Can you plug Corsair RGB fans into a motherboard?

Yes, you can plug Corsair RGB fans into a motherboard, but there are some important details to consider to ensure proper functionality. Corsair RGB fans typically use two connections: one for power (usually a 3-pin or 4-pin connector for the fan itself) and one for RGB lighting (either 3-pin ARGB or 4-pin standard RGB). Here’s a breakdown of the options:

1. Power Connection:

Fan Power: Corsair fans usually require a 4-pin PWM connection for power. This is used to control the fan speed (RPM) for cooling performance. You can plug this into your motherboard’s fan headers (often labeled as CPU_FAN, SYS_FAN, or CHA_FAN).
Corsair Commander or RGB Hub: If your fan is part of a Corsair kit, you may be using a Corsair Commander Pro or a RGB Hub that allows you to control multiple fans and RGB lighting from a single header or via a USB connection. In this case, you don’t necessarily need to connect each fan directly to the motherboard for power.

2. RGB Lighting Connection:

Standard RGB (4-pin): Some Corsair RGB fans use a 4-pin RGB connector. If you have a motherboard that supports 12V RGB headers (4-pin), you can connect the fan’s RGB cable directly to the motherboard’s RGB header for control. These headers allow for simple lighting control but typically do not offer individual LED control.
Addressable RGB (3-pin ARGB): Newer Corsair fans may use 3-pin ARGB connectors that support more advanced, individually addressable LEDs. If your motherboard has a 5V 3-pin ARGB header, you can plug the RGB cable into that header for full control over lighting effects. Many newer motherboards support this feature, but not all of them do.

3. Corsair RGB Software:

If you're using Corsair fans with RGB, you will need Corsair iCUE software to control both fan speeds and RGB lighting. iCUE allows you to customize lighting effects, sync RGB with other Corsair components, and control fan profiles for noise and performance.
If your motherboard does not support Corsair's iCUE software, you may be limited to using motherboard-based software (like ASUS Aura Sync, MSI Mystic Light, or Gigabyte RGB Fusion for RGB control). However, for full Corsair-specific features like fan curves or lighting effects, iCUE is recommended.

4. RGB Controller (Corsair RGB Hub):

Corsair RGB Hub: Some Corsair fan kits come with an RGB hub that allows you to connect multiple Corsair fans with RGB lighting to a single header on your motherboard. This hub often plugs into the USB header on the motherboard for controlling the lighting via iCUE, which also allows you to sync other Corsair devices.
If you don’t have a motherboard with the necessary RGB headers or if you want more advanced control, using the Corsair RGB hub or Commander Pro is a good alternative.

Summary:

You can plug Corsair RGB fans into your motherboard for both fan power and RGB lighting if your motherboard supports it (either 4-pin RGB or 3-pin ARGB headers).
For full control over RGB lighting, you might need Corsair's iCUE software and/or Corsair’s RGB hub (if needed).
If your motherboard lacks the necessary RGB headers, you can still control the RGB using Corsair's hub or Commander Pro.

Before installing, make sure to check the fan and motherboard compatibility (for the type of RGB headers and software) to ensure everything works smoothly.