Question Case fans not being recognized by fan headers but do work (at low RPM)

[FlavarHa]

Hi, I am likely being dumb and missed something obvious (or broken something)

I recently got a new AIO cooler (Aerocool Mirage L360) and 3 case fans (Aerocool Duo 14) I also got an ARGB hub (https://www.gamemax.uk/index.php/ar...ync-3pin-power-6-port-pwm-rf-remote-sata-rtb/) which the case fans originally connected to but I couldn't control fan speed so I connected fans via splitter to the motherboard, still the same, I then tried straight to motherboard, same.

I went into my bios and only fans I was seeing was what I believe was my pump and my fans on the Mirage radiator (they are connected via splitter, no issues and full speed control and recognized by software. While I was in my bios I went on my board explorer and noticed, my fan headers were showing as disconnected, didn't matter if I used a splitter with the fans connected or if I connected directly to motherboard it would say disconnected yet they were still working wherever I plugged them in, at what I assume is minimum RPM but then when I tested the fans on the Mirage radiator, they would show as working and could see them in the bios. I did also try them on the same header the radiator fans were coming off, same problems as above.

Am I missing something? Is there a compatibility issue maybe? I don't need to control each fan individually, (I know a splitter will all run off the master fan anyway) I just would like to be able to monitor and change the speed of all the case fans. Sorry if I have been dumb, I did try and look for similar problems but didn't find a solution so far.


Motherboard is MSI XPower 170A Titanium Edition

 

[Lutfij]

Welcome to the forums, newcomer!

Motherboard is MSI XPower 170A Titanium Edition
What BIOS version are you currently on?!

Looking at the harness that's on this product page;

https://aerocool.io/product/duo-14/

it seems like it's just the ground wire and 12v, your fans will be running at the max rpm meaning 1000rpm. Couple that with the info mentioned at the top of the page;

https://www.gamemax.uk/index.php/argb-fan-hub-3-pin-aura-sync-3pin-power-6-port-pwm-rf-remote-sata-rtb/

the hub will not work with non PWM fans. Anything that isn't PWM will be running at full speed. If you want to set yourself a baseline, get a PWM fan and hook it up to the hub or any of your headers, they should show up in your BIOS.

 

[Paperdoc]

I could find no links to manuals on those Aerocool unit web pages, but I think I understand how they are built and how they operate. The MIrage 360 AIO cooler system consists of a PUMP, a Rad and a set of three FANS. The PUMP has a cable ending in a smaller connector with THREE holes and this should go to the CPU_FAN1 header of your mobo. It also has a wide connector to plug into a SATA power output directly from the PSU for motor power. I'll deal with the two lighting connectors later. For the RAD FANS with FOUR-hole motor connectors you should use the three-output Splitter supplied to connect all of them to the mobo CPU_FAN2 header. Lighting headers later. In BIOS Setup for both of those CPU_FANn headers (see mobo manual p. 77) set the Temperture choice at left to CPU, and below the graph at right choose All Set Default. When done use Esc back to Main Menu, then typically the F10 key to reach an Exit Menu. There choose to SAVE and EXIT to save your settings and reboot.

Because of the way the pump motor is wired, this will ensure it runs at full speed always as intended, and the PUMP speed will be shown on the CPU_FAN1 header where it is connected. That unit also will be monitored carefully for possible failure. The RAD FANS will have their speed controlled automatically acccording to the temperature sensor inside the CPU chip, and the speed of ONE of them will be shown on the CPU_FAN2 header where they are connected. The speed of the other two will not be shown anywhere - you just assume they are the same. BUT the system can NOT monitor all of them for possible failure, so from time to time YOU should just look and ensure all three are operating.

Your mobo has no lighting header, so you have the Gamemax ARGB Hub. It really is TWO types of Hub in one unit - one part for ARGB lights, and another for fan MOTORS - with separate sets of six output ports each for these. The Hub has three cables from it. One is very wide and connects to a SATA power output from the PSU for power. The smallest with FOUR holes goes to one of your mobo SYS_FAN headers (mobo manual p. 41), and the mid-size one with THREE holes would go to a mobo lighting header. However, you do not have this latter, so that one goes nowhere. Moreover the cable connecting to a mobo SYS_FAN header, according to its photo, does NOT access the PWM fan speed control signal from that header. It only reports to the header the speed of ONE of the fan motors plugged into the Hub - the one on output port #1 - so you will see that one fan speed on the header in BIOS Setup.

The three AeroCool Duo14 case fans you have use non-standard 6-pin connectors, but come with adapter cables to allow you to connect each to both a motor header and a lighting header. These cables should go to ports 1 to 3 on your Hub. Since the Hub can NOT use any speed control signal from the mobo, ALL control of these three case fan speeds will be done solely by the manual fan speed buttons on the hand-held remote control box in this system. Similarly, since there is no mobo source of lighting display control, all control of the lights will be done by the relevant buttons on that remote box.

Regarding the LIGHTS in the PUMP and RAD FANS, those cables should be plugged into other ports of that same Hub box. Now, that MAY leave you with one lighting cable with no port, but MAYBE the AIO system came with a LIGHTING SPLITTER to allow you to connect some of those fans' lights to a single Hub port. Then the lights in those AIO components also will be powered and controlled manually through the Hub.