Need help with aio Kraken m22 and fan headers

[garrotte]

Hi,

I just recently bought a customized pre-built computer from Cyberpower pc. I have built my own computer before, nothing crazy. But this time around I wanted it to be hassle free.

I am completely new to watercooling/aios. I didn't know that AIO was a thing until a few weeks ago. I decided to go with the Kraken m22 with a push pull configuration on the back of my case to cool my Intel i7-8700k. I also have two frontal case fans. I have the ASUS TUF H370-PRO gaming motherboard.

When I first turned on the computer the fans were very loud so I was wondering what was going on so I did some googling. For some reason they only connect the fans directly to the power supply with molex connectors so they can't be controlled?
There was only 1 fan connected to my motherboard chassis and the pump has its own plug. So the CPU fan 4 pin was completely empty.
I want the fans to speed up when my CPU heats up, but also not be full blast at all times. Just idling on the desktop it was on full blast before.

I connected the 2 front fans and the 1 fan on my radiator that wasn't connected to the motherboard to the motherboard via 4 pin connectors.
I only have 2 chassis fan headers so I just ordered some splitters from newegg hoping they may help.
I plugged my two frontal fans into a chassis header and then other one into the back of it with a molex since I do not have enough fan headers. And the other fan on my radiator into the CPU Fan spot since there was really no where else to put it. I know this isn't ideal.

My question is where should I plug the fans on my radiator to?
To the motherboard or am I better off hooking them up to the power supply and dealing with the noise? I am kind of picky about it being quite.
I believe the Kraken m22 comes with 1 NZXT fan so should I hook that up to the CPU_fan spot since the pump has its own hookup? And then the other fan onto a chasis fan header and then splitting the front 2 fans?

I installed the Asus Fan Xpert and I have been playing around with it. Right now it was the CPU fan at 550rpms, Chassis fan 1 at 400ish, and then chassis fan 2 at 1800rpms. Pretty big difference. The AIO pump is around 2100 and all of this is while idling.

I'd love some feedback even if no one has a clear answer. I don't really know anyone to ask and I have been here before lurking for PC help before and I am hoping this will give me some insight! Please ask any questions!
Thanks in advance!

 

[Paperdoc]

You're on the right track, and I can suggest the best way.

First, just let me clarify Splitters. Splitters and Hubs are two different devices used to connect more than one fan to a single mobo header. To me, a SPLITTER is a device that can connect its fans in parallel to the header's power supply, and that's all. Thus the fans you connect with this device must conform to the mobo header's limit that its total load cannot exceed 1.0 A max. For the pair of fans on the radiator this is not likely a problem - the NZXT site says the Kraken M22 comes with ONE of their AER P120 fans, which each consume 0.32 A max. BUT I am assuming there that the fans actually supplied to you ARE a pair of AER P120's. For the pair of fans pre-mounted in the front of the case, it is probably not a problem also, but I can't be sure because you have not told us what fans those are, or maybe what case this is, so we can verify the fan specs.

A Splitter has two types of "arms", or MAYBE one cable arm and a circuit board. One arm has a female with holes) fan connector that plugs into a mobo fan header. Then there are two or more arms ending in male (with pins) connectors to plug your fans into. (Or, some have all those male outputs as headers on a small board.) It has no other "arms". A HUB, on the other hand, has one arm of a third type that must plug into a 4-pin Molex or SATA power output connector from the PSU. This device gets all power for its fans from the PSU and thus avoids the 1.0 A limit of the mobo header. BUT almost all Hubs can only control fans in a 4-pin fan system, and not 3-pin.

Two common things between those devices. A mobo fan header can only deal with the speed signal from ONE fan. So any Splitter or Hub will connect the speed signal from only ONE of its fans through to the mobo header, and ignore all the rest. IF you are using the Splitter or Hub to connect fans to the CPU_FAN header, it is important to ensure the the one fan whose signal is sent back to that header IS from the key cooling device for the CPU, because that header gives special attention to monitoring that cooling device for failure. Secondly, for Splitters especially, you will find both 3-pin and 4-pin Splitters - the 3-pin ones are disappearing. BUT they BOTH work for fans, so using a 4-pin Splitter for all fan combinations is OK.

For your purposes, OP, you need to combine two radiator fans together on the CPU_FAN header, and two case ventilation fans on a CHA_FAN header. Subject to verifying the fan's current consumption specs, it is VERY likely that using one Splitter for each pair will do the job nicely, and there is no need for a Hub.

Now, where to plug and how. First, the pump unit of the Kraken M22 system is designed to run at full speed all the time, and it has a simple 3-pin fan connector. Its instructions say to plug that into the mobo AIO_PUMP header and configure that header to use DC Mode and constant full power, not automatic control. Then the radiator fans. Connect the two of them together using a 4-pin Splitter, and plug that into the mobo CPU_FAN header. Configure that header to use normal automatic control profile and the PWM Mode of control (that is, assuming both these fans are of the 4-pin type), so all CPU temperature control is done by changing the speed of these fans while the pump runs at constant speed.

Now the case fans. What I don't know is whether these are 3-pin or 4-pin. You CAN use a Splitter to connect the two of them together to a single CHA_FAN header, OR you could connect each separately to the two CHA_FAN headers your mobo has. Configure these headers to standard automatic control profile, and either DC Mode if they are 3-pin fans, or PWM Mode if they are 4-pin.

What MAY be a problem, though, is what type of wiring and connector each of these fans has, so look at their wires carefully. If each fan has only two wires (Black and Red) coming from it, no matter where you connect it you will not get a speed reading. But if it has a third Yellow wire (OR if it has 4 wires), there's a speed signal there. Now, look at the connector, and there could be one of three options. Each MAY have on the end a larger connector about 3/4" wide with space for 4 round pins in a line inside a shroud, although there might be only 2 pins installed for Black and Red wires. Each MAY have three wires (Black, Red, Yellow) ending in a smaller standard female (with holes) fan connector about 3/8" wide with two ridges along one side. There might even be 4 wires and a 4-hole connector. OR there might be BOTH of those connector types on the ends of the fan wires; in this last case, you can plug in EITHER the 4-pin Molex OR the fan connector, but NOT BOTH.

IF those two front case fans have the smaller standard fan connectors on them you can plug them into mobo CHA_FAN headers directly. In some cases, the fans may have come with this connector type, and then the system builder has used an adapter to convert that to a Molex male that can plug into the PSU output. Anyway, if you have standard fan connectors and either 3 or 4 wires from the fan, you can switch them to plugging into a mobo header, either individually or to a single header using a Splitter. But if each fan has only a larger 4-pin Molex male connector on its wires, you will need a different adapter type to connect to the mobo header, so post back here for that case.

By the way, the Kraken M22 system also comes with a cable that connects between a socket on the pump and a mobo USB2 header. Then you must download for free from the NZXT website and install their CAM software utility. This takes over control of the M22 cooling system, using that USB2 cable connection for communication between the pump and the mobo. When you have this in place, use it for configuration and control of the M22 system; do not try to use the mobo's Fan Xpert for that purpose.

 

[garrotte]

Thanks for the response!

Okay. To start I have the AZZA Taurus 5000B. I have 2x120mm front fans.
I have no top fans.
And I have 2 fans on the radiator at the rear.
The two fans in the front and the push fan are: https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835228044&cm_re=Apevia_fan-_-35-228-044-_-Product
Not really sure where my other 2 case fans are. Because they aren't with me lol. And there seems to be enough room for them on the top.

I don't really know the difference bettween 3 and 4 pin. But I am pretty sure they are 3 pin. 3wires long sleder cable, one of the wires is gray and the other two are black.
They both have molex adapters on them so I plugged one of the 3pin directly into CHA_FAN 1, and then the 2nd frontal fan I plugged the molex into the molex coming off the one plugged into CHA_FAN 1.

I am pretty sure I know what is going on there except the 3 pin 4 pin difference. And also should I remove the adapters and I don't really know how to go about doing that.
Both of these fans seem to be running around 500rpms and I can see the 1 with fan xpert. I'm not just if its showing the one connected to the molex.

As for the Radiator fans. The m22 came with a NZXT fan which is pulling air out of the case, and one of the same as front Apevia fans is pushing.
The Apevia push fan is currently plugged into the CPU_FAN. And that is running probably around 500-800 rpms too. These are fairly quiet.
The NZXT fan is plugged into CHA_FAN 2, and the pump is plugged into AIO_Pump.

Right now with a few tabs open and nothing demanding my CPU temp is hovering around 30-33C and the fans:
The push Apevia fan is doing 600rpms
The NZXT pull fan in CHA_Fan 2 is running at 2000~sometimes 2700 rpms idle.
AIO Pump is constant 2000-2100 rpms so I am assmuning that this is correct
And the one front fan that I can see that is plugged into CHA_FAN 1 is around 500-800.

So for the Kraken should I plug the NZXT fan into the CPU_FAN, and swap the fan in there to the CHA_FAN 2?
Right now that seems to make the most sense to me because I don't think it needs to do 2k rpms while iddling does it?
The pump is going full speed.

As far the Kraken usb cable it is plugged in. And I have CAM downloaded and I have been looking at it. Not really sure what to do with it other than change the colors and monitor my temps.

I just want my fans to pick up speed when my system gets hot. And be automatic, I don't really want to mess with them a lot. But I also am kinda of noise fanatic.
Does the pump make a lot of noise or is it mostly the fan?

Sorry with all these questions and the rambling. I'm in a little over my head I think but I can work most of it out. Appreciate all and any help <3

 

[garrotte]

You're on the right track, and I can suggest the best way.

So. I just plugged the NZXT fan into the CPU_FAN, and I plugged the push Apevia fan into CHA2, and the 2 frontal fans are connected to CHA1. I am not sure if this is the best way but I think it is better. Now the NZXT fan will pick up speed according to CPU temp?

I can't tell if it sounds quieter yet. Case is still open 😛

 

[Paperdoc]

You got most of this right, but MAY need changes. This is because all your fans are of the 3-pin type that require the headers they are plugged into to use the DC Mode for control, NOT the PWM Mode.

For the two front case fans, what you did sounds right. The first fan is plugged into a mobo CHA_FAN header and shows a speed of 500 rpm. I gather to you that reading seems correct visually. Then you connected the second front fan to the first using the Molex connectors on the fans themselves, and what that does is ensure the second fan gets exactly the same power supply as the first, so they both will run at virtually the same speed. That speed will depend on the temperature sensor linked to that CHA_FAN header. In BIOS Setup, check the configuration of that header. I expect it already is set to use DC mode. Check also its setting for which temperature sensor to use. It should use the Motherboard sensor, and not the one inside the CPU chip. The BIOS will never receive a speed signal from that second front fan to display, so you'll never see it.

Both fans on your radiator are of the 3-pin type also, I believe. You are right about how to identify - just count the number of wires coming from the fan motor to its female connector, and it's either 3 or 4. Plugging one of those into the mobo SYS_FAN header is good. Check in BIOS Setup that it is set to use DC Mode, NOT the PWM Mode, and to use the temperature sensor in the CPU chip. For the second radiator fan you CAN connect it to a mobo CHA_FAN header as long as you configure it correctly. Again, it needs to use DC Mode, but this one should use the temp sensor inside the CPU chip, just like the other fan on the radiator. Set up this way, you will be able to see the speed of each fan separately since they are connected to different headers. As an alternative, if you buy a simple splitter you can connect both fans together and plug them jointly into the CPU_FAN header so they get identical control signals, but with that you will see the speed of only one of those fans.

If you make any changes in BIOS Setup, remember to SAVE and EXIT to save those settings and reboot.

 

[garrotte]

You got most of this right, but MAY need changes. This is because all your fans are of the 3-pin type that require the headers they are plugged into to use the DC Mode for control, NOT the PWM Mode.

For the two front case fans, what you did sounds right. The first fan is plugged into a mobo CHA_FAN header and shows a speed of 500 rpm. I gather to you that reading seems correct visually. Then you connected the second front fan to the first using the Molex connectors on the fans themselves, and what that does is ensure the second fan gets exactly the same power supply as the first, so they both will run at virtually the same speed. That speed will depend on the temperature sensor linked to that CHA_FAN header. In BIOS Setup, check the configuration of that header. I expect it already is set to use DC mode. Check also its setting for which temperature sensor to use. It should use the Motherboard sensor, and not the one inside the CPU chip. The BIOS will never receive a speed signal from that second front fan to display, so you'll never see it.

Both fans on your radiator are of the 3-pin type also, I believe. You are right about how to identify - just count the number of wires coming from the fan motor to its female connector, and it's either 3 or 4. Plugging one of those into the mobo SYS_FAN header is good. Check in BIOS Setup that it is set to use DC Mode, NOT the PWM Mode, and to use the temperature sensor in the CPU chip. For the second radiator fan you CAN connect it to a mobo CHA_FAN header as long as you configure it correctly. Again, it needs to use DC Mode, but this one should use the temp sensor inside the CPU chip, just like the other fan on the radiator. Set up this way, you will be able to see the speed of each fan separately since they are connected to different headers. As an alternative, if you buy a simple splitter you can connect both fans together and plug them jointly into the CPU_FAN header so they get identical control signals, but with that you will see the speed of only one of those fans.

If you make any changes in BIOS Setup, remember to SAVE and EXIT to save those settings and reboot.

Thanks for all of your help! I really appreciate it! I just changed those in the bios and I should be good to go

 

[Paperdoc]

You're welcome, and thanks for Best Solution.