Build Advice Fan setup for the Fractal Design North XL (mesh version) case ?

[T44v1]

Hey guys

I have mostly picked out the parts for the new PC I am building, but I was curious about the fan setup I should be using. This is the first PC I will be building for myself, so I am relatively new at this.

My PC case will be a Fractal Design North XL (mesh version). I'm thinking of using: one arctic p14 max fan in the rear as exhaust, 3 in the front as intake and then 3 arctic p12 max fans for the AIO cooler up top as exhaust.

The issue I see here is that if all fans operate at the same strength, then I might end up having negative air pressure in the case. Would it be enough of a problem that I should try and rectify it by removing a fan or two or, alternatively, powering either of the exhaust fan setups down? Any advice is appreciated.

Here's my build list in case you need the extra info: https://fi.pcpartpicker.com/user/T44v1/saved/8txhjX

08/02/2025 edit: swapped out the mesh case version for the tempered glass one

10/02/2025 edit: The actual aio cooler I am planning to use is the Arctic Liquid freezer III 360. I updated the list to reflect the correct info.

 

[Paperdoc]

OK, now I know the source of the issue. For that particular AIO cooling system IF you use the three-headed cable from the pump unit, you are supposed to plug the FAN cable into CPU1, and then the normal three Rad Fans are powered from the pump unit via that connection, and a Rad Fan speed IS returned to the CPU_FAN header. On the other hand, IF you use the single-headed cable from the pump unit to the CPU1 header, that unit sends back to the header the speed of one of the Rad Fans and NOT the speed of the pump. HOWEVER, you have NOT used the Rad Fans as supplied! You have substituted and connected those three fans to individual mobo SYS_FAN headers. The result is that, no matter which cable you use from pump to CPU1 there is NO fan speed being sent there!

If you plan to use the three-headed cable, the simple solution will be to move the cable of one of the three Rad Fans to the CPU1 header so it gets a speed signal. Whether or not you do that, you ALSO should make changes to the SYS_FAN headers for two (or three?) rad fans. Again, refer to p. 45 of the BIOS Manual. For EACH of those SYS_FAN headers feeding rad fans, ensure the Mode at upper left is set to PWM, and the Temperature Source below that is set to CPU.

IF you use the single-headed cable, make sure that the three rad fans on SYS_FAN headers are set as above. In this configuration the single cable from Pump to CPU1 header cannot send any speed signal to that header, so you will still get NO speed shown there, even though the pump is working. As long as the mobo does not give you constant error messages about no CPU cooling, this is OK. I recommend you do NOT plug that single-arm cable into the mobo PUMP1 header. The pump unit requires the normal PWM speed control signal provided by the CPU1 header to control the speeds of its pump and VRM cooling fan.

 

[T44v1]

Well, the radiator fans are already reading the cpu temp as their source and operating on PWM, so that won't be an issue. I'll connect one of the radiator fans to the CPU_FAN header, then, thanks for the help. I was wondering, though, is there any point at all to me plugging the "fan" head of the three-headed cable into any header on the motherboard afterwards? It seems like all the other functions would be covered by the rest of the cables.