Bought a 220T, added different fans...

Hey y'all, thanks for helping.

I bought a 220T case with 3 SP120 Pro fans and the included lighting node. I'm actually not sure what kind of node it is as it doesn't have a cover on it.

The SP120s work great, really enjoyed the case out of the box.

I purchased an LL120 for the exhaust on the back, and I noticed that when it's connected to the same node, I have to set the profile for all the fans to an LL series as if I leave it on the SP Pro series, the ring around the LL fan doesn't iluminate. So I changed the node to the LL series setup, and it honestly works fine, but the ordering of the fans has been thrown off and I also lose some options for individual fans.

My question is, would it be best to buy a second node, and if so, what should I buy and could I buy something that will set me up for future RGB expansion under the Corsair brand such as strips or an AIO, without spending $100?

EDIT: I've also seen something about setting the fan count to match the physical number of LEDs you have? So 3 SP Pros and 1 LL, that's 40 addressable LEDs...but would I set it to SP Pro or LL series in the options?

Thanks!

So you have combined the SP-PRO and the LL on the same hub? That is the issue. It's strictly mathematical LED counting. The LL has 16. The SP-Pro has 8. You tell it 6 SP-Pro, it does 6 x 8 programming. You tell it 6 LL, it does 6 x 16 programming.

If you want to use it as intended, you need a second lighting controller and hub. Where this gets complicated is your SP-PRO use the otherwise unavailable Lighting Node Core. This is a lighting controller and lighting power conduit in one package. It's not sold individually as far as I know and only comes in QL and SP-Pro multi-packs. The other system is separate lighting controller (Lighting Node Pro or Commander Pro) + RGB Lighting Hub. Since you bought 1 LL, you likely don't have either. Those both come in the multi-packs as well.

For the time being I will suggest you leave the single LL in the Core with the other SP-PRO. Option 1 is put the LL in slot 4 and tell iCUE you have 5 SP-PRO in the lighting set-up. The LL will be the last two fans in the programming. Option two is to put it first and the three SP-PRO after. Tell iCUE you have 3 LL fans. The three SP-PRO will be the fan 2 & 3 in iCUE.

LL and SP-Pro fans have different physical architectures and thus different effect lists as well. Your SP-PRO can't do some LL effects. This makes option two a bit odd and likely not desirable.

Nice. Thanks for the reply.

I did go with the 5 SP-Pro configuration. It seems to work well, for now.

So let me ask you, how is this node different from the Lighting Node Pro and Commander Pro? The commander pro only has 2 RGB heads? I understand it has it's own fan power heads, which is nice since I have to route my fan power through my mobo, but with only 2 RGB heads how am I supposed to run more than 2 RGB fans?

Can you not buy the lighting node pro by itself? You have to get the lighting strips too?

Original system was Controller/Software Interface pick: Lighting Node Pro or Commander Pro (LNP + fan controller). Power delivery was the RGB Lighting Hub. Both controllers have 2 RGB channels and can supply 5v power for lower current devices like RGB strips or Hydro X blocks.

The Core is that RGB hub for power delivery + the lighting controller, but only one channel. It is also limited to just fans and theoretically an easier connection for someone who only those. At the same time it might be a disadvantage for someone with a complex system of multiple RGB Strips, fan types, Hydro X gear, etc. Both can work, but preference likely comes down to each individual case.

The fan motor power is really just a drop in the bucket compared to lighting current. A LL fan motor maxes out near 0.30A when at 100%. Meanwhile it will pull 0.6A of 5v power anytime you set it to white. That becomes the trickier part to manage in large cases. So for example, I could pull my 6 QL off the Commander Pro Ch1 and put it on a Core device that has its own SATA power. This would reduce the 5v draw for my Commander that is also powering two Hydro X blocks.

Original system was Controller/Software Interface pick: Lighting Node Pro or Commander Pro (LNP + fan controller). Power delivery was the RGB Lighting Hub. Both controllers have 2 RGB channels and can supply 5v power for lower current devices like RGB strips or Hydro X blocks.

 

The Core is that RGB hub for power delivery + the lighting controller, but only one channel. It is also limited to just fans and theoretically an easier connection for someone who only those. At the same time it might be a disadvantage for someone with a complex system of multiple RGB Strips, fan types, Hydro X gear, etc. Both can work, but preference likely comes down to each individual case.

 

The fan motor power is really just a drop in the bucket compared to lighting current. A LL fan motor maxes out near 0.30A when at 100%. Meanwhile it will pull 0.6A of 5v power anytime you set it to white. That becomes the trickier part to manage in large cases. So for example, I could pull my 6 QL off the Commander Pro Ch1 and put it on a Core device that has its own SATA power. This would reduce the 5v draw for my Commander that is also powering two Hydro X blocks.

Right, I understand that, but for instance the 3 pack of the LL fans states it comes with a LNP and an RGB controller, why would I need both?

Also, I've read people saying that the Commander pro isnt meant to control fan RGBs, just fan speeds, and that you would need an additional RGB controller.

I feel as if it would have been beneficial for me to get the 3 pack with the LNP included, my thought process was I am eventually going to get an AIO cooler which will be 2 additional RGB fans bringing my total up to 6, and you can't purchase AIOs without included fans (I dont think) so I only bought a single LL fan instead, but now it's looking like I would have spent the extra $60-70 anyway on an additional controller.

Right, I understand that, but for instance the 3 pack of the LL fans states it comes with a LNP and an RGB controller, why would I need both?

 

Also, I've read people saying that the Commander pro isnt meant to control fan RGBs, just fan speeds, and that you would need an additional RGB controller.

I call the LNP and Commander the controller because that is what you access in the software to control/set your lighting. If you have a just a RGB Lighting Hub with 3 LL fans connected and SATA power, they will light up, but you have no control and no access.

Lighting Node Pro or Commander Pro - controller/software interface

RGB Lighting Hub - actual lighting current power. When the LL or other fans are connected to this, their lighting power comes from this SATA connection, not the one on the LNP or Commander. You always need this device or no lights. It comes in the RGB Hub form or as part of the Core device. The Core device is really a big RGB Hub with a 1 channel controller tucked inside.

The Commander is the controller, but you need something to supply the lighting power. That is the RGB Lighting Hub plugged into either RGB channel or a Core device plugged into a USB header to connect to the system.

If you are going to add in two more LL fans, you may want a separate controller and lighting hub so they can act like LL instead of SP-Pro. You'll have to do the math for your market, but chances are the triple pack of LL fans (with included LNP and RGB Lighting Hub) will be less than buying the pieces separately.

The cooler situation is complex as well. They all come with fans, but perhaps not the ones you want. Pro and XT coolers come with non-RGB ML fans. Platinum coolers come with their own lighting controller for TWO fans, but not any more. The standard black Platinum comes with two ML-RGB fans. The white SE comes with two white LL fans. Either way, you likely want these top 2 and rear 1 LL fans to be doing the same thing and that means putting them on the same controller.