NZXT Introduces HUE+ Software-Controlled RGB LED Lighting

16849622 said:

Im trying my best not to laugh here. NZXT is once again playing catch up. I spoke up about this before and it rolled right under the carpet. NZXT will never be anywhere next to Corsair lighting and fan controls hardware until 2020. The had the ability to do this from the start by watching Corsair and building upon what they started not reinventing the wheel by starting off with knobs and dials.

All of this could have been implemented into one system years ago

Corsair Commander Mini for the same price already has better lighting options and size. Although I have a NZXT H440 Blue/Black I cannot see myself using NZXT add-on

The HUE+ and the Commander Mini aren't remotely the same product.

the commander mini does temp, fan control and 1 LED light strip.

the HUE+ does no fans, no temperature, 8 light strips with 2 different lighting channels.


you can't even compare these products. they are made for totally different purposes.

You miss the point I was trying to make. Corsair already had all this crap on the market as individual modules years ago that NZXT is putting out now (reinventing the wheel). NZXT had years to look at what Corsair was doing and bypass all the mistakes Corsair made and go straight to software controlled lighting and cooling.

Over the years Corsair discovered that most customers will only use 1 colour inside their rig so why sell a separate product for each when they can combine the minimum of what the average customer wants and sell them a more complete package.

Think about it:

Corsair Commander Mini = $59.99. 4 Temp channels, 6 individual fan controls, 1 LED RGB connection
Corsair Link RGB LED Lighting Kit = 14.99. 18 LEDs and 2x12" extension cables

NZXT GRID+ V2 = 29.99 6 individual fan controls
NZXT HUE+ = $59.99 2 LED channels, 4 LED strips, and 4 extension cables 1x500mm, 1x300mm, 2x100mm

NZXT Grid / NZXT Grid+ = Corsair Cooling Node
NZXT HUE / NZXT HUE+ = Corsair Lighting Node "http://www.corsair.com/en-us/corsair-link-lightning-node"

What have NZXT done over the years besides push the no external front bay on cases trend (which I love them for as I hug my black/blue H440)?

They released Sleeved LED strips and Sentry fan controllers all which required manual operation. (I owned both of these)

Then they decided to release the HUE which was great because it did RGB but it required a 5.25 slot and still customers had to fiddle with buttons and knobs.

After, they released the GRID, a fan controller that only accepted 3 pin fans and all fans were controlled by the same speed.

They then got the bright idea to release a GRID+ which not only had the same flaw of only accepting 3 pin fans like the previous model, it did the same crap of only having a single fan curve, but on the bright side it linked with the Cam software.

So then they release the GRID+ V2 and finally it accepts 4 pin fans, and each fan has it own curve, but it still uses a barrel plug for power instead of a Molex or SATA power connection.

Now they decide to release a lighting module that cost and astounding $59.99 and all it does is lighting?!! I understand that each strip on the 2 channels can do different colours at the same time but still $59.99 just for lighting?

Here is the kicker, ALL of these NZXT CAM compatible products require an internal USB 2.0 connection. Have anyone looked at motherboards recently? They only come with 2 internal 2.0 headers. So the normal person will of course hook up their front IO USB ports so what gets the remaining USB port? The HUE+? The GRID+? The Kraken Cooler? Nope, time to spend another $20 on a NZXT IU01 USB Expansion.

Corsair has already figured out how to make their power supplies, CPU coolers, fan controllers, and lighting controls talk to each other while only using 1 USB 2.0 header, although on their latest GT and GTX coolers they took a huge step backwards by removing this connection.

The NZXT Armory website and the first link of this article isn't working. Please do check if it's some typo.

59.99$ doesn't seem unreasonable considering it comes with 4 LED strips. I know enthusiasts including myself that spent more when it came to aesthetics. I rather like this module. Can control each indavidual LED on the strip, range of colors which is a huge bonus because I like variety. Usually flick between white, red and purple and now, along with my naga epic and my G510 256 RGB keyboard, I can change everything on the fly for a single cost, rather than alter my cathodes/led strips every year or so. Also, since I hate too much front bay objects, the lack there of is even better. USB 2.0, I can simply wire that to the back of my case, out of sight and mind. Already pre-ordered this with my mileage bonus. :D

I added a bunch of lighting to my case recently and it looks awesome! I'd recommend it for anyone who wants to spruce up their machine

finally a revamped version of the HUE been waiting on this for like 2 years =D hopefully they have better adhesives taped to the back of the LEDs this time around

Looks awesome. Going to be ordering this in the near future to fit onto my newly acquired Fractal Design Define R5.