CORSAIR Revolutionizes DIY PC Building with the New iCUE LINK Smart Component Ecosystem

[btarunr]

CORSAIR, a world leader in high-performance gear and systems for gamers, content creators, and PC enthusiasts, today ushered in a new era of smart, simplified DIY PC building as it revealed the iCUE LINK Smart Component Ecosystem. iCUE LINK changes the way experienced PC builders and newcomers alike will create their next PC, implementing patent-pending single-cable technology to reduce the time it takes to build and set up a new performance PC by as much as 50% while dramatically reducing cable management. No more nests of wires, connection hubs, PWM and RGB splitters cluttering up your case - all thanks to the unprecedented simplicity and potential of iCUE LINK.

A built-in microcontroller in every individual iCUE LINK component acts as a "brain" that communicates with the System Hub, enabling a generational leap in system intelligence and opening up exciting possibilities - such as the new Time Warp RGB lighting mode that uses a strobing effect to make it appear as if your fans are frozen in place or spinning backwards, and individual fan response curves that let you optimize for noise and performance like never before.



Encompassing a wide range of products such as fans, AIO coolers, custom cooling components, and more, iCUE LINK makes building a PC fast, easy, and clean. All iCUE LINK devices can be connected in a chain of components to the System Hub, each device connected to the next with a single cable. Using these reversible, universal connectors, you'll never have to hunt for the right wire, splitter, or adapter again.

The first wave of iCUE LINK products launching in June 2023 will include all-new fans, AIO coolers, and the System Hub. The patent-pending QX120 and QX140 RGB are the world's first fully digitally controlled fans, equipped with a proprietary Magnetic Dome bearing, a digital temperature sensor, and quad RGB light loops. The new iCUE LINK RGB series of high-performance liquid CPU coolers feature stunning lighting and hidden wiring for a flawless look.

An expanded range of iCUE LINK-enabled Hydro X Series custom cooling products, including CPU blocks, GPU blocks, and pump/reservoir combos will follow in Q3 2023. There's much more to come from iCUE LINK, as CORSAIR will steadily introduce many more products in the new ecosystem over time to enable a simplified world of PC building for everyone. For more information on iCUE LINK and to sign up for the latest iCUE LINK updates, please visit https://www.corsair.com/link2023.

Availability
The first products in the CORSAIR iCUE LINK Smart Component Ecosystem will be available in June 2023 from the CORSAIR webstore and the CORSAIR worldwide network of authorized retailers and distributors.

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[Chaitanya]

I hope these fan interconnects move from being propietary to open standard as right now there are too many solutions with far too many propietary connectors and controllers.

 

[Merluz]

This ecosystems fragmentation madness is killing my interest in the pc DIY market.

 

[KrazyT]

I stay away from RGB stuff, too much a nightmare to build with my little mounting PC skills.
I have to admit, some builds are really great (i have something with the white, blue light PC, like fridge )

 

[Mussels]

I moved away from corsair because running three fans needed 2x cables per fan (standard) - but then required two seperate boxes that needed SATA power and a USB header, and those boxes then had additional cables between each other

Absolute cable nightmare, and they decided to have limited to no hardware memory profiles forcing 24/7 usage of their software or it defaults to rainbow spew.

I don't know if i can trust them to do it right this time.

 

[katzi]

I moved away from corsair because running three fans needed 2x cables per fan (standard) - but then required two seperate boxes that needed SATA power and a USB header, and those boxes then had additional cables between each other

Absolute cable nightmare, and they decided to have limited to no hardware memory profiles forcing 24/7 usage of their software or it defaults to rainbow spew.

I don't know if i can trust them to do it right this time.

This is why I'm *done* forever with Corsair hardware.
Don't get me started on how Janky iCue is - Still - and storage consuming.

 

[Mussels]

This is why I'm *done* forever with Corsair hardware.
Don't get me started on how Janky iCue is - Still - and storage consuming.

1GB+ storage to get a headset driver, and then it used about 5GB of RAM + VRAM last i tried

We had the icue 4 "screw you" to old hardware owners
Then Logitech + Icue used broken versions of NVbroadcast, that would both run at the same time - and couldnt be uninstalled
This usage was from simply clicking a voice channel in discord

My biggest problem is that their software is set up in such a way it can NEVER be universal with other hardware - if you say you have an ML120, it's "four LEDs" to the software - but you can never mix and match or use other brands, because you can't set a custom LED number. It's device times X (usually about 3) per port on whatever device they gave you.

They still havent fixed the commander pro freezing if HWinfo (or other monitoring programs) are ran at the same time as icue and it's been nearly 5 years, my commander pro is mostly burned out now (one RGB port and 3 fan ports left working) so it's not long for this world... and it's a pity because despite the pathetic LED count, the ML120 and ML140 fans are actually quite nice.

 

[Khaos]

This is why I'm *done* forever with Corsair hardware.
Don't get me started on how Janky iCue is - Still - and storage consuming.

That's why I love the new Thermaltake Swafan ex since you can attach 3 fans which they attach automatically magnetically, and you can use only 1 cable for all 3 fans

 

[wheresmycar]

i share the same sentiments. I've bought into both Corsair and NZXT proprietary eco-systems (cost a bomb) and don't believe i'd buy into them again. A globally compatible generic solution would have been more appealing going forward. Didn't windows 11 recently announce a RGB universal solution built into the OS? Universally limited.

 

[Mussels]

That's why I love the new Thermaltake Swafan ex since you can attach 3 fans which they attach automatically magnetically, and you can use only 1 cable for all 3 fans

Sure, i tried thermaltakes.

Until the control box dies, and you cant replace it making all the fans useless. I had 9 that had to be disposed of from 2 different series because new models used a new controller, and it only came with a 3 pack of fans that were no longer for sale... and yknow, came with the fans. Which i already had.

They cannot be used without the exact controller for that exact series of fans, making them e-waste in the long run. When a single fan dies, if you cant replace it with an identical TT fan you suddenly need a second fan controller and fan to fill the gap, which often only comes with an all new three pack.

I'm not kidding when i say they do this every generation - they have a LOT of incompatible controllers.