Question NZXT Kraken Elite 360 AIO and Lian Li P28 fan question.

[AMDFan83]

Hey guys, I'm helping my friend out on his first ever computer that he purchased used from his coworker. He's not really into rgb so hes going to replace all 7 nzxt rgb fans (4 case and 3 on a kraken elite 360 cooler). He really likes the black Lian Li p28 fans for their performance and their ability to daisy chain together. The computer also came with an NZXT fan controller which uses the CAM software to control fan speeds. So before he spends the money on those Lian Li fans we'd like to know if the CAM software will recognize any PWM fan including the Lian Li or does it have to be brand specific to NZXT? Thanks

 

[JohnBonhamsGhost]

we'd like to know if the CAM software will recognize any PWM fan

as far as i've seen, the Lian Li CAM software only allows control of fans using their proprietary connection to their own hub(s).

any motherboard supported 4pin fans would need to be controlled through motherboard control software or other options(SpeedFan, etc).

there are many other nice fans available than those Lian Li models though.
just for some basic examples;
be quiet! Silent Wings 4 High-Speed,
Noctua iPPC,
Phanteks M25, etc...

 

[AMDFan83]

as far as i've seen, the Lian Li CAM software only allows control of fans using their proprietary connection to their own hub(s).

I could be wrong but aren't all pwm fan cables universal? How would the CAM software know you are not using their brand of fans if the cables are same? I would agree if we were talking about rgb cables as some brands have proprietary cables. Maybe i'm missing something? Anyways I'll let my friend know to look into the other fans you've mentioned.

 

[JohnBonhamsGhost]

aren't all pwm fan cables universal?

all of the recent Lian Li fan sets i've worked with use a proprietary connection that needs a Lian Li hub to control.

the data is read through a USB header on the motherboard and the CAM software reads that data and allows LED & RPM control through that software.

regular 4pin PWM fans are not recognized in this sort of instance.

 

[Paperdoc]

The issue here is not "recognition" of the fans because they are similar electrically. It is the physical connector design.

If I read the LianLi P28 fan pages correctly, the single fan comes with a simple adapter cable to connect that fan to a standard mobo fan header. IF you buy the three-pack, then you can link all three together into a single unit and then connect that entire group to one fan header. To do that you must use an included "Speed Controller" cable that actually is an adapter to fit a standard mobo header PLUS an speed switch. Then you MUST set that switch to HIGH speed so it does NOT interfere with control by the mobo header.

If your friend wants to use a set of three in one group for the 360mm AIO rad, then that three-pack will work. NOTE that that Kraken AIO system you are using has a special multi-headed cable from its PUMP unit with THREE outputs for the rad fans. It is IMPORTANT that the single cable from that group of LianLi fans be plugged into the only one of these sockets that has ALL FOUR pins in it.

IF a separate group of three fans for case ventilation is to be used as one combined unit, another 3-pack could do that. But for any places in the case where you need a single fan, you must buy the one-pack so you get the adapter cable it requires to be able to plug into a standard fan header.

You may find it useful to connect four case ventilation fans to that NZXT hub device. We need more specific info on that NZXT device. ONE version of that is a simple board that connects to a mobo CHA_FAN or SYS_FAN header and has several output ports for fans. Another is a stand-alone box that makes NO connection to a mobo fan header and acts as its own separate Controller. As I read the info on this latter version, its options do NOT include using a temperature sensor on the MOTHERBOARD as guidance for fan control, BUT that is exactly what is NEEDED for case ventilation fans!

If you tell us what mobo you have - maker and exact model - we can advice further how to connect the case fans.