Confused about RGB lighting

[Kobrakai]

I’m in the process of designing a new PC and I want to add RGB lighting but I’m struggling to understand how it all fits together.

I will have a mixture of components from Asus, Corsair, and others but I don't want to have to install all their different software like Armoury Core, iCue, etc. I've been looking at apps like Signal RGB and Open RGB but some of the components I'm looking at aren't on the list of supported hardware. I've also read about problems when things aren't connected to ARGB headers, problems with hardware controllers, and other things that has led me down a rabbit hole.

Really I just want to set everything to one colour and forget about it. Do I need to set it in the software every time or will it be remembered after a reboot? Does the software have to be running all the time? Do I need a hardware controller like iCue? I noticed the Corsair AIO coolers have options both with and without iCue so I'm unsure which one to buy. Please ELI5 because I'm struggling with this for some reason.

 

[ben1987]

RGB is usually either controlled by a little control box from the manufacturer or by plugging directly into your motherboards RGB control headers

If it’s one of the controllers then the manufacturers software communicates with the little control box so you need to download that

If you plug it straight into the motherboard then the mobo manufacturers software would control them

I try to limit the number of manufacturers I use for this reason

Signal RGB is pretty good. Once everything is plugged in just download the free version first and it will scan for RGB devices. I imagine it will find the vast majority of your gear. It then has themes you can download or you can set custom themes. They’re remembered. So once your pc boots signal RGB starts and everything does what you’ve told it to.

SignalRGB will ask you to uninstall any other software which will try and control RGB hence suggesting trying it first.

 

[Mcnumpty2323]

Signal rgb is by far best rgb software
Even the free version is fantastic
Stuff that isn't in supported hardware/database
That doesn't mean it won't work
Stuff that's not in their database I just configure it as
A custom led strip
Ie if 3 fans each with 20 leds
I create them as custom led strip with 60 leds
If I don't know how many leds in them
I start with a lower number and increase the number
Until all the leds are lit

Signal rgb controls Stuff from 7 manufacturers
In my build
It's an amazing tool if you don't want to be
Stuck in one manufacturers ecosystem
Since they may not have the best devices in every category
And Signal rgb database gets updated often
With support for more devices