I'm building my first PC, and everything seems to work except my Cooler Master Elite Liquid 240 ARGB AIO cooler. During startup, the BIOS reports a CPU fan speed detection error and tells me to verify that the cooler is connected to the CPU_FAN header. The pump display initially turns on, but the radiator fans neither spin nor light up. I checked the motherboard manual and believe the pump and fan cables are connected to the appropriate headers on my ASUS TUF Gaming X870-PLUS WiFi motherboard. I also tried setting the header to PWM mode in the BIOS. After that, the pump lighting stopped turning on as well. What else should I check, and could the cooler be defective?
3 Answers
Check every connector against the cooler’s installation diagram rather than relying only on the motherboard headers. The fan cables may need to connect to the cooler’s included splitter or controller, and the controller may require SATA power. Confirm that the pump tach cable is firmly seated and that the BIOS is showing an actual RPM reading. Don’t run the system for long without confirming that the pump is operating.
Since the pump display, fan lighting, and fans all stopped working together, verify the power supply connections first. Reseat the cooler’s SATA power plug and check that the power-supply cable is fully connected. You can also inspect the cooler cable for bent pins or damage. If the cooler still shows no pump RPM and the fans remain dead with confirmed power, it may be faulty and should be tested through a replacement or warranty claim.
Make sure the pump’s power cable is connected to the motherboard’s AIO_PUMP header, while the radiator fans are connected to CPU_FAN or CPU_OPT. Also check for a separate SATA power connector from the cooler’s hub or pump; many AIOs need both motherboard control and direct power. If that SATA connector is loose or missing, the display, lighting, and fans may all stop working.
The cables appear to be in the correct headers according to the manuals, and I already changed the header to PWM mode. The pump lighting has now stopped turning on too, so I’m starting to suspect a power or hardware problem.