[SOLVED] CPU fan wire extenders and which socket

[l1nxx]

Hi.
I've recently installed my first liquid cpu cooler. I've plugged the pump into the "CPU_FAN" socket on my motherboard. However, the fan wire would not reach the "CPU_OPT" socket, so I plugged it into "SYS_FAN2" socket.
My question is, should I buy an extension cable for the fan and plug it into CPU_OPT, or should I leave the fan connected to SYS_FAN2 without any extension cables?
Thanks.

 

[Karadjgne]

Up until recently, many mobo's didn't have a cpu_opt or cpu_aux, so by necessity you had to use sys_fan. That's standard installation according to the book.

However, it often affords very little control over the cpu fans themselves. You'll find most ppl around here will do the opposite, put the pump on cpu_opt/cpu_aux as it's usually a non controlled 12v source (perfect for a pump that doesn't need controlling) and put the fan on cpu_fan so that the cpu temp actually controls fan speed.

Means that at idle the fan isn't still spinning at full speeds, even light duty only spins it as high as necessary.

Either way is fine, neither is wrong. The book says to do it the way you have it because there's a built in security measure in the motherboard. If the cpu_fan header reads 0rpm, it'll send a warning and shut the pc down or refuse to let it boot. Done that way just in case of pump failure.

 

[l1nxx]

Thank you.