I'm trying to figure out if I can connect my AIO pump to the CPU_FAN header on my motherboard. I have a CPU_FAN and a CPU_OPT header, but the manual suggests that only the CPU_OPT is suitable for a pump. Since I have the Montech X3 Mesh case, my fans only have Molex connectors and cannot connect to the motherboard, so the CPU_FAN header is currently empty, which prevents my PC from starting. Is there a way to disable the CPU_FAN requirement in the BIOS? Or can I connect the pump to the CPU_FAN and set it to receive constant power instead of being regulated by CPU temperature?
2 Answers
Yes, you can connect your AIO pump to the CPU_FAN header if you prefer, and there’s no need to worry about bypassing monitoring. Most motherboards can handle that without issues!
You can actually disable the CPU_FAN monitoring in the BIOS if you aren't using it. Just check your motherboard's manual for the specific steps. Here's a link to an example video that might help you out!
I'm using a Gigabyte B650 Gaming X AX motherboard myself, and it was pretty straightforward to disable the fan check.
I heard that pumps usually need a constant power supply compared to fans, which is why I was hesitant about that. Just to clarify, is there a downside to connecting it this way?