0 · 29 Nov 2017 at 19:13

The D_LED strip is a header for Digital also known as Addressable RGB strips. Its where each LED on the strip can be a different colour at the same time, so you can have a rainbow pattern going down the strip at the same time, basically what the NZXT Hue+ does if you see youtube video of that. Normal LED strips will only change colour along the entire length.

the RBGW strip is your normal LED strip, but there is also a secondary white only bulb on some strips. Normal LED strips, if you try to make a white colour will have a tint to them (usually slightly blue), so by adding a dedicated white LED, you can get a pretty clean white colour if you settle on that. Cablemod do the strip for Gigabyte boards.

jebediah · 30 Nov 2017 at 18:34

Thanks for a awesome explanation.
Is RBG Fusion somewhat new? Can't find that many LED strip with 3 pin connector. Almost everyone is 4 or 5 pin.

Radox-0 · 30 Nov 2017 at 19:28

jebediah said:
Thanks for a awesome explanation.
Is RBG Fusion somewhat new? Can't find that many LED strip with 3 pin connector. Almost everyone is 4 or 5 pin.

RGB fusion is just the nickname gigabyte have for thier lighting software. ASUS for example have Aura, MSI have mystic lighting and so on.

I would link you to them, but overclockers do not sell them. But if you Google cablemod addressable RGB strip, it will take you to an example of what your after and confirms to work with gigabyte boards. I am sure though there may be cheaper strips out there once you have a look.

edGfaCTor · 30 Nov 2017 at 19:47

Question bit like this one has few options available here https://forums.overclockers.co.uk/threads/addressable-led-strips.18795935/

Jamie Archer · 1 Dec 2017 at 03:16

also just a heads up, but be sure to get the right strips for the right headers on the motherboard, the 3 pin addressable RGB headers are designed for 5v only where the 4 (or 5 pin in gigabytes rgbw headers) tend to be 12v only..if you stick a 5v addressable strip into the 12v socket you may blow the LEDs and damage the motherboard.

jebediah · 1 Dec 2017 at 21:27

In my world the 5 pin connector would be much better then the 3 pin connector since more is always better

Anyway. My motherboard has jumpers that switched from 5V to 12V so there's no problems with that.

Still. I've been gooling and all i can find with 3 pin is the one from cablemod.

Jamie Archer · 2 Dec 2017 at 04:30

jebediah said:
In my world the 5 pin connector would be much better then the 3 pin connector since more is always better
Anyway. My motherboard has jumpers that switched from 5V to 12V so there's no problems with that.

Still. I've been gooling and all i can find with 3 pin is the one from cablemod.

You don't really need a branded strip, any addressable led strip will do with a 3pin (WS2812B for example), as long as the cables from the strip go to the right pins on the header (ground, 5v and data) then it'll work... just be sure the strip length has the max or less amount of LEDs in total that the controller/board supports on its RGB header/headers else it will create low lighting and put strain on/overload the circuit for the RGBs and could even damage the boards RGB power delivery/circuitry.