Question Issues with Corsair H100i Pro XT CPU Cooler ?

[SamTheIDOT]

Hello all. I am at my wits end with this thing, and I've finally decided to ask someone smarter than me, and this forum has been the most helpful with my other hardware problems, so here I am.

TL;DR: My H100i Pro XT's RGB and 3-pin cpu header tach don't seem to work, but everything else functions just fine.

For some context;

I have the Corsair H100i Pro XT rgb cooler. It's a pretty solid model, and I like it thus far. For some reason, though, the sense wire that plugs into the CPU_FAN header doesn't seem to send the radiator fans' rpm to the bios. This is not a huge problem, I have disabled the cpu_error message and can use my tower as intended. The more annoying issue is that the RGB on the pump doesn't work. (It connects via USB to USB-c for those unaware) No info on bios, iCue doesn't detect the pump, even checking the device manager I can't find it (I have already checked the USB devices as recommended by others.)

The weird part is that the cooler still functions as intended. The radiator fans, plugged into the PWM splitter as recommended, spin up as expected. I have no issues with overheating on my i7-8700k (hovers between 25 and 40-ish degrees C), so it's clear that it's receiving power. The cooling is perfectly adequate. It's obviously not critical that the RGB and tach wire work, the cooler still runs fine without them, but I would really prefer that they function.

I've tried: re-plugging the cables and making sure that they're all functional and well set, messing with the USB connection, testing the tach on each fan header, testing the fans (individually) on each header to make sure they're working, searching for driver updates (see the fact it doesn't even recognize the device), updating iCue, checking for firmware updates with iCue, checking for windows updates, resetting iCue service, playing with iCue's settings, praying to Jesus.

Other hardware of note: Motherboard is a Asus TUF z390 Gaming with Wi-fi, Commander Core XT rgb controller (only connected to the CASE fans, not the radiator fans)

Let me know if any more info is needed or if I'm missing something super obvious. Really appreciate any help, thank you!

 

[Crosslhs82x2]

Good Morning
I'm not a expert here but I have had several corsair Aio's.

The single wire to the 3 pin fan header plug is the pumps Rpm sense wire only and you don't control anything with it.
You should have a rpm signal from the pump in bios for whatever header that it is connected to.
You will Not see fan rpms.

It sounds like the aio is running in the default mode where pump and fans work but only at minimum speeds.

There have been times where I had issues with Icue and windows.
To solve some of those issues I reran the Icue installation process again.
It asked if I wanted to repair or uninstall, I tried repair but it never helped.
So reran this time uninstalling and when asked if I wanted to remove the Config files I told it yes.
When finished I used Ccleaner to clean the registry, then reinstalled Icue.

If you have a micro usb to type a usb laying around, you could try hooking that to the pump head and the type a to a usb port on the back or front of the case to eliminate the corsair micro to 9pin usb cable.

There was also a time where I had to go though all usb devices in Device Manager to look for anything corsair related and sure enough there was 1 driver that was disabled when I enabled it eveything worked as it should.

If nothing here helps Contact Corsair Support they may have you try some different things after you tell them what you have tried.
If it is New or less then 5yrs old and nothing works then they should go to the Rma process.

I Rma'd 1 time and it was about 13 days from drop off at ups store to recieving the new Aio.

Good Luck
Please keep us posted!!!!!!!

 

[SamTheIDOT]

There have been times where I had issues with Icue and windows.
To solve some of those issues I reran the Icue installation process again.
It asked if I wanted to repair or uninstall, I tried repair but it never helped.
So reran this time uninstalling and when asked if I wanted to remove the Config files I told it yes.
When finished I used Ccleaner to clean the registry, then reinstalled Icue.

There was also a time where I had to go though all usb devices in Device Manager to look for anything corsair related and sure enough there was 1 driver that was disabled when I enabled it eveything worked as it should.

Tried these fixes, no luck. However, it gave me some insight into (possibly) the actual problem. I bought all the parts to this thing separately, and then built it all at once. It's my very first PC build ever, so there was bound to be some mistakes.

Firstly, I have the wrong fans on the radiator. Currently what's connected are two 3-pin fans, whereas the cooler is designed for two PWM 4-pin fans. That's likely what's causing the CPU_FAN problem. This is because I had two spare, and notably clean, fans that I replaced the original radiator fans with when I cleaned out my computer. Whoops. This is probably an issue caused by a lack of knowledge and experience in hardware installation. There's a distinct lack of information regarding this around the internet, surprisingly, but I chalk this one up as my own fault.

The second mistake is that I connected the pump to a 4-pin SATA, not a 5-pin SATA, and that extra pin is what provides power for the RGB controller. Although I take the blame for this, I am annoyed that at no point was this explained. Nowhere in the installation manual and quick start guide, tech specs, corsair website, seller website, corsair help forums, troubleshooting guides on this product, or even the youtube reviews and troubleshooting guides I watched is this fact shown. The only reason I figured out this could be a problem was because I saw someone mention it on a random hardware help forum several years ago (with a link to a corsair forum page that 404'd.) Very frustrating that such a small detail flew under my radar for so long.

So for any new people getting RGB hardware, or an h100i Pro XT (or anything else in this line of coolers), pay close attention to what is provided. Keep it all together. Install it to specifications. CHECK THE CABLES CLOSELY. You'll save yourself a lot of pain if you pay close attention to the little things.

I don't have time to get into my tower and move things around right now, but if it fixes things, I'll make sure to mention it here.

 

[Crosslhs82x2]

Strange
From what I see from looking at that Aio the power connection is a regular 15 pin sata connection.

 

[Paperdoc]

Some confusion here on how that AIO system operates.

The system PUMP has four types of connections. It has a single wire that plugs into the CPU_FAN header on the mobo. Its only function is to send to that header the PUMP speed. If you get no speed reading on that header that explains why iCUE cannot detect the pump. You have a cable that plugs into a USB socket on the side of the pump and into a mobo USB 2 header. That is the means of communication between iCUE running under Windows and the pump unit (and hence the rest of the AIO system). If that communication system fails, iCUE cannot do anything.

There are sockets on the side of the pump to plug in the RAD FANS. All control of CPU cooling in this system is done by iCUE, which controls the rad fan speeds to control CPU internal temperature. iCUe, unlike many other designs, also allows you some choice of pump speed. You set this so that the rad fans can do their job over their normal speed range.

You replaced the 4-pin PWM rad fans supplied with 3-pin fans. When you plug a 3-pin fan into a header using the new 4-pin PWM Mode of control signals, that fan's speed is NOT under control - it can only run full speed all the time. So no matter what iCUE tries to do, the rad fans will run full speed. That RAD FAN Speed reading is NOT available in BIOS Setup because those fans are not connected to any mobo header. Only iCUE can show you those speeds.

Lastly, power to the system is supplied to the PUMP via a cable and connector to a 15-contact wide SATA power output direct from the PSU. There is no 4- or 5-pin SATA.

If for whatever reason the PUMP speed is not reaching the CPU_FAN header and the system is not detected by iCUE, then it will revert to default settings. In this mode iCUE cannot do ANY control, the pump speed is set to medium or high, and the fans are set to full speed to guarantee adequate (or more than that) cooling of the CPU. As it happens, with the RAD FAN substitution you did, the fact that iCUE cannot try to control them is moot - it could not anyway, because those fans cannot be controlled with PWM signals!

 

[Crosslhs82x2]

Paperdoc
I have no idea what he is referencing on the 4 to 5 pin issue.

Here's the connections on my H100i xt

https://imgur.io/a/x5719G2

Without that micro usb to 9pin connected it might as well be a brain dead unit as far as any controlling of it goes.