Question Aqua Elite 120 V3 on "cheap" X99 dual CPU MoBo, where to plug the pump?

[Andrea_A71]

Hi all, I just bought a "cheap" X99 dual MoBo and I bought a couple of Aqua Elite 120 V3 AIOs. The MoBo doesn't come with neither CPU_OPT and WATER_PUMP Headers.
Reading the AIO instructions I see that the fan must be connected to the CPU_FAN header (this is ok for me) and the pump should be connected to one of the previously mentioned headers which are not present in my MoBo.
Both the fan and the pump has a 4 pins connectors.
So I think I have two soultions:
1) Connect both the fans and the pumps to CPU_FANs with a couple of hubs/splitters (of course a pump and a fan in CPU 1 header and the other pump and fan to CPU 2 header). I'm not sure it's the best solution because this way the fan and the pump should run at the same rpm and maybe there's the risk to overload the header/port
2) Connect the pumps to the UPS using a SATA to 4 pin adaptor (which uses only pin 1 and 2 if I'm not worng). This way the pump will always be running at 100% of speed regardless real temperatueres etc.

I'm a lot confused in what wold be the best solution....

Any advice?
Thanks
Andrea

 

[Lutfij]

Welcome to the forums, newcomer!

I just bought a "cheap" X99 dual MoBo
You could've passed on a link to the motherboard or it's manual for us to see what sort of headers it has for you to utilize.

You could use a PWM fan hub and do away with just one fan header if that's all you have access to on the motherboard. Out of cusiroity, what processor are you going to cool with that mere 120mm AIO? X99 platforms back, in the day needed at least a 240mm AIO or a really beefy air cooler to deal with the heat and X99 chipsets weren't meant for SFF builds either.

 

[Andrea_A71]

Welcome to the forums, newcomer!

I just bought a "cheap" X99 dual MoBo
You could've passed on a link to the motherboard or it's manual for us to see what sort of headers it has for you to utilize.

You could use a PWM fan hub and do away with just one fan header if that's all you have access to on the motherboard. Out of cusiroity, what processor are you going to cool with that mere 120mm AIO? X99 platforms back, in the day needed at least a 240mm AIO or a really beefy air cooler to deal with the heat and X99 chipsets weren't meant for SFF builds either.

Hi, the problem is that no user manual are present...in any case here's the link: https://it.aliexpress.com/item/1005...st_main.5.516636968YYr7z&gatewayAdapt=glo2ita.

As far as I can see from the images the MoBo has two 4-pinned headers for the CPU_FAN and two three-pinned headers for the SYS_FAN and CHASSIS_FAN (I'm guessing because at now I have a single-cpu X99 wich has about the same layout).
So you think it should not be a problem to connect both pump and fan with a hub/splitter to CPU_FAN header? In terms of rpms and possible overload?

I will mount two Xeon E5-2699 V3 CPUs on that board...Nowaday I already have a single X99 with one of that XEON and I'm working greatly with a 120mm AIO...Xeons are not vey "hot" CPUs...of course I don't use the PC for gaming, it's a cheap workstation configuration for 3D rendering

 

[bill001g]

So you are going to try to connect 2 different AIO to the motherboard ?

So the lazy way to do this is to just buy a molex or sata to fan header. You almost always want the pump to run at 100% all the time anyway.

The real answer get messy and you likely will not have the info you need to be really sure. The fan headers are only designed to put out so much power. If you take too much, even hooking up too many fan, it will damage the motherboard. So you would have to find out how much power each motherboard connector can put out and then find out how much power the pump on your AIO takes.

 

[Andrea_A71]

So you are going to try to connect 2 different AIO to the motherboard ?

So the lazy way to do this is to just buy a molex or sata to fan header. You almost always want the pump to run at 100% all the time anyway.

The real answer get messy and you likely will not have the info you need to be really sure. The fan headers are only designed to put out so much power. If you take too much, even hooking up too many fan, it will damage the motherboard. So you would have to find out how much power each motherboard connector can put out and then find out how much power the pump on your AIO takes.

Yes, I will connect two AIOs in the MoBo.

Thanks for yor advice, it was what I thought that connecting "too much" to a single header would cause damages...

 

[Paperdoc]

Wow, you're "on your own" with that mobo with no manual. Its website says they ship various versions that keep changing. So all we can offer is advice based on what is "normal" for mobos.

I could not spot the fan headers in the photos, so I''ll take you word for it that it probably has two 4-pin CPU_FAN headers and maybe two 3-pin headers labelled EITHER CHA_FAN or SYS_FAN. Alert: for the case ventilation fans that connect to the 3-pin headers, do NOT buy 4-pin fans. They would work, but they just cost more than similar 3-pin models.

GENERAL rule when connecting more than one item to one fan header is that the header can supply up to 1.0 A max current. When using a SPLITTER for this, all the power comes from the header, so that limit applies. NOTE that sellers mix up the labels Splitter and Hub, but I prefer to use the words this way. A SPLITTER is simple with only two types of connections: one input from a mobo header, and two or more outputs to fans. A HUB has these PLUS a third "arm" or edge connector that must connect to a power output (either SATA or 4-pin Molex) from the PSU for all the power to the fans, and this unit does NOT get fan power from the host header. For what you are doing, a SPLITTER for each CPU cooler system is sufficient.

Your concern about header overloading is worth considering, but the result is no problem. The web page for that cooler system's manual is here

https://bucket-zv5zpj.s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/manuals/AQUAELITE120V3.pdf

On its Page 12 you can see details of making connections for the pump and fan motors and for their ARGB lights except they do not show the pump connection clearly. But NOTE that for one system there are two fans and one pump to connect, and the Splitter unit they include (the call it a "hub" which I say is wrong) has three output ports. So you CAN connect all three to one CPU_FAN header. Important item to do when you plug things in. The Splitter box has labels on it so ONE may tell you to plug in the PUMP there. If not, you may find that only one has all four pins in the output, and the other two are each missing Pin #3. Either way, ONLY that one port can send back to its host header the speed of its "fan". It is IMPORTANT that you plug into that one port the PUMP so its speed can be sent to the header. Why? Well, all CPU_FAN headers do an important second function: the monitor the speed of the "fan" attached for NO speed, which indicates failure. In any AIO system, the vital item to monitor for failure is the PUMP, so that is the speed that needs to be connected to the CPU_FAN header, and that is the unit whose speed can be shown to you by BIOS Setup. The speed of the two fans plugged into the two other ports of the Splitter will never be seen anywhere.

In terms of electrical load, the specs for that AIO system say the PUMP consumes at max 4.8 W at 12 VDC, which is 0.40 A. Then each FAN can consume at max 0.20 A. So total is 0.80 A, less than the header limit, and hence safe to do.

Now here's the "trick" to this. In almost all AIO systems the pump is intended to run at full speed all the time, so that control of CPU temperture is done only by varying the speed of the rad fans. The pump is wired just like an older 3-pin fan, so when you connect it to a header sending out control signals in the new 4-pin PWM Mode, that fan (well, pump in this case) will always run full speed as intended. On the other hand, the 4-pin FANS on the rad WILL be speed-controlled by such singals. IF you have an option in the configuration details of each CPU_FAN header, make sure each is set to use PWM Mode, and not DC or Voltage or Auto.

If you make your connections this way for each of the AIO systems on their separate CPU_FAN headers, you have the pump and both rand fans connected to a single CPU_FAN header. The pump will run full speed always as designed and will report its speed to the header to be monitored for failure. The rad fans' speeds will be controlled by the header according to the temperture measured by a sensor inside each CPU chip, but you will noever see those fan speeds anywhere. YOU should look at them from time to time to be sure they all are still operating.

 

[Andrea_A71]

Wow, you're "on your own" with that mobo with no manual. Its website says they ship various versions that keep changing. So all we can offer is advice based on what is "normal" for mobos.

I could not spot the fan headers in the photos, so I''ll take you word for it that it probably has two 4-pin CPU_FAN headers and maybe two 3-pin headers labelled EITHER CHA_FAN or SYS_FAN. Alert: for the case ventilation fans that connect to the 3-pin headers, do NOT buy 4-pin fans. They would work, but they just cost more than similar 3-pin models.

GENERAL rule when connecting more than one item to one fan header is that the header can supply up to 1.0 A max current. When using a SPLITTER for this, all the power comes from the header, so that limit applies. NOTE that sellers mix up the labels Splitter and Hub, but I prefer to use the words this way. A SPLITTER is simple with only two types of connections: one input from a mobo header, and two or more outputs to fans. A HUB has these PLUS a third "arm" or edge connector that must connect to a power output (either SATA or 4-pin Molex) from the PSU for all the power to the fans, and this unit does NOT get fan power from the host header. For what you are doing, a SPLITTER for each CPU cooler system is sufficient.

Your concern about header overloading is worth considering, but the result is no problem. The web page for that cooler system's manual is here

https://bucket-zv5zpj.s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/manuals/AQUAELITE120V3.pdf

On its Page 12 you can see details of making connections for the pump and fan motors and for their ARGB lights except they do not show the pump connection clearly. But NOTE that for one system there are two fans and one pump to connect, and the Splitter unit they include (the call it a "hub" which I say is wrong) has three output ports. So you CAN connect all three to one CPU_FAN header. Important item to do when you plug things in. The Splitter box has labels on it so ONE may tell you to plug in the PUMP there. If not, you may find that only one has all four pins in the output, and the other two are each missing Pin #3. Either way, ONLY that one port can send back to its host header the speed of its "fan". It is IMPORTANT that you plug into that one port the PUMP so its speed can be sent to the header. Why? Well, all CPU_FAN headers do an important second function: the monitor the speed of the "fan" attached for NO speed, which indicates failure. In any AIO system, the vital item to monitor for failure is the PUMP, so that is the speed that needs to be connected to the CPU_FAN header, and that is the unit whose speed can be shown to you by BIOS Setup. The speed of the two fans plugged into the two other ports of the Splitter will never be seen anywhere.

In terms of electrical load, the specs for that AIO system say the PUMP consumes at max 4.8 W at 12 VDC, which is 0.40 A. Then each FAN can consume at max 0.20 A. So total is 0.80 A, less than the header limit, and hence safe to do.

Now here's the "trick" to this. In almost all AIO systems the pump is intended to run at full speed all the time, so that control of CPU temperture is done only by varying the speed of the rad fans. The pump is wired just like an older 3-pin fan, so when you connect it to a header sending out control signals in the new 4-pin PWM Mode, that fan (well, pump in this case) will always run full speed as intended. On the other hand, the 4-pin FANS on the rad WILL be speed-controlled by such singals. IF you have an option in the configuration details of each CPU_FAN header, make sure each is set to use PWM Mode, and not DC or Voltage or Auto.

If you make your connections this way for each of the AIO systems on their separate CPU_FAN headers, you have the pump and both rand fans connected to a single CPU_FAN header. The pump will run full speed always as designed and will report its speed to the header to be monitored for failure. The rad fans' speeds will be controlled by the header according to the temperture measured by a sensor inside each CPU chip, but you will noever see those fan speeds anywhere. YOU should look at them from time to time to be sure they all are still operating.

thanks for your precious help! the problem with the Aqua manual is that it refers to the 240mm version which has 2 fans, in the 120mm version no hub (or splitter) is provided with so I think I have to buy a new one... if I understood correctly you said that the 4 pin connector of the fan is not meant to let the pump be controlled via pwm but "only" for letting it work at full power but having a feedback pin which alerts the mobo in case of pump failure, did I get it right? I ask because all the 4 pins of the pump connector is wired and not only 3 of them...

 

[Paperdoc]

OK, looking more closely at the smaller system, I see what you mean. In fact, even on the 240 mm rad version they now supply all their fans with a 2-connector system on the cable - one female to plug into a mobo header, and a male 4-pin with Pin #3 missing to allow you to plug in the next fan in a daisy chain. Then you do not need (or get) a Splitter. Now, you might be tempted to plug your PUMP into that empty output on the rad fan, but do NOT. If you did that, the CPU_FAN header would get the speed signal from the FAN, and the pump speed could not be read and monitored for failure.

Get two SPLITTERS like this, one for each cooling system and CPU_FAN header

https://www.amazon.com/JBtek-Black-Sleeved-Splitter-Converter/dp/B01EF9OI0O/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1ARGG3HNABEL0&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.RIe0_ceToDT3fDg7nh4HA8rvdagOl50zIs8Va3bowObeY9hLbBWudDzdkvoki-mvtmZ2k2QbtMNAYcD1nETC7St_kr2GD5EJ6fklmWDl16DAD-6M6WU3qy3Lznvvrs8h1bVeoLwNdSGpj3UC6bSp6KtJlj-_ErsbJPbEjlQ--DQ7d7JK-0WJqIFDtOEu7l-hf8VRg7FvbjFmGosqitolDa5qxHkG8WUUeuMXPEy53iU.KSricmYVvqt8hMPabqlFo8S_7rtZqIPbzNeDTz-L0l8&dib_tag=se&keywords=fan+splitter&qid=1733171987&sprefix=fan+splitter,aps,143&sr=8-3

For each plug the female input connector into the CPU_FAN header, the PUMP cable into the output with all 4 pins, and the FAN cable female into the other. Ignore the fan's male connector for daisy chain systems.

Your understanding is correct. For detail, on a male mobo fan header there are 4 pins sticking up and beside Pins 1-3 there is a plastic "tongue" sticking up. On the fan cable end the connector has 2 ridges down one side, so it only fit onto the header one way. The pin functions are: 1 = Ground, 2 = +VDC power supply, 3 = fan speed signal, 4= PWM signal. For an older 3-pin fan system the header operating in Voltage Control Mode sends out a VOLTAGE on Pin #2 that VARIES from 12 VDC down to 5 VDC min for slow speed, and controls speed that way. Pin #4 is not used. For the new system operating in PWM Mode the Voltage on Pin #2 is always fixed at the full 12 VDC. The fan has a special chip inside to receive the PWM signal from Pin #4 and use that to modify the flow of current from the fixed +12 VDC supply line through the windings to achieve speed control. So if you plug a 3-pin older fan type (or a pump made that way) into that latter system, it never gets the PWM signal, but it never had a chip to use it anyway. And from Pin #2 it gets only a fixed 12 VDC, so it always runs full speed. But it does get to send its speed signal back to the host header on Pin #3.