Question How to Wire Fans + AIO

[Exdeus]

Hi Folks!

I posted a second question today, but am replacing my AIO and my fans in my case. It is an MSI prebuilt computer that is about 2 years old now. I have ordered an MSI AIO and then four additional 120mm fans. I am replacing all fans at this point, so it will have three in the front of the case as intake, one in the rear as exhaust, and the AIO will be venting out the top as exhaust.

The prior setup had the AIO and an RGB controller. The RGB controller looks to just be a board. I'd like all fans to run properly and be synced with their RGB colors through the MSI software.

I have ordered the items below. What is the best way to hook up the fans / wire them? I used to build PC's about 20 years ago, but am so far removed that I am completely lost here on what to do. Do I need more components to control the fans, or a central RGB controller? Should I use splitters and wire the fans to the AIO? Just pretty confused, appreciate anyones help.

AIO:
https://us-store.msi.com/PC-Components/CPU-Coolers/Liquid-Cooler/MPG-CORELIQUID-D240

Fans:
https://us-store.msi.com/PC-Components/CPU-Coolers/Case-Fan/MPG-F120-ARGB-2B

PC Setup:
https://www.newegg.com/msi-aegis-rs-10tf-214us/p/N82E16883152953R

Intel Core™ i7-10700K 8 Cores 3.8-5.1 GHz 16M Cache

NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 3080 Ti 12GB GDDR6X

32GB DDR4 3000Mhz (16GB x 2)

2TB M.2 NVMe SSD

2TB 3.5" 7200 RPM HDD

Intel® Wi-Fi 6 AX200 2x2 802.11ax (2.4Gbps)

MSI’s LED Button - Customize your desktop with 60 lighting effects.

Latest Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) for redefined wireless gaming experience

Easy to upgrade with standard MSI components and case

MSI Z490 Motherboard - A durable high-performance motherboard made for gaming.

120mm Dragon CPU Liquid Cooler for optimizing heat dissipation

 

[CountMike]

Hi Folks!

I posted a second question today, but am replacing my AIO and my fans in my case. It is an MSI prebuilt computer that is about 2 years old now. I have ordered an MSI AIO and then four additional 120mm fans. I am replacing all fans at this point, so it will have three in the front of the case as intake, one in the rear as exhaust, and the AIO will be venting out the top as exhaust.

The prior setup had the AIO and an RGB controller. The RGB controller looks to just be a board. I'd like all fans to run properly and be synced with their RGB colors through the MSI software.

I have ordered the items below. What is the best way to hook up the fans / wire them? I used to build PC's about 20 years ago, but am so far removed that I am completely lost here on what to do. Do I need more components to control the fans, or a central RGB controller? Should I use splitters and wire the fans to the AIO? Just pretty confused, appreciate anyones help.

AIO:
https://us-store.msi.com/PC-Components/CPU-Coolers/Liquid-Cooler/MPG-CORELIQUID-D240

Fans:
https://us-store.msi.com/PC-Components/CPU-Coolers/Case-Fan/MPG-F120-ARGB-2B

PC Setup:
https://www.newegg.com/msi-aegis-rs-10tf-214us/p/N82E16883152953R

Intel Core™ i7-10700K 8 Cores 3.8-5.1 GHz 16M Cache

NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 3080 Ti 12GB GDDR6X

32GB DDR4 3000Mhz (16GB x 2)

2TB M.2 NVMe SSD

2TB 3.5" 7200 RPM HDD

Intel® Wi-Fi 6 AX200 2x2 802.11ax (2.4Gbps)

MSI’s LED Button - Customize your desktop with 60 lighting effects.

Latest Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) for redefined wireless gaming experience

Easy to upgrade with standard MSI components and case

MSI Z490 Motherboard - A durable high-performance motherboard made for gaming.

120mm Dragon CPU Liquid Cooler for optimizing heat dissipation

Cooler will come with a manual and you can also download it before buying it, it's best way to find about compatibility.
Also few instructions on Youtube

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvrjVpUKfK4

For instance or you can Google it,that's easier way.

 

[Exdeus]

Cooler will come with a manual and you can also download it before buying it, it's best way to find about compatibility.
Also few instructions on Youtube

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvrjVpUKfK4

For instance or you can Google it,that's easier way.

Hi Mike - Thank you for taking the time to reply. I think my original question was unclear. I am clear on how to install the AIO, but I am unsure of how to install the other four fans.

Do I remove the RGB card that the old fans are connected to, and connect the new fans to the J_RAINBOW connections? How many can I daisy chain off that connection? Will that connection control the RGB as well.

Hope that clears it up - it is more about the new fans, not the AIO.

 

[CountMike]

Hi Mike - Thank you for taking the time to reply. I think my original question was unclear. I am clear on how to install the AIO, but I am unsure of how to install the other four fans.

Do I remove the RGB card that the old fans are connected to, and connect the new fans to the J_RAINBOW connections? How many can I daisy chain off that connection? Will that connection control the RGB as well.

Hope that clears it up - it is more about the new fans, not the AIO.

Fan motors and RGB lights are connected separately. Typical fan motor header on the MB can serve 1A of 12v current, and that's up to 3 120 or 140mm fans daisy/parallel connected.
Fan lights, RGB or ARGB have another cable with 4pin (RGB) or or3 pin (ARGB) to connect to appropriate port on the MB or controller. They can be connected same way as motors. (A)RGb lights are controlled by software once you have everything running.
If this is indeded the motherboard
https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/PRO-Z690-A/Specification
and fans you chose are ARGB, there are 2x 3-pin RAINBOW LED connectors which are also ARGB. 3pin, 5v.
and 1x 4-pin (12V) RGB LED connector.

 

[Exdeus]

Fan motors and RGB lights are connected separately. Typical fan motor header on the MB can serve 1A of 12v current, and that's up to 3 120 or 140mm fans daisy/parallel connected.
Fan lights, RGB or ARGB have another cable with 4pin (RGB) or or3 pin (ARGB) to connect to appropriate port on the MB or controller. They can be connected same way as motors. (A)RGb lights are controlled by software once you have everything running.
If this is indeded the motherboard
https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/PRO-Z690-A/Specification
and fans you chose are ARGB, there are 2x 3-pin RAINBOW LED connectors which are also ARGB. 3pin, 5v.
and 1x 4-pin (12V) RGB LED connector.

CountMike - Thank you again for the response, this is very helpful. I really appreciate your taking the time to reply and help me here - more than you know!

This is on the inside of my case, on the back side where the wire and cable management is done. My old AIO was connected to this and it appears that all of the fans on the case are connected to it. Should I remove this and wire the case fans into the ports you recommended, or leave this and wire the fans into it? I am unsure if this is from my old AIO, or some type of case fan control.

 

[CountMike]

CountMike - Thank you again for the response, this is very helpful. I really appreciate your taking the time to reply and help me here - more than you know!

This is on the inside of my case, on the back side where the wire and cable management is done. My old AIO was connected to this and it appears that all of the fans on the case are connected to it. Should I remove this and wire the case fans into the ports you recommended, or leave this and wire the fans into it? I am unsure if this is from my old AIO, or some type of case fan control.

That seems to be a powered ARGB splitter/hub, 1 in 3. at least. Right top connector is to connect to ARGB header on the MB, At bottom. 5v power but don't know where from. On the left are 3 ARGB connectors leading to 3 ARGB fans. So yes, it's possible to use it with case fans too.

 

[Exdeus]

CountMike - Thank you! Ironically, I've just now solved both of my issues. The one lagging bluetooth controller was because I had a sharkfin antenna not plugged in. I thought that was WiFi only. Leaving the RGB controller you just explained plugged in also worked fine. I thought there was some type of interference. We are good to go now - rockstar! Thanks a ton!!