RGB Questions for an RGB Newbie

[Kangaxx]

I have limited experience of working with RGB and ARGB technologies. I messed about with CCFL's years ago, but since, I have been fairly neutral to the whole "case lighting" side of things.

I am now planning a build in an O11 XL (yes, another one), and want to investigate lighting options. I understand the basics of modern RGB connections, but can't wrap my head around some aspects of it.

I guess my main question is all about control and granularity. My MSI motherboard has 4 RGB headers, 2 12v RGB and 2 5v ARGB. I am looking at having 9x ARGB fans in the O11 XL (namely EK ARGB ones). This also includes the front ARGB strip in the case as well as an ARGB waterblock, bringing the total "devices" to 11.

I wanted to know ...

1). How many devices is it "safe" to daisy chain to 1 motherboard header.

and

2). if its possible to have 3 or more RGB groups/zones within the case.

As the motherboard ultimately controls the colour scheme based on what is plugged into what port on the mobo, as far as I understand, the motherboard would not be able to have 3 separate colour zones, as each zone requires a separate connection.

I know ARGB hubs exist, that allow many more ARGB devices to be plugged into the hub, which is then plugged into the motherboard port, but this still doesn't address the ability to separate the fans into separate zones, as far as I can tell.

Is the issue resolvable via software means only or via some other hub + software combination that I have yet to track down?

 

[ttaskmaster]

I know ARGB hubs exist, that allow many more ARGB devices to be plugged into the hub, which is then plugged into the motherboard port, but this still doesn't address the ability to separate the fans into separate zones, as far as I can tell.

I can't speak with much authority on the two numbered questions, but I can discuss one of the above - The AquaComputer Octo.
Bascially it's an 8-channel fan hub (4-pin, 25w per channel) that also has two ARGB channels, which allows control of up to 90 LEDs per channel. You can run up to 20 different 'controllers' for the RGB, each covering as many LEDs as you like, so you can not only separate the fans into zones of airflow control but also RGB control, along with any lighting strips, cooling blocks, reservoirs and other stuff you might have.

For me, the best part is that it uses a USB header, so you don't even need RGB headers (which I don't have) and the software for it is fantastic.

They do a Quadro, which is 4 fan channels and one RGB, too.
The RGB connector is proprietary, but they do little adapters (about £1.50) that will fit any standard 3-pin ARGB connector.
If you want to run Corsair or NZXT fans with their proprietary connectors, they have a splitter dedicated to those, too.

 

[Kangaxx]

Thanks for your reply.

It certainly looks like that could do the job. The only thing that put me off is the proprietary connectors they use. I have looked about and they seem to harder to find than myrrh, although that isn't exactly a shocker, as most things are out of stock at the moment and are hard to locate.

As I have only had a chance to play with Gigabyte's and MSI's RGB software, I have no idea if Asus or any other manufacturer's software can do what I am looking for out of the box.