Do I need more commander pros or nodes for this setup?

[sickysickybrah]

I am planning a build in a Lian Li 011D XL case.

 

I have the following:

10 x QL120 fans

150i elite capellix AIO with 3 x ML120 fans

8 x Lighting ARGB LED strips

3 x lightning node core

1 x lightning node pro

1 x commander pro

1 x commander core

 

I am planning to do a push pull on the AIO, so it's not a big deal if the RGB on the ML is plugged in (though it wouldn't hurt)

 

Do I have the necessary equipment to run everything through iCue or do I need any more commander or lightning nodes?

 

Also, if anyone wants to venture as to what plugs into what, I'm all ears. I have looked at diagrams and watched videos, but I have never used RGB anything in a PC before.

 

I will also have vengeance PRO RGB Ram and would like to add the Lian Li Strimer Plus (I found the adapter cable on ebay to plug it into the commander pro)

Edited October 3, 2020 by sickysickybrah

[c-attack]

I think we can trim down the list a bit.

 

Essential: Commander Core - that will be in the Elite AIO box. That gives you RGB ports for 6 fans and 6 fan speed control headers. The Elite cooler's will not work without this.

 

1 x Lighting Node Pro - this will take the 8 sets of RGB strips on it's 2 channels (2x4). The Node Pro has current limitation issues with the QL, so this is it's best function.

 

 

At this point things get more complicated. Supposedly, the Commander Core will be able to handle different RGB fan types on the device. That seems like a lot of programming and I am not sure things are quite so cut and dry. Early reports suggest it may only be working with the ML-Elite and new SP-Elite fans. You do have 3 of those that come with the cooler, but I suspect putting 3 QL in slots 4-6 for lighting won't work. That means you are going to need 2 Lighting Node Core devices to power the lighting for the 10 QL (in some combination 6+4, 5+5, etc). Make sure to get at least 2 QL multipacks (3x120) when you order. The Core device is inside. Depending on where you are, the multipack for the 120s tends to sell at essentially the same price as 3 singles. If that is true, there is no reason not to get all mult-packs and hang onto the Cores. They have value both as quick replacements or alternative management options.

 

I think the extra Commander Pro is extraneous at this point and clear place to save money. While the Commander Core cannot handle fan control for 13 fans, it can be made to work as a controller for all with a little current assistance. A lot users with high fan counts are moving to PWM repeater hubs to pass a single channel PWM signal to a large group of fans that run all at the same speed. The current for the motors is offloaded to a SATA connector, thus making this possible. The 6 push-pull are an easy place to do this. That occupies 1 fan header on the Com Core, leaving you 5 for the remaining 7 fans. You can manage that with a pair of PWM splitters for 2 pairs. Since you don't really need independent control over the fans in these banks of 3 on the O11 and you don't need the extra 10K sensors since this is not a full water build, I don't see much advantage to getting another Commander.

 

One thing you will definitely need is some type of USB 2 hub to handle the many devices that connect to the software this way. From above, these devices need a USB 2 port:

 

Commander Core

Lighting Node Pro

2 x Node Core devices

 

That's 4 x internal USB 2 connections. No MB has that.

 

 

You will need to use iCUE for control over all these devices. The Link program forum we are in ended 2+ years ago. There is more information here:

 

Zotty's Eco-system guide

Edited October 3, 2020 by c-attack

[sickysickybrah]

I think we can trim down the list a bit.

 

Essential: Commander Core - that will be in the Elite AIO box. That gives you RGB ports for 6 fans and 6 fan speed control headers. The Elite cooler's will not work without this.

 

1 x Lighting Node Pro - this will take the 8 sets of RGB strips on it's 2 channels (2x4). The Node Pro has current limitation issues with the QL, so this is it's best function.

 

 

At this point things get more complicated. Supposedly, the Commander Core will be able to handle different RGB fan types on the device. That seems like a lot of programming and I am not sure things are quite so cut and dry. Early reports suggest it may only be working with the ML-Elite and new SP-Elite fans. You do have 3 of those that come with the cooler, but I suspect putting 3 QL in slots 4-6 for lighting won't work. That means you are going to need 2 Lighting Node Core devices to power the lighting for the 10 QL (in some combination 6+4, 5+5, etc). Make sure to get at least 2 QL multipacks (3x120) when you order. The Core device is inside. Depending on where you are, the multipack for the 120s tends to sell at essentially the same price as 3 singles. If that is true, there is no reason not to get all mult-packs and hang onto the Cores. They have value both as quick replacements or alternative management options.

 

I think the extra Commander Pro is extraneous at this point and clear place to save money. While the Commander Core cannot handle fan control for 13 fans, it can be made to work as a controller for all with a little current assistance. A lot users with high fan counts are moving to PWM repeater hubs to pass a single channel PWM signal to a large group of fans that run all at the same speed. The current for the motors is offloaded to a SATA connector, thus making this possible. The 6 push-pull are an easy place to do this. That occupies 1 fan header on the Com Core, leaving you 5 for the remaining 7 fans. You can manage that with a pair of PWM splitters for 2 pairs. Since you don't really need independent control over the fans in these banks of 3 on the O11 and you don't need the extra 10K sensors since this is not a full water build, I don't see much advantage to getting another Commander.

 

One thing you will definitely need is some type of USB 2 hub to handle the many devices that connect to the software this way. From above, these devices need a USB 2 port:

 

Commander Core

Lighting Node Pro

2 x Node Core devices

 

That's 4 x internal USB 2 connections. No MB has that.

 

 

You will need to use iCUE for control over all these devices. The Link program forum we are in ended 2+ years ago. There is more information here:

 

Zotty's Eco-system guide

 

Thanks C-attack for this information-it provides me with a much better idea of how this system is setup.

 

I had purchased 3 multipacks of QL120 fans and a commander pro at a nice discount, all new in box. If I don't need the commander pro, I can sell it, but since I already have it I have no problem using it if it simplifies things.

 

I will look into PWM repeaters and an internal usb hub. before your post, I was under the impression I needed a commander pro and everything daisy chained off it. That is why I thought I might need 2 commander pros. what you wrote clarifies things.

[c-attack]

I am not sure how much the Commander Pro simplifies anything, if at all. It would remove the need for the PWM hub, but that is an inexpensive and smaller device. This is the one I use for the 6 push-pull off 1 channel. It needs a SATA for power and 1 of the Com Core's fan headers. The Commander can do impendent fan control for 6+ more fans, but you don't need individual control and it is significantly larger.

 

The other place the Commander Pro could help is with reduced lighting controllers. It has two internal channels. However, in order to run fans from those, you need two RGB Lighting Hubs. Those are something that came with older ML/LL fans and were the lighting current part of the equation, with the Commander or Node Pro serving as the controller. Those will cost you a minimum of $25-30 including shipping and are a royal pain to get a hold of. If you already had the RGB Lighting hubs from something else that would be one thing, but without this seems like the hard way.

 

The Commander does have 2 USB passthrough, but requires one itself. Thus is will not relieve you of the need to acquire some type of internal USB hub. You would still need 3 internal USB 2 ports. Most expensive MBs stop at 2 and this would be a very large USB hub.

 

The last bit is will put two "Commanders" in the CUE device list. They will be physically distinguishable with a close look, but it just makes a mess of the device list. You are going to have a lot up there already and it will be easier to look up and see one large rectangle and know that is your fan control device.

[sickysickybrah]

I am not sure how much the Commander Pro simplifies anything, if at all. It would remove the need for the PWM hub, but that is an inexpensive and smaller device. This is the one I use for the 6 push-pull off 1 channel. It needs a SATA for power and 1 of the Com Core's fan headers. The Commander can do impendent fan control for 6+ more fans, but you don't need individual control and it is significantly larger.

 

The other place the Commander Pro could help is with reduced lighting controllers. It has two internal channels. However, in order to run fans from those, you need two RGB Lighting Hubs. Those are something that came with older ML/LL fans and were the lighting current part of the equation, with the Commander or Node Pro serving as the controller. Those will cost you a minimum of $25-30 including shipping and are a royal pain to get a hold of. If you already had the RGB Lighting hubs from something else that would be one thing, but without this seems like the hard way.

 

The Commander does have 2 USB passthrough, but requires one itself. Thus is will not relieve you of the need to acquire some type of internal USB hub. You would still need 3 internal USB 2 ports. Most expensive MBs stop at 2 and this would be a very large USB hub.

 

The last bit is will put two "Commanders" in the CUE device list. They will be physically distinguishable with a close look, but it just makes a mess of the device list. You are going to have a lot up there already and it will be easier to look up and see one large rectangle and know that is your fan control device.

 

Awesome-thank you! Your idea makes more sense-I will pick up that PWM hub and an internal USB hub.

 

Just to clarify-I plug the 6 push-pull fans into the PWM hub and the fans are powered via SATA connector. the PWM hub plugs into one port in the Commander Core, right? Is there any issue that the QL fans max at 1500 rpm and the ML max is over 2000 rpm? I could just never go over 1500 and play it safe. I want it quiet anyway.