Razer’s $40 ARGB Controller Plays Nice With Other Companies’ Components

By Michelle Ehrhardt
published

Control all your internal RGB components through Razer Synapse 3 with Razer’s new ARGB controller.

Razer ARGB controller
(Image credit: Razer)

RGB, for better or worse, shows no signs of slowing down as we enter a new generation of gaming, and even Congresspeople are getting in on the trend. While Razer loves its own RGB, it knows it’s not the only company in the flashy lights game. That’s why it released a new ARGB controller today, which you can plug into your PC to make all your internal RGB components compatible with Razer Synapse 3 software. The best part is that it even works with RGB products made from brands other than Razer...some of them, at least. 

Razer ARGB controller

(Image credit: Razer)

The Razer Chroma Addressable RGB Controller is an internal component with slots for six ARGB headers. It comes with SSD mounting points to make it easy to fit into your build, and connects to your system through Micro-USB, drawing power through DC. While these formats are commonly used for external components, the controller's cables include converters for connecting them to your chassis.

The controller works with Razer products, as well as components from Razer partners, including Enermax, Phanteks, SilverStone Technology, Teamgroup, LianLi, and ThermalTake.  

Accompanying Razer’s new ARGB controller is a suite of Chroma accessories, including a combination USB hub/DAC/headset stand (the $69.99 Razer Base Station V2 Chroma), a wireless charging pad (the $59.99 Razer Charging Pad Chroma), a mouse bungee (the $39.99 Razer Mouse Bungee V3 Chroma) and a wireless mouse charging dock (the $49.99 Razer Mouse Dock Chroma). All of these have customizable RGB, though the mouse charging dock only works with Razer wireless mice, like the Razer DeathAdder V2 Pro and  Razer Basilisk Ultimate.

Razer ARGB controller

(Image credit: Razer)

Today’s new lineup of Chroma products is mostly an update on existing accessories, but the ARGB controller is a new addition to Razer’s repertoire and a nice nod to cross-company compatibility. You can snag all of these products now at Razer.com, with the ARGB controller coming in at $39.99. 

Michelle Ehrhardt
Michelle Ehrhardt

Michelle Ehrhardt is an editor at Tom's Hardware. She's been following tech since her family got a Gateway running Windows 95, and is now on her third custom-built system. Her work has been published in publications like Paste, The Atlantic, and Kill Screen, just to name a few. She also holds a master's degree in game design from NYU.

8 Comments Comment from the forums
  • gg83
    I cant seem to find the Mouse Bungie V3 chroma. Is it not released yet? I need one and rgb makes it a necessity.
    Reply
  • stevesls
    Admin said:
    Razer’s new ARGB controller lets you control all sorts of RGB components through Razer Synapse 3 -- even those from different companies.

    Razer’s $40 ARGB Controller Plays Nice With Other Companies’ Components : Read more
    Very interested in the new Razer A-RGB Controller as my ASUS (P9X79 Deluxe) motherboard does not have A-RGB ( or even RGB ) headers. Any thoughts on the Razer A-RGB controller working with the A-RGB features on the RTX 3080 video cards ( ASUS ROG/STRIX or EVGA GeForce Ultra Gaming)?

    Just checked the USA Razer site... no sign of the A-RGB Controller (yet). Hopefully, the device will be added soon!
    Reply
  • gg83
    So I found the Razer mouse bungee v3 with rgb. Its only on Razers website and it ships from China. I guess it was just released recently? I'm excited but $50 is a little expensive.
    Reply
  • Mr.Vegas
    gg83 said:
    So I found the Razer mouse bungee v3 with rgb. Its only on Razers website and it ships from China. I guess it was just released recently? I'm excited but $50 is a little expensive.

    39.90 on amazon just ordered one
    Same goes for the ARGB Controller, got two since they limited for 240leds per controller
    and their V2 RGB Mouse-pad Also Razer has new Headset holder, it has round base like the V2 RGB mouse Bungee, 2 USB 3 ports but it also has USB DAC build in so i think it was 59.90$, basically its a USB DAC with USB Hub and headset holder and RGB
    Personally i dont need a dac and prefer the V1 Headset holder its square, has 3 USB ports and looks kinda better, i dont like the circle base of the V2 it makes it look IMO cheap like Aliexpress product
    Reply
  • gg83
    Mr.Vegas said:
    39.90 on amazon just ordered one
    Same goes for the ARGB Controller, got two since they limited for 240leds per controller
    and their V2 RGB Mouse-pad Also Razer has new Headset holder, it has round base like the V2 RGB mouse Bungee, 2 USB 3 ports but it also has USB DAC build in so i think it was 59.90$, basically its a USB DAC with USB Hub and headset holder and RGB
    Personally i dont need a dac and prefer the V1 Headset holder its square, has 3 USB ports and looks kinda better, i dont like the circle base of the V2 it makes it look IMO cheap like Aliexpress product
    I have the V1 and I agree, the square is better. I love razer products, the build quality is great, plus the RGB's! I recently got the Huntsman Elite. The keys are so loud! The RGB wrist rest is awesome, so it's worth the noise.
    Reply
  • Mr.Vegas
    gg83 said:
    I have the V1 and I agree, the square is better. I love razer products, the build quality is great, plus the RGB's! I recently got the Huntsman Elite. The keys are so loud! The RGB wrist rest is awesome, so it's worth the noise.

    You got the wrong version of hunstam, they have a silent one, its a newer model, look on amazon it offers a choice of both
    Reply
  • jackrabbit72380
    I'm upset with razer over this product because I have been spending a fortune on peripheral's so everything with my razer setup could match. and last year I bought the lian li pc 011 dynamic razer edition. witch theoretically can hold a lot of hardware including but not limited to 15 case fans total with an AIO configured in push-pull. Anyway, to make a long story short I have a lot of ARGB fans more than 6. so naturally I was excited when this product was released. So then I go out to BestBuy and purchase 2 razer chroma ARGB controllers and when I go home to hook them up I find out razer synapse can only detect and use one at a time even though windows detects both of them. so now I have 6 fans I can't control simply because razer disabled the detection of a second controller hub. I'm really really disappointed in this decision with razer and I have looked for answers online but all I have found is other people in the same situation just as upset as I am! in my opinion, system integrators and computer builders! are going to become frustrated with this limitation that razer has included with this device for no reason. other than pure laziness on the software development side. a great majority of people are going to need & or want to connect more than 6 ARGB peripherals. My case alone has 15 fans & that's not including my other ARGB devices. so I spent 40 on a second controller and I can't even make it work. or control it. I'm literally forced to watch a spectrum rainbow until razer engages this huge issue and decides to fix their software to support more than one hub. we need it to support at least 4 and I really hope razer fixes this issue fast! there is nothing I hate more than going out to buy something that won't work as expected out of the box! oh and to top it off nowhere on the box or website does it say you are limited to one hub. so there's nothing stopping someone from buying 4 and having 3 not work.
    Reply
  • jackrabbit72380
    gg83 said:
    I have the V1 and I agree, the square is better. I love razer products, the build quality is great, plus the RGB's! I recently got the Huntsman Elite. The keys are so loud! The RGB wrist rest is awesome, so it's worth the noise.
    get a board with yellow or red switches they are silent!
    Reply