PWM Hub + Motherboard confusion

[kaizenlelxd]

Hello! I'm a first-time builder and I've purchased an MSI Z370 Gaming Pro Carbon motherboard to put into my Phanteks Enthoo Pro case (which has a PWM Hub and two 3-pin fans already connected up). My CPU cooler is the Noctua NH-U14S, which is 4-pin. I've read many forum posts and other people's questions and answers but haven't necessarily found the information to satisfy my concerns. I'm basically wondering how to wire this all up.

The Phanteks Enthoo Pro manual tells me I need to plug the 4-pin connector from the PWM Hub onto the CPU_FAN connector on the motherboard for full functionality. (page 31)

[Phanteks Enthoo Pro manual]

However, my motherboard manual tells me that both my CPU_FAN and PUMP_FAN connectors are PWM-enabled by default. (page 38)

[MSI Z370 Gaming Pro Carbon Manual]

I'm just trying to figure out the best and most optimal setup for my fans. Do I need to plug my CPU cooler directly into my motherboard and plug the PWM Hub into the PUMP_FAN connector? Currently, that is the only setup that makes sense to me, as the PWM Hub only has one 4-pin connector to plug into the motherboard, and my CPU cooler is 4-pin; therefore, it cannot connect to the hub, correct?

Just a fair bit of confusion as PWM Hubs are 100% new to me. Thanks for any and all advice!

 

[jdog2pt0]

Just plug your CPU cooler in the designated header on your motherboard, and ignoring the poorly worded case manual, just plug your case fan connector into the next available 4 pin header (PUMP_FAN). The CPU fan header is important to have attached to the CPU cooler (that's how the board controls the fan speed and regulates your CPU temp). The rest of the fan headers, are just fan headers.

 

[kaizenlelxd]

Just plug your CPU cooler in the designated header on your motherboard, and ignoring the poorly worded case manual, just plug your case fan connector into the next available 4 pin heade

I kind of wanted to take advantage of the PWM Hub if at all possible. I assume it's not necessary, though. I just wanted at least 1 of my case fans to be synced up with my CPU cooler since they're so close together. Maybe I'll just leave 1 side of the case open just to make sure none of the fans strain to fight against bad air flow.

 

[jdog2pt0]

Alright, I double checked stuff in the manual. If you want all the fans synced up to the CPU fan, then just follow the destructions (all fans plugged into hub, with the CPU_FAN header controlling the hub) . As for your CPU cooler having a four pin connector, just ignore the 4th pin and plug it into one of the three pin plugs on the hub. Sorry for the confusion.

 

[Paperdoc]

First of all, I disagree a little with your desire to control all the case ventilation fans according to the CPU. The mobo has two different cooling control systems. One is governed by the actual temperature inside the CPU chip, and that runs the CPU_FAN and PUMP_FAN headers. The other is governed instead by the temperature sensor built into the mobo by its maker, and should be used to control case ventilation; that system runs the SYS_FAN headers. But you can make up your own mind on that.

The Phanteks PWM Hub is unique in its class. It uses the PWM signal from a mobo header to create its own group of six 3-pin fan headers that use the older Voltage Control Mode. That is the ONLY control mode that can control 3-pin fans (and I suspect the fans pre-installed in your case may be 3-pin units). That mode also CAN control true 4-pin fans, although technically that is not quite as good a PWM Mode for those fans. But there are three important items to do properly with the Hub. One is that it MUST have a PWM signal from the header it is plugged into. Many mobos today use only 4-pin headers for fans, but do NOT always use them as true 4-pin headers using PWM Mode for control. They MAY be using Voltage Control Mode (aka DC Mode) and NOT supply the PWM signal. That is the reason for the Hub's instructions to plug it into the CPU_FAN header - virtually ALL mobos DO use PWM Mode (or at least make that an option) on that header. But IF you have a SYS_FAN header that does use PWM Mode, then you CAN use that as the place to connect the Hub, giving you control based on the mobo temperature sensor. If you choose that option, you can plug the real CPU cooling fan directly into the CPU_FAN header. The second important item is that you MUST plug the Hub's power cable into a power output connector from the PSU. And thirdly, IF you use the CPU_FAN header for the Hub's mobo connection, then you MUST plug the actual CPU cooling fan into the white Port #1 of the Hub - not just any port. That port is the only one that will relay its fan's speed signal back to the mobo header, and it is IMPORTANT that the CPU_FAN header receive the speed from the real CPU cooling fan. Now a helpful hint IF you are plugging the CPU fan into the Hub's Port #1. The outer cover of the Hub IF it has one may prevent you from plugging a 4-pin connector into that port because of the width of the connector. IF that happens, you can use any 3-pin Splitter (some of those Hubs come with a couple of these) to extend the port outside the Hub's cover and make it easy to plug in your 4-pin fan.

Now, last note. Your mobo's SYS_FAN headers appear to be able to use either PWM Mode or DC Mode, depending on how you set their configuration. So, if you use one of those headers to plug in your Hub, make sure you set it to use PWM Mode so the Hub will receive the required signal.