Question NZXT Kraken X53 AIO - Connect cable to cpu_fan or aio_pump connector?

[Chris06]

Hello, this afternoon I completed my upgrade build switching from an old i5 6600k with z170 pro gaming mobo to a b550 a-pro with a ryzen 5 5600 chip. My old motherboard didn't contain an aio pump header until the following upgrade. The systems thankfully functions perfectly however the nzxt fans that are attached to the aio are spinning at full speed endlessly. As much as I'm aware, the aio pump header triggers the aio to work at its maximum voltage and at consistent high rpm. I've got to admit, it is pretty hard to bare this constant loudness especially if I want to do quiet school work.

The reason I bought an aio on the first place is because I want to perform a slight overclock by configuring the voltage and core speed to at least achieve a boost clock increase from 4.4 to 4.7.

My question is, should i connect the connector to the cpu_fan header? I am not sure whether this will heavily impact the temperature difference because as I mentioned im planning to overclock the chip soon.

I also prefer a quieter aio as long as the temperature difference wont be significantly higher if i ditched the aio pump header.


Extra info: I looked at the paper guide about the aio and it mentions that I plug the connector on the cpu_fan header OR the aio_pump

 

[Phaaze88]

Extra info: I looked at the paper guide about the aio and it mentions that I plug the connector on the cpu_fan header OR the aio_pump

Because it doesn't matter. You can plug it into any header really.
The main difference being that the preset curves aren't the same, but you can adjust them as desired anyway.
AIO and W_PUMP headers are preset to always 100%, but the others aren't.

 

[Paperdoc]

The PUMP unit in that AIO system has two cables connected to it. One goes directly to a mobo USB2 header. That is used by the NZXT CAM software utility to communicate with the AIO system. Then you must have that tool loaded and operating. You use it to control all AIO functions.

Then there's a multi-headed cable from the pump. One wide connector on it goes to a SATA power output connector from the PSU for power to the AIO system. A small 3-hole connector with only two wires is normally plugged into the CPU_FAN header, but MAY be plugged into the PUMP header of your mobo. Its only function is to send the PUMP speed to the header. It is NOT involved in supplying power to the system, nor in controlling any speed. One function of whichever header you use is to monitor this speed signal for NO signal, indicating failure of the pump. On SOME mobos if you do NOT plug something into the header (for example, NOT using the CPU_FAN header and using the pump header instead) that will generate an error for a pump failure, and you need to disable that failure detection function on the header you do NOT use.

Finally, there is a male 4-pin connector on a cable from the Multi-headed piece. THIS is where you plug in the rad fans. To do that, of course, you use the 3-output Splitter supplied. When you do this, all power AND speed control of the rad fans is from the AIO through the pump and the USB communication system, and that is controlled via the CAM software. The manual does not quite make clear this is the preferred connection. It does say you have the option to plug that Splitter into a mobo header (probably the CPU_FAN header) instead. If you do this, CAM may NOT take control of those rad fans - that also is NOT stated clearly in the manual. In this scheme, fan control and power supply (and thus cooling control for the CPU) may be done by the mobo's CPU_FAN control system. Or (unclear in the manual), CAM may take over control of that CPU_FAN header to control the rad fans, too. IF you choose to plug those fans / Splitter into the CPU_FAN header instead of the PUMP's output connector, you will have to experiment a bit to discover whether the rad fans are done by CAM or by the CPU_FAN header in BIOS Setup. Either way, the rad fan controls should be set to use the default Automatic Profile and "fan curve", and the PWM Mode of control (not Voltage or DC).

If you are using CAM to control the rad fans (via the output connector from the pump unit) and have the pump speed cable plgugged into the CPU_FAN header, then the speed of the PUMP and of the rad fans will both be shown properly in CAM. If you have the pump connected to the pump header of your mobo, and the rad fans connected to its CPU_FAN header, then CAM may also show those two speeds correctly. However, in this configuration if you look in BIOS Setup, the pump speed will be shown only on the pump header, and the rad fans will show only on the CPU_FAN header.