PWM closed-loop water cooling question

[ewsmith89]

Hey everybody! This is my first computer build, putting together a x99-a with a Kraken x61 closed loop system inside a Phanteks Enthoo Primo. Currently all my case fans save for the two fans mounted to the Kraken, which are connected by a 3 pin cable at the top of the mobo, a 9 pin at the bottom of the mobo and a SATA cable leading to the PSU, are connected to the PWM chip, so that when I turn on computer, the Kraken fans immediately start to run while the rest of the fans connected to PWM don't. My question is: for the sake of quieter computing, is it a more desirable set up to have all fans, Kraken and case fans alike, running through the PWM? If so how do I switch over the Kraken fans? Would I just move the 3 pin at the top of the mobo to the PWM? Are there any drawbacks to making this switch? I know this is an entry-level question and appreciate any insight.

 

[Multipack]

If you dont have any fans plugged into the cpu_fan header your system wont POST I doubt. Also, I dont think they are true PWM fans and you need to set them via software. Which wires (there are up to four) are coming out of the cooler fan lead that goes into motherboard? If there are less than four they aren't PWM. The fourth wire is for that. I would guess it just has a sense (third wire) so the MB knows a cooler is connected and boots. From left to right the four wires are ground, voltage, sense and pwm.

 

[ewsmith89]

Got it, with this in mind, what would you recommend is the best set-up with 5 PWM fans and the 2 Kraken fans? Just plugging the Krakens directly into the mobo and let them operate independently from PWMs? Thanks.

 

[Multipack]

Depends on your board, but give your cooler it's own fan header ideally. Sys_fan headers are usually voltage controlled so check which headers are PWM controlled. If you only have one (the cpu_fan header) then I guess you could use a splitter as it wont affect the cooler fans anyway. They are controlled via software.

 

[ewsmith89]

Depends on your board, but give your cooler it's own fan header ideally. Sys_fan headers are usually voltage controlled so check which headers are PWM controlled. If you only have one (the cpu_fan header) then I guess you could use a splitter as it wont affect the cooler fans anyway. They are controlled via software.

Thanks for your help. Super clear. The PWM hub is plugged directly into the cpu_fan header and the cooler (three pins only, so sounds like no PWM capability) is connected to the sys_fan header right next to it. Looks like that'll be a fine set up and I'll just set my cooler fans via software once I boot everything up. Thanks again.