Question Motherboard has no AIO fan header for Kraken X63 ?

[Pants0nhead]

I'm building a new rig with a Ryzen 3 3200G, ASUS Prime B450M-A II, Phantek Eclipse G500A and a Kraken X63.

My question is about cable connections.

The motherboard doesn't have a CPU optional or AIO Fan header, just 1 CPU and 2 SYS.

From the Pump comes two cables, one is Micro USB to USB header on motherboard and the other is a bundle with 1 SATA, 1 Fan header to motherboard and last a splitter to connect 3 fans to it.

What is the best way it connect it all?

Version 1.
CPU_FAN : Pump cable
SYS_FAN 1: 2 Fans from radiator+ 1 Rear Fan
SYS_FAN 2: 3 Front Fans

Version 2
CPU_FAN : Pump cable+radiator fans
SYS_FAN 1: Rear Fan
SYS_FAN 2: 3 Front Fans

If I connect the pump to CPU I need to set CPU Fan to 100% in BIOS? But if I do that doesn't that also mean that if I connect the radiator fans to that cable they will also always be at 100%?

If I connect just pump to CPU and than Radiator to SYS I can control the Radiator Fans, but how do I make them use speed based on CPU temp?

The manual for the X63 is so vague and doesn't say. And according to the NZXT website the CAM software can't control the fans on X63, but maybe old news?

 

[Aeacus]

If I connect the pump to CPU I need to set CPU Fan to 100% in BIOS?

No.

You can control pump speed within NZXT CAM software, via the USB cable.

But if I do that doesn't that also mean that if I connect the radiator fans to that cable they will also always be at 100%?

Yes, unless pump also can control the rad fans speed.

If I connect just pump to CPU and than Radiator to SYS I can control the Radiator Fans, but how do I make them use speed based on CPU temp?

You should be able to set the target temp location as CPU, within BIOS, even for SYS_FANs.

The manual for the X63 is so vague and doesn't say. And according to the NZXT website the CAM software can't control the fans on X63, but maybe old news?

Well, it is easy to test, hook rad fans to the splitter off the pump and connect the fan header to CPU_FAN. Then, within OS and within CAM, look if you can control rad fans.
If not and when you do need to control them somewhat, you can always rewire fan cables.

 

[Pants0nhead]

So the best way should be like this?
CPU_FAN : Pump cable
SYS_FAN 1: 2 Fans from radiator+ 1 Rear Fan
SYS_FAN 2: 3 Front Fans

Than set in BIOS that SYS_FAN should be adjusted according to CPU Temp?

 

[Aeacus]

Well, there is no best way, since that depends on your needs.

Hooking 3x fans into single header means that all fans will run in sync and individual fan control is impossible.

Also, it depends if fans are 3-pin or 4-pin ones.
With 3-pin fans and if the rear fan is different from the rad fan (e.g different size or different RPM range), you'll get different speed out of the rear fan.

Then, there's also the issue of fans Amperage rating. If all fans are rated 0.3A, it is pushing it close to what MoBo can sustain. If they are more, e.g 0.35A, you'll fry the fan header and probably MoBo too.
To be on the safe side, i don't suggest hooking more than 2x fans onto single header.

Personally, i'd buy 6x channel fan controller, hook each fan individually to each channel and control all fans individually. E.g like Thermaltake Commander F6 RGB (specs) fan controller does (which i happen to have).

Than set in BIOS that SYS_FAN should be adjusted according to CPU Temp?

Yes.

 

[Pants0nhead]

So until I can get a Fan Controller it's better to connect the 2 Radiator Fans to one header and 3 Front to one and skip the rear fan?

If I have 3 140mm front as intake and than the 2 140mm on radiator at top as outtake it shouldn't be a problem with airflow right?

I'm not using any graphics card, just the one in the CPU.

 

[Paperdoc]

There is an easy "best" way to do this with the headers your mobo has. It makes use of a quirk of the design of newer 4-pin fans vs. the older 3-pin fan type, and it is not normally shown in any installation manual. The factor used here is that, if you plug an older 3-pin fan into a 4-pin header using the newer PWM Mode of control signal, that fan's speed can NOT be controlled and it will always run full speed. Now the PUMP is wired just like an older 3-pin fan so it will behave that way. Further, in that AIO system the design is intended to have the PUMP run full speed all the time, and only the RAD FANS' speeds are varied to control CPU cooling. The connections detailed below also ensure that a second important function of the CPU_FAN header is used properly.

To do this you will need a simple SPLITTER with 3 outputs, like this

https://www.amazon.com/yomgam-Fan-Splitter-Cable-Extension/dp/B0C4JBXRZN/ref=sr_1_3?crid=8SE06JR06393&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.HAhPwuqfMDkQciMiMwF0F5zoPoDy_3iC02V-1E6M75wBWvmAsjV6AhDa3Jafj3WvCmVJPrg8fTllcV2z_6j-wvFzDwGQyIIEuAlH6rJGub5cm-vciJGn3qOScqMpDbqKscvhReJYVufrnSHedmxWq3MjRRzGkwYeosLhbCBPsTDqdXV6r5K0pImVstpTg9Xbx-auaL-yec-g-bmtP-e-2xY2Jlc0Qj14BRIpenVjERs.7JrPB5E82AFVHkp8PFSV3gkNO6H56RyFoegD-T4W2E4&dib_tag=se&keywords=fan+splitter&qid=1736183263&sprefix=fan+splitter,aps,130&sr=8-3&th=1

NOTE two things about this device. It has only two types of "arms": one with a female connector to go to the CPU_FAN header, and three with male (with pins) outputs for fans and pump. Of those three outputs, only ONE of them has all 4 pins in it. Only that one can return the speed of its device to the CPU_FAN header, so the PUMP MUST be plugged into this output. The others are missing Pin #3 so the speeds of the two rad fans plugged into these will never be seen anywhere. This does NOT cause any problems with fan speed control.

So you plug this Splitter into the CPU_FAN header, the PUMP 3-pin connector into the only Splitter output with all FOUR pins, and the two Rad Fans into the other two outputs with missing Pin #3.

When you first start up you need to go into BIOS Setup to configure the CPU_FAN header. Unfortunately the mobo manual does not show details of that, but I can tell you what to expect. Get to the CPU_FAN header. For the PROFILE item with options like Normal, Turbo or Max Speed, Quiet, or Custom, set to Normal. For the MODE item with options like Voltage or DC, PWM and maybe Auto, make sure it it set to PWM Mode. When you are done, use Esc back to the main menu, then F10 to reach the Exit Menu. There choose to SAVE and EXIT to save your new settings and reboot.

When you do it this way, here are the results. The PUMP will be run at full speed constantly as designed. The CPU_FAN header will monitor the pump's speed signal constantly and if it ever gets no signal (indicating failure) it will pop onto your screen a warning about this. Then in a very short time it is VERY likely to shut your system down completely even without waiting for the temperature sensor inside the CPU chip to show high temps. This is to protect the CPU from damage due to NO cooling. Then you would need to find and fix that problem before you fan start up again.

Meanwhile, the RAD FANS also connected to that header via the Splitter will get the power they need from Pins 1 and 2 AND have their speed controlled by the PWM signal from Pin #4 sent from that header according to the temperature sensor inside the CPU chip. However, the speed signals of those fans cannot be "seen" anywhere or monitored for failure becasue of the missing Pin #3. So from time to time YOU need to just look and verify that those two fans are working.

Any mobo fan header has a limit on how much power it can supply. Normally that is max 1.0 A current. In your AIO system the PUMP has a spec of max 0.30 A. The specs for the RAD FANS are not shown, but virtually all such fans have max current of 0.10 to 0.25 A each, so the total for all three items connected via the Splittter to the CPU_FAN header is LESS than 1.0 A, and NO problem.

 

[Pants0nhead]

Thanks for all info, hope im not being a dumb ass now 😀

So Ive looked it up now maybe it helps. The Fans that comes with the AIO are 2x140mm 4 PIN PWM fans. Inside the package are 2 sets of cables. Breakout cable for the pump have a 3 PIN that goes to the CPU_FAN and SATA for power and a Splitter cable that is 4 PIN that breaks out to 1 4PIN and 2x3PIN. And a Micro USB to the USB port on the motherboard for control.

On the motherboard there are 3x4 PIN headers 1 CPU and 2 SYS.

So my thinking here is if I connect Pump 3PIN to CPU_FAN it can´t be controlled but should run at 100% and than 2 Rad Fans to the splitter one to 4 pin and one to 3 pin and I should be able to controll both fans speed and monitor as one unit and connect to SYS_FAN1 and lastly the 3 front fans to SYS_FAN2.

This way I should be able to monitor and control pump (software) and all fans speed right?

 

[Aeacus]

If I have 3 140mm front as intake and than the 2 140mm on radiator at top as outtake it shouldn't be a problem with airflow right?

Well, you'll end up with positive pressure this way but airflow wise, you're good.

So until I can get a Fan Controller it's better to connect the 2 Radiator Fans to one header and 3 Front to one and skip the rear fan?

Well, fan controller is one of the options (most versatile one). But you can use the trick explained by Paperdoc as well.

If you use that trick, you'd end up with;
CPU_FAN - 3-way splitter linked by Paperdoc - AIO PUMP + 2x rad fans
SYS_FAN1 - 3x front fans (can use the same 3-way splitter again).
SYS_FAN2 - 1x rear fan (direct connection to MoBo).

Or
CPU_FAN - 3-way splitter linked by Paperdoc - AIO PUMP + 2x rad fans
SYS_FAN1 - 2-way splitter - 2x front fans (for 2-way splitter, you can use Noctua Y-splitter, amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Noctua-NA-SYC1-Accessory-4-pin-Y-Cables/dp/B00KG8K5CY ).
SYS_FAN2 - 2-way splitter - 1x rear fan + 1x front fan

 

[Pants0nhead]

The 3x Front Fans are daisy chained and have one fan connector so they go to sys_fan 2.

My problem is how to connect the pump and rad fans the best way so I can control and monitor.

I have one splitter that is in the box of the AIO as described in last post and than the breakout cable for pump.

https://www.datocms-assets.com/34299/1666146152-kraken-x_manual_690x405_220713_v16-web.pdf

This is what I have to work with.

 

[Aeacus]

My problem is how to connect the pump and rad fans the best way so I can control and monitor.

Well, 2 ways;
1. Fan header from pump to CPU_FAN + fans connected to 3-way splitter and splitter end connected to the cable that comes out from pump.
This allows you to monitor and control all fans within NZXT CAM software. From software, you can select different master cooling profiles, including custom one that you can define.

As seen here, at 8:16;

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDYr5DG6lAk


2. Pump fan header + 2x fans connected all to the 3-way splitter and that splitter other end then into CPU_FAN header. Then, follow what Paperdoc said.
This way, fan conf and monitoring is done within BIOS.