Question How should I connect my fans ?

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Excelso

Jul 29, 2023
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Ok, I'm building a PC and I'll try to explain everything I (will) have first.
  • Motherboard: B550M Aorus Elite
  • Liquid Cooler: Cooler Master ML240L V2 ARGB
  • Case: XPG Starker Air with 1 rear fan (XPG VENTO ARGB 120) and 3 frontal fans (same as the AIO ones, Cooler Master Sickleflow ARGB 120)
The problem is, my mb only have 2 SYS_FAN headers and one CPU_FAN. I'm having trouble deciding where I should plug everything.
I saw this post where someone says to plug the pump and the 2 radiator fans together in the CPU_FAN header using a PWM splitter (which I have), but by doing that I'll have the fans always running at 100% speed, which is not the best imo since a lot of the time I won't need them to be that fast and it'll just degrade them faster for no reason.
I was also told to plug the radiator fans to the CPU_FAN header, which makes sense because the more the cpu heats up, the more they need to work, but that leaves me with the option to plug the pump with the rear fan to one of the SYS_FAN headers, and that will make my rear fan go crazy as well.
The option I think makes the most sense is to plug the pump alone to a header and then use the splitter to plug the radiator fans together with the rear fan to the cpu header, but I don't know if having the rear fan speed tied with the cpu temperature is optimal.

Anyway, I hope I didn't make too much confusion as I'm not a native english speaker, but I'm totally open to suggestions here.
 
you want to plug the pump into the cpu fan .. if no AIO pump header is there
The rad fans can go off one of the system fan headers to control fan speed separately
all other fans can go off another fan header via splitters ( just be careful not to go to many fans off one header and i advise to keep the fans all the same )
 
I took the liberty of downloading the manual for your motherboard. From the looks of it and the location of the headers I suggest you connect the rear fan to your System Fan_1 Header (which is closest to the rear of the board) and the Front fan to your System Fan_2 Header (which is closest to the front and bottom of the board). CPU Header for CPU Cooler/Radiator Fans.

Hope this helps.
9GNEyBC.png
 
ilukey77 said:
you want to plug the pump into the cpu fan .. if no AIO pump header is there
The rad fans can go off one of the system fan headers to control fan speed separately
all other fans can go off another fan header via splitters ( just be careful not to go to many fans off one header and i advise to keep the fans all the same )
Click to expand...
The pump speed should always be 100%, so it doesn't need to be "controlled" by anything, right?
Also, the more the cpu heats, the more the liquid heats, so the more the radiator fans need to work to cool it down, so to me it makes more sense that the radiator fans should be connected to the cpu_fan header.
 
Excelso said:
Ok, I'm building a PC and I'll try to explain everything I (will) have first.
  • Motherboard: B550M Aorus Elite
  • Liquid Cooler: Cooler Master ML240L V2 ARGB
  • Case: XPG Starker Air with 1 rear fan (XPG VENTO ARGB 120) and 3 frontal fans (same as the AIO ones, Cooler Master Sickleflow ARGB 120)
The problem is, my mb only have 2 SYS_FAN headers and one CPU_FAN. I'm having trouble deciding where I should plug everything.
I saw this post where someone says to plug the pump and the 2 radiator fans together in the CPU_FAN header using a PWM splitter (which I have), but by doing that I'll have the fans always running at 100% speed, which is not the best imo since a lot of the time I won't need them to be that fast and it'll just degrade them faster for no reason.
I was also told to plug the radiator fans to the CPU_FAN header, which makes sense because the more the cpu heats up, the more they need to work, but that leaves me with the option to plug the pump with the rear fan to one of the SYS_FAN headers, and that will make my rear fan go crazy as well.
The option I think makes the most sense is to plug the pump alone to a header and then use the splitter to plug the radiator fans together with the rear fan to the cpu header, but I don't know if having the rear fan speed tied with the cpu temperature is optimal.

Anyway, I hope I didn't make too much confusion as I'm not a native english speaker, but I'm totally open to suggestions here.
Click to expand...
I would plug the AIO fans into the CPU fan header and use a Molex adapter to run the pump so it always runs 100%.
 
lojikal said:
I took the liberty of downloading the manual for your motherboard. From the looks of it and the location of the headers I suggest you connect the rear fan to your System Fan_1 Header (which is closest to the rear of the board) and the Front fan to your System Fan_2 Header (which is closest to the front and bottom of the board). CPU Header for Cooler Fans.

Hope this helps.
9GNEyBC.png
Click to expand...
Yeah that would be the ideal setup, but I also need to power the AIO pump.
 
Zerk2012 said:
I would plug the AIO fans into the CPU fan header and use a Molex adapter to run the pump so it always runs 100%.
Click to expand...
You're probably right. And considering I know little to nothing of using water based coolers as an old school techie who never thought water and electrical components should exist in the same sphere, I've learnt something today.
 
Zerk2012 said:
I would plug the AIO fans into the CPU fan header and use a Molex adapter to run the pump so it always runs 100%.
Click to expand...
Honestly I also think that's the best setup, but I don't have one and where I live they're pretty difficult to find and buying one online isn't the best due to high cost of shipment.
I should've thought of that when I was buying the rest of the parts so I could've used the same shipping...
 
Excelso said:
Honestly I also think that's the best setup, but I don't have one and where I live they're pretty difficult to find and buying one online isn't the best due to high cost of shipment.
I should've thought of that when I was buying the rest of the parts so I could've used the same shipping...
Click to expand...
Where do you live if I may ask?
 
Excelso said:
The pump speed should always be 100%, so it doesn't need to be "controlled" by anything, right?
Also, the more the cpu heats, the more the liquid heats, so the more the radiator fans need to work to cool it down, so to me it makes more sense that the radiator fans should be connected to the cpu_fan header.
Click to expand...
but you have only got 3 fan headers right?
the AIO pump should always run at 100%
unless youre trying to run a 13900k with a 240mm rad the rad fans can be controlled by the system 1 or 2 fan header so they will not need full speed and you can still set a curve on the system 1 or 2 headers correct ?
and the rest of the fans can run at a set speed anyway ..

OR
100% dump the aio fans and pump fans together onto cpu fan header and they will all change together based on the cpu temp!!

I usually attach the aio pump to cpu fan header and the aio rad fans to a system fan header at a set speed to keep noise down and then link the rest of my fans to the last system fan header and set them at a decent fan speed !!
 
Last edited:
lojikal said:
Ok that's a stretch then. I can see your concern.
Click to expand...
I just found a store where the shipping isn't that bad. Still more than the product itself but not unnafordable.
But still, will that really be that better than say, plugging the rear fan together with the rad in the cpu header?
 
Excelso said:
5800X3D
Click to expand...
i use a 280mm or a 360 on a 5800x3d to start as i over kill my cooling most of the time
i still think running the aio pump off the cpu header allows you options( full speed or let it do its thing) the aio rad fans can be set at a decent non annoying fan speed then everything else of the last header
 
lojikal said:
Would you be willing to part with that CPU cooler and instead get the Noctua NH-D15S?
I had a quick look at the specs for your case and it meets the height requirement for that cooler which can provide the required cooling for your CPU. https://noctua.at/en/nh-d15s/specification
Click to expand...
MEH on the d15 use the Noctua Nh U12A much better smaller and cheaper ..
if air cooling is a option !!
im using the 7800x3d with the U12A and its 85c all core R23
5800x3d with the U12A will be easy and great !!
 
ilukey77 said:
MEH on the d15 use the Noctua Nh U12A much better smaller and cheaper ..
if air cooling is the think im using the 7800x3d with the U12A and its 85c all core R23
Click to expand...
Probably. I was just thinking along the lines of what he actually needs to sufficiently cool that specific CPU. But yeah he could additionally look into that model.
 
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lojikal said:
Probably. I was just thinking along the lines of what he actually needs to sufficiently cool that specific CPU. But yeah he could additionally look into that model.
Click to expand...
D15 is just a big unit for basically the same cooling .. ive seen some test where the U12a performs just as good if not better than the D15 and its ALOT more user friendly !!

On a 5800x3d which doesnt have the run to 95c by default like Zen 4 it will cool a 5800x3d like a champ..
only down side is as always most AIOs 280mm atleast run a bit quieter ..
hence why i slam the aio pump into the cpu header at full speed and balance the rads fans off another header !!
 
lojikal said:
ilukey77 made a suggestion on a more affordable Noctua. You could have a look.
Click to expand...
yeah even still the U12A in Australia is $230aud vs $150aud for the cooler master 240mm AIO the OP posted ..
mind you im not a fan of cooler master AIO's personally they use the grooved cold plate not shiny smooth !!
 
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