I'm currently building my first PC! I've got a Fractal Meshify 2 case, a Cool Master 360L Core ARGB AIO cooler, and an ASUS ROG STRIX B850-F gaming WiFi motherboard. The AIO is connected to the CPU, and I have two wires coming from it: one is an ARGB cable that I'm leaving unplugged, and the other is for the AIO pump. The motherboard has connections for an 'AIO pump' and 'CPU_OPT.' I watched a video where the guy said to plug the AIO into the AIO pump slot, but I'm confused about the purpose of the CPU_OPT. Should I leave it empty?
Additionally, I have five Noctua NF-A12-25 PWM chassis fans. The case has a built-in RGB hub with three 4-pin and six 3-pin connections. Can I connect three of the chassis fans to the hub and plug the other two directly into the motherboard? I assume during BIOS setup, I will need to configure the fans connected directly to the motherboard individually alongside the one connected to the hub. My motherboard has three chassis fan connections and two ARGB connections.
2 Answers
It sounds like a good plan! If you do decide to use the hub for the fans, make sure your motherboard is set to PWM mode for those connected directly, as you won't need to undervolt them if managed correctly through the BIOS. If the hub has the fan control options, it might make things easier since you can adjust settings without having to manage each fan individually.
The AIO pump is meant to run at full speed regardless of temperature, which is why it's the recommended slot for the pump. The CPU_OPT can be used for other cooling fans, especially if you're using a push-pull fan configuration with your radiator. Sounds like you’ve got it set up right so far!
As for the chassis fans, yeah, you could definitely use the RGB hub for the three fans—just make sure to check how the hub operates. Usually, having them all managed from one hub can simplify the setup since they’ll typically run at full speed when needed.
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