RGB Components: How are they controlled?

[Tom B]

I've never used an RGB anything except keyboard and for my new build I want black with green lighting. For a lot of components, RGB is more common that being able to get a fan/motherboard/etc with the right colour.

My question is, how are these things controlled? For example, if I had this RGB Ram, this waterblock or a chasis fan or motherboard.

How are the RGB LEDs on these components actually controlled? I don't want something that just sticks on a rainbow effect, but to set them to a specific colour. Does each component have its own hardware switch? (I'd guess not). Is it done from within Windows or the BIOS?

Also, what are the chances that a mix of different RGB components will all have the same shade of green?

 

[HoneyBadger]

I don't have RGB RAM but have RGB on my motherboard and cooler. It's all software controlled, each component comes with its own software. When you set the colour it gives you a colour palette with the actual numbers of colours so you can put these numbers into other bits of software to achieve a match.

 

[ZXSpectrum]

There are 2 ways. 1 is they connect to your motherboard and you use some software that comes with the motherboard to control it. The other way is to use a CAM Like the NZXT Hue+ But to be honest and from experience they are terrible. You also have to make sure they are compatible with each other. There are several different standards currently in use.