Whether it be a new RGB waterblock for your custom cooling loop, or an accent strip to add a little extra pop to your system you may need to use either a 5V Addressable RGB (ARGB) or 12V RGB connection with your PC.

Unlike many NZXT products using either a 4-pin NZXT RGB or 8-pin NZXT RGB+PWM headers which will automatically detect and configure once connected, products using 5V ARGB will require some additional setup before they will appear in the NZXT CAM software for your motherboard.

12V RGB vs. 5V ARGB vs. NZXT RGB

The most common types of RGB products that you will find are 5V ARGB and 12V RGB, with the main difference between the two aside from their input voltage is that 5V ARGB is a Digital RGB standard while 12V RGB is an Analog RGB standard. Digital RGB products can be controlled on a per-LED basis allowing for animations and gradients within a single device. Analog RGB products generally do not allow for advanced animations or gradients, being limited to a single color across the entire header. NZXT RGB is a proprietary RGB method based on 5V ARGB which adds an additional sync pin that allows CAM to identify and configure connected devices.

Connecting 5V ARGB and 12V RGB devices.

Depending on your motherboard, you can connect 5V ARGB and 12V RGB devices to the appropriate connectors.  Not all motherboards will feature both connectors, so it is recommended to check your motherboard user's manual before picking out RGB devices for your system.

Each header can only support a certain number of LEDs, for more information refer to the motherboard spec page or user's manual.

Can I connect 12V RGB to 5V ARGB headers?

Do not connect 12V RGB devices to 5V ARGB headers or vice-versa.  Improperly connecting RGB devices to the wrong header can result in permanent damage to the device and/or your PC.

Setting up 5V ARGB and 12V RGB devices in CAM

With your device(s) connected, you'll need to configure the CAM software to properly communicate with the device.  To do this, open the Lighting tab in the CAM software and click the 🛈 icon next to the motherboard name.  With the settings panel expanded, click the ⚙ icon next to the appropriate header(s).

Select a device type for the label, this should match closest to the device(s) used to make it easy to identify.  If you are configuring a 12V RGB device, click Save and the device will be ready to go.

If you are configuring a 5V ARGB device you will need to manually set the number of LEDs across the connected device(s).  Most NZXT motherboards will support a maximum of 40 or 80 LEDs.  For more information please refer to your motherboard and RGB device user's manuals.  Once you have set the number of LEDs, click Save and the device will be ready to go.

Click the newly created panel for your device to expand its settings.  Here you can adjust the individual LEDs by clicking the Customize LED colors switch on certain effects, or configure animations for other effects.  You can also change the name of the device by clicking its name on the panel.