H150i Elite Capellix XT + AF120 RGB Elite Fans Setup

[nikki2048]

Hello everyone,

firstly I'd like to point out that this is my first build with a proper RGB-setup, so please bear with me while I grasp the basics :).

I'm thinking of purchasing the Corsair iCue H150i Elite Capellix XT AIO cooler and - later down the road - several AF120mm RGB fans. I believe that the AF120s are included in the AIO already, so I'd like to keep the build clean by using the same fans throughout.

Now my question; I'm a little unsure as to which controller(s) I'm going to need for this project and how the difference between 5v ARGB and 12v RGB will affect the options (if at all). The AIO already comes with a commander core for the pump and the 3 fans, so far so good. I'm assuming I can simply connect the next 3 fans to the same controller. Now I wish to add some more fans (I'm currently calculating with a total of 10 fans).

As stated previously, I'd like to continue with more AF120s. I've scoured the internet and found the following article by Corsair ( https://help.corsair.com/hc/en-us/articles/4409125722509-Accessories-Controller-compatibility-with-devices-and-accessories) which honestly brought up more questions than it answered - mainly, why the AF lineup isn't mentioned at all (or is it encapsulated in some different category)?

My main question therefore is which controller(s) I should purchase in order to connect an additional 6 AF120 RGB Elite fans to my PC.

 

Thanks in advance!

Best regards

 

In case this is of relevance:

Mobo: Asus ROG Strix Z790-E Gaming Wifi

Case: NZXT H9 Flow

PSU: Corsair HX1000i

[c-attack]

The SP-Elite, ML-Elite, and AF-Elite all have 8 LEDs on the center hub and are interchangeable within the system.  Corsair does not differentiate between them and they all are "8 LED Series Fans" in the configuration tool.  That said, I would like choose the AF-Elite anyway.

 

Your Commander Core that you must use to power the AIO pump will be 6 fans RGB and PWM control.  For fans 7-10 you can do one of two things:

1) Commander XT - This is the sibling to the Commander Core.  6 PWM and 6 RGB ports.  Looks the same but without the AIO power socket and you get an extra LED channel in return.  

2) Buy the AF-Elites in a multi-pack to get a Lighting Node Core (2nd rgb controller) and then also a powered PWM hub.  This is a small fan control circuit board with 1 PWM lead to connect to the Commander Core.  It then controls 4-10 addition fans for speed. It acts like a powered splitter.  This is a marginally cheaper option but in most setups I would take option 1 to get the extra LED channel and a little more flexibility in setup. 

 

You might at least look at the CUE Link AIO (Titan) and those fans.  The CUE Link hub is going to be the path forward and this prior generation of controllers are not cheaper anymore, so unless you have the AF-Elite or controllers already.  CUE Link makes more sense for a case with more than 6 fans.  

Edited September 22 by c-attack

[nikki2048]

Thanks for your help on this! I've checked out the iCUE Link Stuff and think this is the better way forward (although being somewhat vendor locked to Corsair). Nevertheless I've ordered the CUE Link Titan 360 now and am going to have to shell out a little more for the additional LINK compatible fans then.

Once again, thanks for your explanation and advice!

[nikki2048]

However, after checking out the documentation I do actually have another question. According to this page (https://www.corsair.com/de/de/explorer/diy-builder/cpu-coolers/icue-link-titan-rx-rgb/#p-data-block-keyht2qh1-connect-the-icue-link-cablesp), section "iCUE Link System Hub Installation", it requires both of the available ports to be populated by the pump & the three fans of the radiator. Does this mean, that I actually need to purchase another Link Hub in order to install more fans on the different channels (since one channel only supports up to 7 fans, 3 of which are already taken up by the radiator fans and the other side is directly connected to the pump)?

This seems a little counterintuative, since the H150i (I believe) connects the pump directly to the radiator's fans allowing for one extra connection on the system hub?

[c-attack]

All CUE Link devices get their power from the CUE Link Hub, regardless of type. The capacity has been expanded to 24 total devices per hub with a 12 device per side limit (12=Hub=12).  That's a lot of devices and in terms of practical planning you want to try and split them up to stay under the original 7 devices per side limit.  For each +1 device over 7, the brightness will drop 10% until you reach the 12 cap and are at 50%.  So one CUE Link hub is all  you need and this is one of the significant changes in this generation as you no longer need multiple controllers.  However, it doesn't hurt to have a back up CUE Link Hub when you are ordering fans (multipack vs singles).  This also is why the CUE link hub needs a 6 pin PCI-e cable for power vs the limited delivery on SATA.  

 

The CUE Link AIO has a power delivery port on the radiator for delivery to the pump.  There is a second port next to it if you want to make a short cable jump to the end of the closest radiator fan.  However, this is not required.  Unlike the serial systems of the past generation, the CUE Link stuff is parallel and regardless of physical order for devices/wiring, you can re-arrange them in CUE virtually.  So if it makes the cabling easier or less visible to connect the fan bank from the other side of the radiator, you do it.  As long as a device or chain of devices connect back to the hub, they will get their power and control.  

 

Most people end of needing more CUE Link cables, especially those with a 90 deg connector end.  The straight plugs are long and difficult to connect to fan ends in many circumstances.  The Titan will have a couple of cables, but if you wind up ordering a bunch of fan singles you definitely will need more.  The other thing that might be of use is the 4 way splitter.  This connects into one side of the hub and gives you 4 connection points vs 1.  This allows you to run multiple chains to one side. 7/12 device rule still applies, but in some larger cases it's better to run each bank back home rather than tuck 600 mm cables all over the interior from bank to bank.  I think in a H9 it's pretty straight forward.  You are like to put the front + side 6 on side of the hub and chaining those together should be easy.  AIO + top 3 + rear 1 will be the other side of the hub.  Whether you want to try and link the rear fan to the back end of the top(?) radiator fans will be the question relating to space and aesthetics.  Some cases don't have a lot of room above or under the rear fan making cable attachment more difficult.  I can't quite tell from pictures.  

https://www.corsair.com/us/en/c/icue-link-components/icue-link-accessories

 

[nikki2048]

Quote

The CUE Link AIO has a power delivery port on the radiator for delivery to the pump.

I'm not sure I fully understand this. Do you mean I'm able to connect the pump to the other side of the fans effectivly connecting:

System-Hub -> Radiator-Fans -> Pump? If so, please ignore everything up to "**".

 

I don't think this is the case with the Titan. As far as I can tell, there's one system hub included (which is to be expected), however both connections are required for (a) the radiator's fans and (b) the pump itself, since this can't plug into the radiator. At least the documentation states, that this is what should be done (plug both the fans and pump into the system hub separately). I'm assuming this is one of the main differences between the H150i Link AIO and the Titan, since the H150i pump cable is directly routed to the radiator allowing for a direct connection here.

** In order for me to add more fans (if I were to plug the pump directly into the system hub), I'd be required to install an additional System Hub which does seem to be included with the 3-pack LINK fans, so all good here. My final question is, whether I can daisy chain/split the PCIe power and USB2 header to the System-Hub. On my corsair PSU, I have an 8-pin PCIe cable, which ends in two (pigtailed) 6+2 connectors as can be seen in the image below.

Is it possible to connect two System Hubs to both of these ends, or should two separate PCIe cables be used in this case?

 

Once again thanks for your effort to explain the basics! 🙂

Edited September 22 by nikki2048

[nikki2048]

7 minutes ago, nikki2048 said:

Is it possible to connect two System Hubs to both of these ends, or should two separate PCIe cables be used in this case?

Edit (can't edit the post anymore):

Is it possible to connect two System Hubs to both of these ends, or should two separate PCIe cables be used in this case?
And how would I best combine the USB2 headers? I have 2 on the mobo, however also require the Corsair PSU to be plugged into one of these for monitoring within iCue. Can I simply buy a USB2 splitter (if one exists)?

 

Or could I simply buy a two way spliter and connect:

AIO + 6 Fans ---> System Hub <--- 3-Rad + 4 Fans

to a single hub? This does seem like the more elegant solution actually 🤔

Edited September 22 by nikki2048

[c-attack]

1 hour ago, nikki2048 said:

Or could I simply buy a two way spliter and connect:

AIO + 6 Fans ---> System Hub <--- 3-Rad + 4 Fans

This ^^ is what you do, although that looks like 13 fans.  The CUE Link port on the radiator will deliver power and RGB control to the pump/CPU block.  It will not deliver power to the radiator fans mounted to it.  Those need their own cable linking back to the hub.  That can be a separate line or is can be a short jump from the radiator out CUE Link port.  

Rear fan + Top 3 fans + AIO = CUE Link Hub = Side 3 fans + Front 3 fans

 

You don't want two CUE Link Hubs unless you are getting into the 16+ device count or have an enormous 1000D type of case where it is necessary for cable length and fan count. They do not merge their operations (no current devices can do this) and it makes daily management more difficult. 

[nikki2048]

8 hours ago, c-attack said:

This ^^ is what you do, although that looks like 13 fans. 

Thanks, you‘re the best! Apologies for the confusion on this. What I meant with AIO was just the pump. The 3 fans of the radiator are on the right - „3-Rad“. So that should add up to a total of 10 fans :).