AIO Cooler connections

[calluM]

AIO coolers coming today but I already checked my motherboard manual and the cooler manual and they both say two different things.

My motherboard has an AIO_PUMP connector so would all I need to do is plug the pump into the AIO_PUMP connector and then the two 120mm fans into CPU_FAN and CPU_OPT? Would this cause any issues with being able to control the RPM of the pump or fans?

[Sapph]

The pump on AIOs is usually connected to CPU_FAN.
And the fans are connected to the cable which connects to the pump/cpu block.

So the fans are controller by AIO's control program. For example Corsair Link/COrsair ICue or NZXT CAM.

[Omega]

Read the AIO manual. Connect the fan header on the pump to AIO pump.

The following differs per AIO but this applies to most (if not all) half decent models which are actually worth buying: You will also need to connect SATA power to the AIO and then you connect the fans to the AIO as well which allows the AIO to control them.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Never connect the Pump to CPU_FAN; this is PWM regulated, which you never want for the Pump. You want the Pump having be continuous RPMs all the time to ensure great flow.

Use AIO_PUMP or SYS_FAN to ensure it runs at full RPMs.

As for the extra Rad Fans, these will be controlled by PWM or Software.

[dirthurts]

Exactly what Bad Motha said. PWM is not only bad for flow, it's really irritating to listen to as it ramps up and down all crazy (on some boards).

You can usually adjust the pump speed via bios or software if you want to turn it down later.

[_I_]

aio_pump to the pump on the aio
cpu_fan and cpu_opt to the fans on the rad

the board has an aio header for a reason
or you can use a sata/molex power to fan header to the pump so it aleways runs at full speed

[Sapph]

Most AIOs are actually recommended to be connected to the motherboard's CPU_Fan.
And motherboards also often require something connected or it will tell you there isn't a cpu fan connected and refuse to boot.

There is no "AIO_PUMP" connector on (majority at least) motherboards. The connector is an PUMP_FAN. And it's mainly meant for custom loop pumps.


Of course, you can connect the pump on the PUMP_FAN and the fans to CPU_FAN and CPU_OPT and have the fans be controlled through BIOS.

But in order to control them with AIO's own software, they need to be connected to the pump. And pump needs to be on CPU_FAN.

You can change the PWM to DC in BIOS for the CPU_FAN if it isn't by default.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Explain with good reasons why you'd want the PUMP to change speeds? Do you not realize just how dumb that is? Liquid cooling is not instant transfer like with Air, there are extreme delays with how it cools, this is another reason the Pump should be on 100% RPM all the time to ensure the flow keeps up. If you regulate the Pump via PWM, it will never cool properly.

[Sapph]

Publicado originalmente por Bad 💀 Motha:

Explain with good reasons why you'd want the PUMP to change speeds? Do you not realize just how dumb that is? Liquid cooling is not instant transfer like with Air, there are extreme delays with how it cools, this is another reason the Pump should be on 100% RPM all the time to ensure the flow keeps up. If you regulate the Pump via PWM, it will never cool properly.

You can change the mode from PWM to DC. So it WON'T be regulated through PWM.

Also, if your motherboard has true PWM, the pin won't even BE connected. Because the pump fan-plug is only 3-pin. Not 4-pin. That 4th pin is the PWM signal pin. If it's not connected, it's not regulated by it and will get full voltage.

Any motherboard with socket newer than LGA1150 will have a true PWM connectors.
Older ones will have voltage regulated "PWM".
Z97/H97 boards were one of the last ones to still include voltage regulated PWM in some of them.

[dirthurts]

Publicado originalmente por Sapph:

Most AIOs are actually recommended to be connected to the motherboard's CPU_Fan.
And motherboards also often require something connected or it will tell you there isn't a cpu fan connected and refuse to boot.

There is no "AIO_PUMP" connector on (majority at least) motherboards. The connector is an PUMP_FAN. And it's mainly meant for custom loop pumps.


Of course, you can connect the pump on the PUMP_FAN and the fans to CPU_FAN and CPU_OPT and have the fans be controlled through BIOS.

But in order to control them with AIO's own software, they need to be connected to the pump. And pump needs to be on CPU_FAN.

You can change the PWM to DC in BIOS for the CPU_FAN if it isn't by default.

The only reason that is recommended from the AIO manufacturers is because that is the only connection that is guaranteed to be there. Any decent board these days will come with a dedicated AIO pump connection, and the manual will recommend you use it, despite what the AIO says.

Stagnating the water flow just keeps hot water on your chips, despite how fast the fan may or may not be able to spin. Flow is vital.

[Omega]

Half decent AIOs such as the Corsair H100i/150i etc.. don't use the fan header to power the pump anymore. They do still have a fan connector but that is to keep the mobo from freaking out because there is no CPU fan connected. These AIOs control the pump (and often also the fans) itself and recieve power from a SATA power cable.

[Sapph]

Any modern motherboard has a true PWM, where the 4th pin will control the speed.
The 3rd pin will always give maximum voltage and do no regulation.
And the fan header on the pump will be 3-pin, not 4-pin.

Publicado originalmente por Omega:

Half decent AIOs such as the Corsair H100i/150i etc.. don't use the fan header to power the pump anymore. They do still have a fan header but that is to keep the mobo from freaking out because there is no CPU fan connected. These AIOs control the pump (and often also the fans) itself and recieve power from a SATA power cable.

Also, this.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Well yea if the Pump is SATA power then that is fine, sure.

[calluM]

My motherboards the Asus maximus X hero, it has CPU_FAN, CPU_OPT, H-AMP, EXT_FAN, W_PUMP, AIO_PUMP connectors

The cooler is the Kraken X62 280mm, it's manual says to use CPU_FAN for the pump, but the mobo manual says use AIO_PUMP for the pump and CPU_FAN and CPU_OPT for the 2 rad fans

I most likely won't change the pump RPM but I'd like to have the option to change it in CAM if it does end up being too loud at idle in my small case.

[Sapph]

Publicado originalmente por calluM:

My motherboards the Asus maximus X hero, it has CPU_FAN, CPU_OPT, H-AMP, EXT_FAN, W_PUMP, AIO_PUMP connectors

The cooler is the Kraken X62 280mm, it's manual says to use CPU_FAN for the pump, but the mobo manual says use AIO_PUMP for the pump and CPU_FAN and CPU_OPT for the 2 rad fans

I most likely won't change the pump RPM but I'd like to have the option to change it in CAM if it does end up being too loud at idle in my small case.

You should be fine connecting it to either CPU_FAN or the AIO_PUMP in that board. Makes no difference. Pump and Fan RPM will get handled by CAM.
The fans are connected to a fan splitter that connects to the pump.

[Omega]

The X62 is one of the decent SATA powered ones. Connect the fan connector on the pump to the CPU header, or the pump header, it doesn't matter, as long as the PC doesn't do "*beep* *beep* *beep*, NO CPU_FAN ERROR" it doesn't matter where you connect it.