How to calculate the total RGB LED power draw?

February 25, 2019 | Guides | Erik Nastovski
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What is RGB?

RGB stands for Red-Green-Blue, the three light emitting diodes (LEDs) that exist on a single spot. By mixing those 3 colors you can get any of the 16.7million variations in the RGB spectrum.

There are two different types of RGB LED that are currently common in PC building:

  • 12V RGB analog LEDs
  • 5V RGB digital (addressable) LEDs

12V RGB ones are mostly standard and compatible with all motherboard 12V headers as well as cheap external IR/WIFI controllers. The 5V ones are digital/addressable, which means each LED can shine a separate color at any time. The 12V ones do not give you the options of having different colors on different LEDs at a specific time but, shine the same color as the others on the same strip.

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5V D-RGB LEDs on EK Velocity shining different colors and 12V RGB LEDs on EK Velocity shinning only one color at a time on the right

Standards and pinouts

Many companies use their proprietary pinouts, different connectors and use exclusive controllers. All EK products use standardized connectors and follow motherboard-manufacturer standard. Thereby, they are compatible with all motherboard headers and RGB control software.

Both 12V and 5V RGB LEDs use the same connector, but the 5V one has 3 pins. Pinouts are as following:

  • 5V RGB LEDs – +5V D Blocked G
  • 12V RGB LEDs – +12V G R B

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How is the right way to connect to the motherboard header?

If you incorrectly plug any of those you risk damaging the LEDs. Several of EK monoblocks use the 5V digital LED’s so always read the instruction manual for guidance.  Also be sure to connect the connector on the correct side, as instructed in the manual.

Make sure the arrow aligns with the +5V pin on the motherboard header. Same stands for regular 12V RGB where the arrow needs to align with the +12V pin on the motherboard header.

How can I link several Vardar fans and blocks to a single 12V motherboard header?

We offer EK-RGB 4-Way Splitter Cable that allows you to easily connect several products onto a single header. Daisy chaining is also possible, as long as you do not exceed the rated RGB header power output.

How many EK products can I link to a single motherboard header?

That is a bit of a harder question, you will have to do the math or contact us. We are always happy to assist. A single motherboard RGB header usually outputs a maximum of 2-3A of power. We advise you to consult your motherboard manual for details on specific headers. For example, a single 3A 12V RGB LED motherboard header on ASUS Rampage VI could power 10 EK-Vardar 120ER RGB fans, an R6E RGB monoblock, RGB GPU block, an RGB reservoir safely and still have power left over for an additional LED strip of ~1m length.

Below you may see a table of LED power consumption of EK products:

EAN Product Name LED dimensions (mm) Cable length (mm) LED PCB type Power Consumption (A) Power Consumption (W)
3830046995667 EK-FC Radeon Vega Strix RGB – Nickel 200 x 6 300 RGB Hard PCB 0.18 2.3
3830046995698 EK-FC1080 GTX Ti Strix RGB – Nickel 200 x 6 300 RGB Hard PCB 0.18 2.3
3830046995780 EK-FC GeForce GTX FE RGB – Nickel 200 x 6 300 RGB Hard PCB 0.18 2.3
3830046995834 EK-FC Radeon Vega RGB – Nickel 200 x 6 300 RGB Hard PCB 0.18 2.3
3830046996466 EK-FC1080 GTX Ti FTW3 RGB – Nickel 200 x 6 300 RGB Hard PCB 0.18 2.3
3830046996480 EK-FC1070 GTX Ti ASUS RGB – Nickel 200 x 6 300 RGB Hard PCB 0.18 2.3
3830046996824 EK-FC1080 GTX Ti Strix RGB – Upgrade Kit 200 x 6 300 RGB Hard PCB 0.18 2.3
3830046996831 EK-FC Radeon Vega RGB – Upgrade Kit 200 x 6 300 RGB Hard PCB 0.18 2.3
3830046996848 EK-FC GeForce GTX FE RGB – Upgrade Kit 200 x 6 300 RGB Hard PCB 0.18 2.3
3831109802281 EK-FC1080 GTX Ti FTW3 RGB – Upgrade Kit 200 x 6 300 RGB Hard PCB 0.18 2.3
3831109813041 EK-FC1080 GTX Ti Aorus RGB – Nickel 200 x 6 300 RGB Hard PCB 0.18 2.3
3831109813638 EK-FC GTX 1080 +Ti Classic RGB – Nickel + Plexi 200 x 6 300 RGB Hard PCB 0.18 2.3
3831109813737 EK-FC RTX 2080 +Ti Classic RGB – Nickel + Plexi 200 x 6 300 RGB Hard PCB 0.18 2.3
3831109813140 EK-Vector RTX 2080 RGB – Nickel + Plexi 90 x 6 300 RGB Hard PCB 0.10 1.3
3831109813157 EK-Vector RTX 2080 RGB – Nickel + Acetal 90 x 6 300 RGB Hard PCB 0.10 1.3
3831109810477 EK-Vector RTX 2080 Ti RGB – Nickel + Plexi 90 x 6 300 RGB Hard PCB 0.10 1.3
3831109810484 EK-Vector RTX 2080 Ti RGB – Nickel + Acetal 90 x 6 300 RGB Hard PCB 0.10 1.3
3831109813539 EK-MLC GPU Core Vector RTX 2080 RGB – Nickel+Plexi 90 x 6 300 RGB Hard PCB 0.10 1.3
3831109813546 EK-MLC GPU Core Vector RTX2080 Ti RGB-Nickel+Plexi 90 x 6 300 RGB Hard PCB 0.10 1.3
3831109814130 EK-Vector Strix RTX 2080 Ti RGB – Nickel + Acetal 90 x 6 300 RGB Hard PCB 0.10 1.3
3831109814154 EK-Vector Strix RTX 2080 RGB – Nickel + Acetal 90 x 6 300 RGB Hard PCB 0.10 1.3
3831109814697 EK-Vector Aorus RTX 2080 RGB – Nickel + Plexi 90 x 6 300 RGB Hard PCB 0.10 1.3
3831109814703 EK-Vector Aorus RTX 2080 RGB – Nickel + Acetal 90 x 6 300 RGB Hard PCB 0.10 1.3
3831109814710 EK-Vector Aorus RTX 2080 Ti RGB – Nickel + Plexi 90 x 6 300 RGB Hard PCB 0.10 1.3
3831109814727 EK-Vector Aorus RTX 2080 Ti RGB – Nickel + Acetal 90 x 6 300 RGB Hard PCB 0.10 1.3
3831109810477 EK-Vector RTX 2080 Ti RGB – Nickel + Plexi x 250 RGB Flex 0.02 0.3
3831109810484 EK-Vector RTX 2080 Ti RGB – Nickel + Acetal x 250 RGB Flex 0.02 0.3
3831109813140 EK-Vector RTX 2080 RGB – Nickel + Plexi x 250 RGB Flex 0.02 0.3
3831109813157 EK-Vector RTX 2080 RGB – Nickel + Acetal x 250 RGB Flex 0.02 0.3
3830046996886 EK-Velocity RGB – Full Nickel x 320 RGB Hard PCB 0.02 0.23
3831109810118 EK-Velocity RGB AMD – Full Nickel x 320 RGB Hard PCB 0.02 0.23
3830046992963 EK-RES X3 150 RGB 200 x 10 300 RGB Flex 0.19 2.4
3830046992970 EK-RES X3 250 RGB 200 x 10 300 RGB Flex 0.19 2.4
3830046992987 EK-XRES 140 Revo D5 RGB PWM (incl. sl. pump) 200 x 10 300 RGB Flex 0.19 2.4
3830046995308 EK-XRES 140 Revo D5 RGB 200 x 10 300 RGB Flex 0.19 2.4
3830046995704 EK-XTOP Revo D5 RGB PWM – Plexi (incl. sl. pump) 200 x 10 300 RGB Flex 0.19 2.4
3830046995711 EK-XTOP Revo D5 RGB – Plexi (stand-alone) 200 x 10 300 RGB Flex 0.19 2.4
3830046995797 EK-Supremacy EVO RGB – Nickel 200 x 10 300 RGB Flex 0.19 2.4
3830046995940 EK-Supremacy EVO AMD RGB – Nickel 200 x 10 300 RGB Flex 0.19 2.4
3830046996855 EK-Supremacy EVO RGB – Upgrade Kit 200 x 10 300 RGB Flex 0.19 2.4
3830046995803 EK-Supremacy sTR4 RGB – Nickel 200 x 10 300 RGB Flex 0.19 2.4
3830046991485 EK-FB ASUS Z270I Strix Monoblock – Nickel 100 x 6 500 D-RGB Flex PCB 0.25 1.3
3830046994455 EK-FB ASUS X399 GAMING RGB Monoblock – Nickel 100 x 6 500 D-RGB Flex PCB 0.25 1.3
3830046994486 EK-FB ASUS ROG R6E RGB Monoblock – Nickel 100 x 6 500 D-RGB Flex PCB 0.25 1.3
3830046994493 EK-FB ASUS ROG R6E Monoblock – Ac+Ni 100 x 6 500 D-RGB Flex PCB 0.25 1.3
3830046998194 EK-FB MSI X470 Pro Carbon RGB Monoblock 100 x 6 500 D-RGB Flex PCB 0.25 1.3
3830046998200 EK-FB MSI X470 M7 RGB Monoblock 100 x 6 500 D-RGB Flex PCB 0.25 1.3
3830046998217 EK-FB Asus Strix X470 RGB Monoblock 100 x 6 500 D-RGB Flex PCB 0.25 1.3
3830046999962 EK-FB ASRock X470 Taichi RGB Monoblock – Nickel 100 x 6 500 D-RGB Flex PCB 0.25 1.3
3830046999979 EK-FB ASRock X470 Gaming K4 RGB Monoblock – Nickel 100 x 6 500 D-RGB Flex PCB 0.25 1.3
3831109802267 EK-FB ASUS C6H RGB Monoblock – AC+Ni 100 x 6 500 D-RGB Flex PCB 0.25 1.3
3831109814048 EK-Momentum ROG Maximus XI Hero RGB – Plexi 100 x 6 500 D-RGB Flex PCB 0.25 1.3
3831109821701 EK-FB ASUS Z270E/Z370 Strix RGB Monoblock – Nickel 100 x 6 500 D-RGB Flex PCB 0.25 1.3
3831109821749 EK-FB ASUS C6H Monoblock – Nickel 100 x 6 500 D-RGB Flex PCB 0.25 1.3
3831109891131 Digital RGB LED Strip 100mm 100 x 6 500 D-RGB Flex PCB 0.25 1.3
3830046994288 EK-FB GA X299 GAMING RGB Monoblock – Nickel 100 x 10 300 D-RGB Flex PCB 0.29 1.4
3830046994608 EK-FB GA X399 GAMING RGB Monoblock – Nickel 100 x 10 300 D-RGB Flex PCB 0.29 1.4
3830046998170 EK-FB GA X470 Gaming 7 RGB Monoblock 100 x 10 300 D-RGB Flex PCB 0.29 1.4
3830046998187 EK-FB GA X470 Gaming 5 RGB Monoblock 100 x 10 300 D-RGB Flex PCB 0.29 1.4
3831109821664 EK-FB GA Z270/Z370 GAMING Monoblock – Nickel 100 x 10 300 D-RGB Flex PCB 0.29 1.4
3830046991980 EK-FB ASUS Strix X299-E RGB Monoblock – Nickel 100 x 10 300 RGB Flex PCB 0.10  1.3
3830046992727 EK-FB MSI X299 GAMING PRO CARBON RGB Monoblock Ni 100 x 10 300 RGB Flex PCB 0.10  1.3
3830046994288 EK-FB GA X299 GAMING RGB Monoblock – Nickel 100 x 10 300 RGB Flex PCB 0.10  1.3
3830046994295 EK-FB ASUS PRIME X299 RGB Monoblock – Nickel 100 x 10 300 RGB Flex PCB 0.10  1.3
3830046994608 EK-FB GA X399 GAMING RGB Monoblock – Nickel 100 x 10 300 RGB Flex PCB 0.10  1.3
3830046994714 EK-FB ASRock X299 RGB Monoblock – Nickel 100 x 10 300 RGB Flex PCB 0.10  1.3
3831109821664 EK-FB GA Z270/Z370 GAMING Monoblock – Nickel 100 x 10 300 RGB Flex PCB 0.10  1.3
3831109821671 EK-FB MSI Z270 Gaming RGB Monoblock – Nickel 100 x 10 300 RGB Flex PCB 0.10  1.3
3831109821701 EK-FB ASUS Z270E/Z370 Strix RGB Monoblock – Nickel 100 x 10 300 RGB Flex PCB 0.10 1.3
3831109821725 EK-FB MSI X370 XPower Monoblock – Nickel 100 x 10 300 RGB Flex PCB 0.10 1.3
3831109821732 EK-FB GA AX370 Gaming Monoblock – Nickel 100 x 10 300 RGB Flex PCB 0.10 1.3
3831109821749 EK-FB ASUS C6H Monoblock – Nickel 100 x 10 300 RGB Flex PCB 0.10 1.3
3830046991485 EK-FB ASUS Z270I Strix Monoblock – Nickel 100 x 10 300 RGB Flex PCB 0.10  1.3
3830046994455 EK-FB ASUS X399 GAMING RGB Monoblock – Nickel 100 x 10 300 RGB Flex PCB 0.10  1.3
3830046994486 EK-FB ASUS ROG R6E RGB Monoblock – Nickel 100 x 10 300 RGB Flex PCB 0.10  1.3
3830046994493 EK-FB ASUS ROG R6E Monoblock – Ac+Ni 100 x 10 300 RGB Flex PCB 0.10  1.3
3830046994615 EK-FB MSI X399 GAMING RGB Monoblock – Nickel 100 x 10 300 RGB Flex PCB 0.10  1.3
3830046994721 EK-FB ASRock X399 RGB Monoblock – Nickel 100 x 10 300 RGB Flex PCB 0.10  1.3
3830046998170 EK-FB GA X470 Gaming 7 RGB Monoblock 100 x 10 300 RGB Flex PCB 0.10  1.3
3830046998187 EK-FB GA X470 Gaming 5 RGB Monoblock 100 x 10 300 RGB Flex PCB 0.10  1.3
3830046998194 EK-FB MSI X470 Pro Carbon RGB Monoblock 100 x 10 300 RGB Flex PCB 0.10  1.3
3830046998200 EK-FB MSI X470 M7 RGB Monoblock 100 x 10 300 RGB Flex PCB 0.10  1.3
3830046998217 EK-FB Asus Strix X470 RGB Monoblock 100 x 10 300 RGB Flex PCB 0.10  1.3
3830046999948 EK-FB MSI X299M GAMING PRO CARBON RGB Monoblock Ni 100 x 10 300 RGB Flex PCB 0.10  1.3
3830046999962 EK-FB ASRock X470 Taichi RGB Monoblock – Nickel 100 x 10 300 RGB Flex PCB 0.10  1.3
3830046999979 EK-FB ASRock X470 Gaming K4 RGB Monoblock – Nickel 100 x 10 300 RGB Flex PCB 0.10  1.3
3831109802267 EK-FB ASUS C6H RGB Monoblock – AC+Ni 100 x 10 300 RGB Flex PCB 0.10  1.3
3831109813096 EK-FB ASRock X299E ITX RGB Monoblock 100 x 10 300 RGB Flex PCB 0.10  1.3
3831109813744 EK-XRES 140 SPC-60 PWM Classic (incl. pump) 100 x 10 300 RGB Flex PCB 0.10  1.3
3831109813614 EK-Supremacy Classic RGB – Nickel + Plexi 100 x 10 300 RGB Flex PCB 0.10  1.3
3831109813621 EK-Supremacy Classic RGB – AMD Nickel + Plexi 100 x 10 300 RGB Flex PCB 0.10  1.3
3831109841419 EK-RES X4 250 (R2.0) 250 x 10 500 WHITE Flex PCB 0.26 3.3
3831109810200 EK-Velocity RGB – Nickel + Acetal x 300 RGB Hard PCB 0.23 2.9
3831109810309 EK-Velocity RGB – Nickel + Plexi x 300 RGB Hard PCB 0.23 2.9
3831109810224 EK-Velocity RGB – AMD Nickel + Acetal x 300 RGB Hard PCB 0.23 2.9
3831109810316 EK-Velocity RGB – AMD Nickel + Plexi x 300 RGB Hard PCB 0.23 2.9
3831109810347 EK-Velocity D-RGB – Nickel + Plexi x 300 D-RGB Hard PCB 0.88 4.4
3831109810354 EK-Velocity D-RGB – Nickel + Acetal x 300 D-RGB Hard PCB 0.88 4.4
3831109810361 EK-Velocity D-RGB – AMD Nickel + Plexi x 300 D-RGB Hard PCB 0.88 4.4
3831109810378 EK-Velocity D-RGB – AMD Nickel + Acetal x 300 D-RGB Hard PCB 0.88 4.4
3830046996886 EK-Vardar EVO 120ER RGB (500-2200 rpm): x 500 RGB Hard PCB 0.20 2.4

We hope today’s guide has helped you in creating the most bling for your PC and as always if you have any questions you can contact us over social networks or support channels.

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