Have a peculiar issue involving RGB data.
Have a peculiar issue involving RGB data.
In short, I own a PC packed with RGB features. It includes ten fans, Strimer cables, an LCD CPU cooler, RGB RAM, and more options you can imagine. (A diagram would also show one possible situation of the issue.) Some time back, the top fan in my side group began to flicker. I attempted to switch it off, but then the fault moved to another fan set or the Strimer cables. Despite being skilled at PC construction, this situation left me confused. Let me first explain how all components are linked, and then describe what I've tried so far. If anyone can assist, that would be a huge help. So far, I haven't found any friends, IT experts, or Reddit guides who could resolve this. Another frustrating point is that the problem usually appears during startup, sometimes disappears while using the PC and then reappears suddenly, even when nothing is being done. How are these parts connected? I'm running ten Lian Li infinity fans, all controlled by a single Lian Li controller. I have two Strimer cables (for the motherboard and GPU) with their own controllers. I use a NZXT USB hub which currently connects most peripherals. What I've tried: 1. Swapped out the fan that was flickering most often 2. Rearranged the fan order 3. Purchased new fans, controllers, and cables 4. Removed the faulty fan group entirely (problem shifts to another set or cables) 5. Disconnected the Strimer RGB controller (problem moves elsewhere) 6. Moved some USB ports from the hub straight onto the motherboard (no change) 7. Added extra SATA cable from the PSU to split the load. 8. Installed a brand new PSU with upgraded cables 9. Performed a factory reset and cleared all RGB software 10. Updated the BIOS 11. In BIOS, set fans to PWM mode 12. Removed the problematic fan group and opted for LCD Lian Li fans (which use a separate controller). So far I've made some progress: the new LCD fans light up white when they lack sufficient power. You can connect them either via USB port and fan port directly to the PSU, or through the motherboard. When connected directly to the PSU, they function properly, but flickering continues in other groups or with Strimer cables. When plugged into the motherboard, all fans work except these that flash white. It seems the motherboard isn't delivering enough power. Interestingly, when I connect everything through the NZXT hub and remove certain fan groups or cables, sometimes the issue disappears—even at full brightness. This suggests a possible power distribution problem. Also worth mentioning: my RAM and CPU cooler are operating perfectly. Thank you for your help!
I'm not comfortable with this controller or hub. In my experience, the only hubs I've used are reliable, and they rely on a SATA connection. A USB port usually doesn't provide enough power for many configurations. Some newer models include GPU power connectors instead of SATA to handle higher loads. The USB is mainly for data transfer on certain hubs. Are you certain you have those alternatives? When you mentioned removing the fan group, did you mean eliminating all ARGB cables?
Not used to this gear, but did you heed the advice of keeping four fans per string and linking both SATA ports? No extra cables? Running 40 LEDs per fan is quite heavy, requiring thick wires. In other RGB LED configurations, flickering often stems from excessive voltage drop in ground wires or incorrect data levels sent to the LEDs. Is everything powered through a single SATA cable from the PSU? Could benefit from more cables and shorter runs.
It employs two SATA cables from the power supply, excludes any extra cable extensions, and I install three fans per string—one for the rear fan.
I removed the cables temporarily to check if the issue remained in other RGB areas like fan groups or Strimer cables, as well as with all controllers and the USB hub powered through two SATA cables from the PSU. I took out most of the USB connectors and connected one by one directly onto the motherboard to see if the problem persisted—it did. Even when only the Strimer cables were used, the issue continued. This suggests the motherboard isn’t providing enough power. I’m not sure how to test this further, and I’d rather avoid buying a new unit and having to reattach everything.
The controllers need power connections, they shouldn't be getting power from the motherboard... This suggests a possible design flaw.
The devices obtain energy from the power supply via the SATA connection.