Is it possible to use an aRGB fan with some sort of controller to connect to the tp2? The aRGB fan I like (https://www.bequiet.com/en/casefans/3450) uses a 3 pin aRGB connection to the motherboard. I can’t quite figure out a compatible controller that might work - something that takes the 3 pin aRGB as input and outputs a PWM to the tp2?

So, the first thing is this fan has 2 connectors: - 3-pin for ARGB - 4-pin for fan power, PWM and tacho

I think the be quiet contoller you have above is really just a hub with no controller functions. It has another 3 pin argb cable as output, supposed to go to motherboard. So if I got a controller that can take the argb as input with a PWM output, will that work? Does that negate the PWM cable part? I am thinking of just one lightwing fan plus controller.

Do you have any particular controller in mind that I can look at?

Been looking at the razor chroma . trying to figure out if it has the right input/output to allow the use of the lightwing fan - https://www.razer.com/gaming-pc-accessories/razer-chroma-addressable-rgb-controller

This seems to be a controller indeed, but only RGB controller, not a fan speed controller

So implies argb fans in general will be a no no here?

I did not say that

Where does the connection from # 1 go? #2 goes to the case fan connection,, right?

#1 is simply a USB device that have ARGB headers

Regarding the usb connection , since the tp2 is a case with the two usb 3 ports sitting outside, do i have to route any required usb connection outside the case? I have something else plugged into the usb 3 header ( the one near the SATA headers ). Or perhaps there is some adapter I can use to share that header?

Ok, I think I see probably where I did not explain it well enough to you. Most of the RGB software runs only on the Windows operating system. The controllers required to have the RGB on the fans, LED strips and and other accessories, rely on this software to make the light effects. With Turing Pi 2 you cannot run Windows, for example Windows 10 to run the required software. One of the solutions might be to check if given controller is supported by OpenRGB. OpenRGB is a 3rd piece of software that runs on Linux and can control some of the RGB controllers. Then you could use the USB 3.0 header on the TPi2 that's connected to the Node 4 and you might have a change for Node 4 to control the RGB. Another way is to use an RGB controller that can run in a standalone mode. What this means is you could use a PC to initially set the lightning effect that are then stored in the controller and can be ran without any USB connection. I personally only know about the Corsair controller I mentioned above that can do this. I don't know if the Razer Chroma can, this is why I proposed asking somewhere else like in a Razer or RGB subreddit, on the Razer forums, etc

I don’t have an aRGB fan, but the case I am using with my tpi2 has aRGB case LEDs, I am using a Corsair lighting node pro connected to the 3 pin aRGB header in the case, and then to the USB ports on node 4. I have a CM4 running OpenRGB to control the LEDs (you don’t need the windows software for this). If I had an aRGB fan it would control the lighting on the fan also.

@batz_10k So you have aRGB Light ( 3 pin) --> Cosair Node Controller --> USB 3 port assigned to node 4. In the case of a fan, it will also have a PWM cable for fan speed. So It gets really complicated with one controller for aRGB and another for fan speed control. The wish is for one controller to rule them all - providing aRGB and PWM control in one box. But doesn't seem to exist.

Correct, I am using a noctua fan controller to control the fan. You could run the fan directly off the Turing pi’s fan header instead but it runs at full speed and is loud.

ahh so you have 2 controllers in there? one for the aRGB and the Noctua one @_dhanos_ recommended ?

Yes, they sit on the backside of the motherboard tray. The fan I have is an rgb fan not aRGB so I don’t have the LEDs in the fan connected (my aRGB fan was too big for this case)

@_dhanos_ I am thinking of combining the razer argb controller with the noctua-na-fc1 . I see the razer requires a usb pin connection to the turingpi. I will have to use the one on node 4. However a bit confused about that slot. Its a 20 pin usb header. My case has a front usb slot which uses a 20 pin so I have it plugged in there. The razer uses this pin below. Looks like I can't connect both to the same header with some adapter?

The blue connector on the TPi2 board is a USB 3.0 connector while the controller uses USB 2.0

As i said, I have something plugged in there already - this ....

Also, did you make sure the Razer Chroma can be controlled using OpenRGB?

hmm forgot about that. Going to check now

I missed the information that you have this connector already populated

So is there an adapter I can use to connect both?

This thing is odd - it's expensive and provides ony a single USB port

This is the front part of the streacom-DA2 case. The top part is the power button ( connects to the i/o port of the tp 2) and the bottom is a usbc port

What you could so might be to adapt this header to the USB A plug?

ok you lost me - where do I plug this? On the razer?

Yes

Isnt it expecting a usb pin header? (Micro-USB to USB pin header)

Wait, actually just noticed that

And that goes to one of the USB3 ports on the tp2. Means cable will have to be routed outside the case. Not a big deal I guess but not aesthetically ok. Now only thing left is to check about openRGB - A lot of hoops to jump through for a fan!!

There's really no easy way of "splitting", since you cannot use just a Y-splitter of some sort. The internal port is occupied so we need a way around. Your front I/O module uses only one of the 2 USB connections, so in theory we could use anotehr one for teh controller, but that would not be a standard solution and you'd have to modify the cables which would not be easy.

what about this? Takes a 19 pin and adapts it to 9 pin https://www.amazon.com/Duttek-2-pack-Motherboard-Adapter-Converter/dp/B072ZV1566/ref=sr_1_8?crid=29Y3DJBOMTV6S&keywords=usb+3.0+19+pin+splitter&qid=1682458908&sprefix=19+pin+usb+spl%2Caps%2C81&sr=8-8

And where do you think you would connect it to?

What is the exact connection to the 2x USB 3 port on the tp2 ? It expects 2 usb connections , no?

I do not entirely understand your question. Can you rephrase it or elaborate?

The usb 3 port on node 4 is shown as 2x USB3,. Is it expecting 2 connections ?

I'm still not sure which information are you trying to show me. The USB controller connected to the node 4 has 4 USB lanes. 2 of them are connected to the USB A ports on the back and the other 2 to the USB 3.0 header on the board

this ? what does the 2x mean?

Yes, because this connector carries 2 separate USB lanes and can be then converted into, for example, 2 USB A ports

What about this then: https://www.amazon.com/GINTOOYUN-Extension-Splitter-Internal-Adapter/dp/B09CGL4K96/ref=sr_1_4?crid=29Y3DJBOMTV6S&keywords=usb+3.0+19+pin+splitter&qid=1682458908&sprefix=19+pin+usb+spl%2Caps%2C81&sr=8-4

I thought you are going this route

right

Ok, for simplicity, lets call the USB lanes L1 and L2. They have different pins on the connector

nope!

This is also why I said that'd be a non-standard solution and might require modifying cables and why I did not go this route

So the Razer uses its own software ( installed on windows ) to customize the settings for any aRGB fan.

As does any other controller, including the Corsair one mentioned by me and then by Batz_10K. The thing is that the Corsair one is also supported by the 3rd part app called OpenRGB and the question was if your is supported too

@_dhanos_ Found this fractal design stand alone argb controller which seems rather simple and straight forward in design/setup. I like that it also uses the SATA power connector and not molex like on the razer. This with the noctua for the pwm part. However not sure about openRGB support. Still researching

It says

A software-free stand-alone ARGB LED controller.

so you cannot control it via any software, it's fully standalone (can be controlled only via the keys). The Corsair model we mentioned works in 2 modes - can be controlled via software, can have a hardware profile for standalone use. This one is only standalone, but is nice since has buttons and let you choose the lightning effect this way

Ugh, my https://www.amazon.com/Longdex-Female-Motherboard-Adapter-Converter/dp/B07XNYX25V/ got stuck to the 20-pin USB socket, and when I tried to pull it out the whole socket came out. Now I'll have to figure out how to reattach this socket. It's fairly difficult since the holes on the bottom of the socket are very small