CPU_FAN vs CPU_OPT

[SnoopyThePilot]

So I'm finally putting my build together, but I could use some help regarding the fans and their respective plugs.

 

Case: Phantek Enthoo Evolve ATX (comes with its own PWM hub and 3 fans connected to that)

Mobo: Gigabyte Gaming GT

Cooler: NZXT Kraken X61 

 

So my question is, which one goes where? Both case fan and X61 manual say to use the CPU_FAN plug. Ok technically X61 says to use CPU_PWR but alas. Mobo manual says CPU_OPT is for liquid cooling, though CPU_FAN should be used for CPU cooling...go figure  

 

So...should I plug pump power into CPU_FAN and the case fan hub into OPT? In that case I'd plug the X61 fans into the SATA hub part of the Kraken?

[W-L]

Just now, SnoopyThePilot said:

So I'm finally putting my build together, but I could use some help regarding the fans and their respective plugs.

Case: Phantek Enthoo Evolve ATX (comes with its own PWM hub and 3 fans connected to that)

Mobo: Gigabyte Gaming GT

Cooler: NZXT Kraken X61 

So my question is, which one goes where? Both case fan and X61 manual say to use the CPU_FAN plug. Ok technically X61 says to use CPU_PWR but alas. Mobo manual says CPU_OPT is for liquid cooling, though CPU_FAN should be used for CPU cooling...

Depending on the board, some will have the CPU_opt header as a power or full 12V which is needed for many AIO pumps since they are not variable speed, where some other board manufacture's will have the opt header follow the same settings as the CPU header. 

[derick90]

Some other boards even have a dedicated pump header as well as CPU_fan Which in that case it's rendered kind of useless if your AIO fans hook right up to the pump. 

 

Also: you can even hook the PWM hub up to either of those headers if one is left un-needed to let the bios take care of additional case cooling based on cpu temps. 

[SnoopyThePilot]

8 minutes ago, W-L said:

Depending on the board, some will have the CPU_opt header as a power or full 12V which is needed for many AIO pumps since they are not variable speed, where some other board manufacture's will have the opt header follow the same settings as the CPU header. 

Here's what the Mobo manual specifies:

 

CPU_FAN:

Pin#

1--GND

2--+12V

3--sense

4--speed control 

 

SYS_FAN and CPU_OPT:

Pin#

1--GND

2--speed control

3--sense

4--VCC

 

 

Also, the Kraken pump power plug is 3 pin only.

[W-L]

1 minute ago, SnoopyThePilot said:

-SNIP-

For a 3 pin only header it should be the full 12V to the pump. Depending on how it's setup the headers should always follow this kind of configuration, looks like the CPU_opt and case headers are only capable of DC voltage control unless there is an option to change the control type between that and 4pin PWM.

[SnoopyThePilot]

24 minutes ago, derick90 said:

Some other boards even have a dedicated pump header as well as CPU_fan Which in that case it's rendered kind of useless if your AIO fans hook right up to the pump. 

 

Also: you can even hook the PWM hub up to either of those headers if one is left un-needed to let the bios take care of additional case cooling based on cpu temps. 

So...you mean plug the pump power into CPU_FAN and the PWM hub into the AIO header? There are two fans but four headers so technically that should work. Or should I just stick to FAN for pump and its fans, then PWM into OPT?

[derick90]

1 minute ago, SnoopyThePilot said:

So...you mean plug the pump power into CPU_FAN and the PWM hub into the AIO header? There are two fans but four hoarders so technically that should work. Or should I just stick to FAN for pump and its fans, then PWM into OPT?

Right, If you have a pump header on the board, use that for the AIO - if you don't however, use the CPU_Fan for the pump - the CPU_Opt for the PWM hub - I have the same case and it worked for me, untill i wanted to use FanXpert with ASUS and just used all the board headers anyway and took the pwm hub off. 

[SnoopyThePilot]

11 minutes ago, W-L said:

For a 3 pin only header it should be the full 12V to the pump. Depending on how it's setup the headers should always follow this kind of configuration, looks like the CPU_opt and case headers are only capable of DC voltage control unless there is an option to change the control type between that and 4pin PWM.

 

7 minutes ago, derick90 said:

Right, If you have a pump header on the board, use that for the AIO - if you don't however, use the CPU_Fan for the pump - the CPU_Opt for the PWM hub - I have the same case and it worked for me, untill i wanted to use FanXpert with ASUS and just used all the board headers anyway and took the pwm hub off. 

 

I am somewhat tempted to plug PWM into _FAN and pump into _OPT because mobo manual says it's for liquid coolers and PWM is very straight forward about plugging it into _FAN. It does say one can plug PWM into other headers, but won't have the same control. To be safe though, I guess my best bet is to plug AIO into _FAN and PWM into _OPT, with AIO fans going into SATA

 

Sorry if this sounds confusing, I'm getting a little tired

[airdeano]

plugging the fans into CPU_FAN and the pump into CPU_OPT is fine. if you regulate the fans in the UEFI (as PWM mode) the CPU_OPT will not be affected (no PWM control, it is a 3-pin DC mode operation) and will run full voltage.

[W-L]

5 minutes ago, SnoopyThePilot said:

I am somewhat tempted to plug PWM into _FAN and pump into _OPT because mobo manual says it's for liquid coolers and PWM is very straight forward about plugging it into _FAN. It does say one can plug PWM into other headers, but won't have the same control. To be safe though, I guess my best bet is to plug AIO into _FAN and PWM into _OPT, with AIO fans going into SATA

Sorry if this sounds confusing, I'm getting a little tired

I recommend to plug it into the CPU header with it set as PWM mode the voltage is always 12V to the pump since it's a 3 pin header so it will be getting full power, not to mention it will give a warning to the system if the pump were to failed or show no RPM reading. 

[SnoopyThePilot]

6 minutes ago, airdeano said:

plugging the fans into CPU_FAN and the pump into CPU_OPT is fine. if you regulate the fans in the UEFI (as PWM mode) the CPU_OPT will not be affected (no PWM control, it is a 3-pin DC mode operation) and will run full voltage.

6 minutes ago, W-L said:

I recommend to plug it into the CPU header with it set as PWM mode the voltage is always 12V to the pump since it's a 3 pin header so it will be getting full power, not to mention it will give a warning to the system if the pump were to failed or show no RPM reading. 

OK, unless I misread something here, you guys both suggest I plug AIO into CPU_OPT and PWM into CPU_FAN. Regulating PWM through UEFI will not affect the pump...am I getting this right? Pardon, I'm just double-checking so I'm sure and not sorry

[airdeano]

correct. the PWM function is signaled through the 4th wire (missing on the pump) so that value missing from the pump will allow full mobo voltage to the pump.

[SnoopyThePilot]

1 minute ago, airdeano said:

correct. the PWM function is signaled through the 4th wire (missing on the pump) so that value missing from the pump will allow full mobo voltage to the pump.

 

Awesome, thank you so much guys!

[W-L]

Just now, SnoopyThePilot said:

OK, unless I misread something here, you guys both suggest I plug AIO into CPU_OPT and PWM into CPU_FAN. Regulating PWM through UEFI will not affect the pump...am I getting this right? Pardon, I'm just double-checking to be sure and not sorry

Personally just like to keep the pump on the CPU header for the RPM reading via the CPU but it's mainly up to your preference. However if you require PWM control for fans then what Airdeano mentioned using the CPU header to do so would be a better option since it looks like that board only has DC voltage control on it's other headers.

[SnoopyThePilot]

9 minutes ago, W-L said:

Personally just like to keep the pump on the CPU header for the RPM reading via the CPU but it's mainly up to your preference. However if you require PWM control for fans then what Airdeano mentioned using the CPU header to do so would be a better option since it looks like that board only has DC voltage control on it's other headers.

Oh so I would lose RPM reading if I were to go as said? I suppose PWM control would be worth it though? I'm going for a silent build, so I can't have fans spinning full speed.

[W-L]

1 minute ago, SnoopyThePilot said:

Oh so I would lose RPM reading if I were to go as said? I suppose PWM control would be worth it though? I'm going for a silent build, so I can't have fans spinning full speed.

No no, having the pump on the CPU_opt won't lose the RPM reading, just most boards give a warning only on the CPU header if the fans were to stop or say pump were to stop  working or malfunction. 

[SnoopyThePilot]

6 minutes ago, W-L said:

No no, having the pump on the CPU_opt won't lose the RPM reading, just most boards give a warning only on the CPU header if the fans were to stop or say pump were to stop  working or malfunction. 

 

Gotcha, makes sense. If pump were to fail though I guess I'll find out fast anyhow

[SnoopyThePilot]

Finished the build, reporting back.

 

So it all works fine, but I'm not getting any fan RPM readings in my CAM software for the Kraken. Am I missing something here?

 

Side note: Anyone kind enough to direct me where to adjust the case fans (PWM)? BIOS has three settings to change it -- manual, performance, silent -- but any other way?

 

 

::EDIT::

CAM software says fan is malfunctioning, but I can confirm fans are spinning.

[SnoopyThePilot]

After some further testing, it seems when under some load I suddenly get an RPM read, though it's all over the place from 300 to 500 or more. As soon as I let it idle again, I get an error message and reading goes to 0. Temps are rather comfortable at 16C, maxing out at 59C (silent mode for fans).

 

Would appreciate any thoughts on this

[W-L]

8 minutes ago, SnoopyThePilot said:

After some further testing, it seems when under some load I suddenly get an RPM read, though it's all over the place from 300 to 500 or more. As soon as I let it idle again, I get an error message and reading goes to 0. Temps are rather comfortable at 16C, maxing out at 59C (silent mode for fans).

Would appreciate any thoughts on this

Are the fans plugged into the AIO unit itself as it may not register an RPM unless they are connected directly to it. 

[SnoopyThePilot]

16 hours ago, W-L said:

Are the fans plugged into the AIO unit itself as it may not register an RPM unless they are connected directly to it. 

The Kraken's fans are connected to its own hub, yes.

 

Like this:

 

Case fans --> PWM hub --> CPU_Fan

 

Kraken fans --> Kraken SATA hub --> CPU_Opt.

 

 

It's really weird and I can't seem to make sense of it. Highly appreciate you guys sticking around to help me!

[W-L]

4 minutes ago, SnoopyThePilot said:

The Kraken's fans are connected to its own hub, yes.

Like this:

Case fans --> PWM hub --> CPU_Fan

Kraken fans --> Kraken SATA hub --> CPU_Opt.

It's really weird and I can't seem to make sense of it. Highly appreciate you guys sticking around to help me!

Oh ok I see the problem the unit itself registers the fans through the AIO fan connections itself , and not directly connected to the CPU header. Putting the fans on the AIO connections should stop that warning or fan error message on CAM.

[SnoopyThePilot]

17 hours ago, W-L said:

Oh ok I see the problem the unit itself registers the fans through the AIO fan connections itself , and not directly connected to the CPU header. Putting the fans on the AIO connections should stop that warning or fan error message on CAM.

Wait...are you saying put the case fans on the AIO hub (the 4 outer right connectors in that pic) as well? Because I already have the AIO fans hooked to 2 of the 4 plugs...I think I may have lost you on that one, sorry  

[W-L]

3 minutes ago, SnoopyThePilot said:

Wait...are you saying put the case fans on the AIO hub (the 4 outer right connectors in that pic) as well? Because I already have the AIO fans hooked to 2 of the 4 plugs...I think I may have lost you on that one, sorry  

Yes the fans on the rad to the 4 headers on the right there, I was assuming from what you mean they were connected directly to the CPU header.

[SnoopyThePilot]

16 hours ago, W-L said:

Yes the fans on the rad to the 4 headers on the right there, I was assuming from what you mean they were connected directly to the CPU header.

No, sorry, let me rephrase then:

 

The AIO fans are plugged into 2 of the 4 connectors that are part of the Kraken itself. The manual specifically states to connect the AIO fans into the first 2 of the series, which is what I currently have setup.

 

Now I'm not sure this has anything to do with it, but the NZXT logo LEDs never go out, even when the PC is turned off. The moment the PSU power switch is on, the Kraken's lights go on as well.