mattlach Posted July 21, 2015 Share Posted July 21, 2015 Hey all, just got my H110i GTX. I was reading the manual regarding how to connect the wiring, and was just hoping to clarify one thing before proceeding with my install. The cooler has a 4 pin fan connector, which the manual instructs to plug into the CPU fan outlet. It also has a SATA power connector which is not mentioned in the manual at all. Does the 4 pin fan connector both power the fans AND the pump? If so, what is the SATA connector for? Is it only if you are not using a CPU fan header on the motherboard? Also, how does the cooler interact with the PWM signal coming off the motherboard? Does it use it for the fans at all, or is it completely replaced by the Link logic? If the latter, how are the fans controlled if Link software is not running (like, for instance, when I am booted in Linux?) I am currently debating whether to connect link at all, or if I am just going to rely on motherboard PWM to control the fans, because Linux is my primary OS. I only dual boot to Windows 8.1 occasionally for games. Appreciate any thoughts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpDFrek Posted July 21, 2015 Share Posted July 21, 2015 The H110i GTX only has a single wire tach output and the SATA power header. The tach output wire will connect to the MB and keep you from getting the "CPU FAN FAIL" error that stops the machine from booting. it does not control the fans in any way. There is an onboard fan controller that will automatically control the fans even if no software is installed. There is no need to install LINK if you will be running primarily in Linux. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattlach Posted July 22, 2015 Author Share Posted July 22, 2015 The H110i GTX only has a single wire tach output and the SATA power header. The tach output wire will connect to the MB and keep you from getting the "CPU FAN FAIL" error that stops the machine from booting. it does not control the fans in any way. There is an onboard fan controller that will automatically control the fans even if no software is installed. There is no need to install LINK if you will be running primarily in Linux. Ah, Thanks Makes sense. I'm a little unhappy with the stock fan profile in the unit. it's louder than it needs to be for temps at idle, but I can't run the Link software in linux... I might just get a 4 pin fan splitter and run both fans off the motherboard instead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattlach Posted July 22, 2015 Author Share Posted July 22, 2015 I'm a little unhappy with the stock fan profile in the unit. it's louder than it needs to be for temps at idle, but I can't run the Link software in linux... Actually, I take this back. After firing up the link software in windows for the first time, the RPM's changed, and it is MUCH quieter at idle. I also think it remembers the fan profile setting (quiet/balanced/performance/default/fixed %) even when the link software is not running, so I can set it, and then boot up in Linux just fine. What I have been told it DOESN'T remember are custom fan profiles. This is too bad, but not a huge issue. Now what I would like to do is set it up to control fan speed based on CPU temperature diodes, rather than the coolant temp. The closer to the source the better IMHO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dewbak75 Posted July 22, 2015 Share Posted July 22, 2015 Huh, I thought I read in a different thread about the differences between the H110i GT and H110i GTX that the GTX did away with the SATA connector, and was powered completely through the cable connecting to the motherboard. Could've sworn that's what Dustin said in one of his posts. And the install instructions on the Corsair webpage for the H110i GTX make no mention of a SATA connector. I wonder what's up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
runningmancs Posted July 22, 2015 Share Posted July 22, 2015 I can confirm that the 110I GTX does in fact use the sata power cable to power the unit and fans. It comes with the adapter cable to plug your radiator fans into, that will terminate to a single 4 pin that plugs into the mother board in CPU_FAN for RPM readings as the plug only has 2 of the 4 wire bays filled. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dewbak75 Posted July 22, 2015 Share Posted July 22, 2015 I can confirm that the 110I GTX does in fact use the sata power cable to power the unit and fans. It comes with the adapter cable to plug your radiator fans into, that will terminate to a single 4 pin that plugs into the mother board in CPU_FAN for RPM readings as the plug only has 2 of the 4 wire bays filled. A 4-pin with two of the wires filled? Doesn't it only need one wire for the RPM readings? Isn't the layout of a 4-pin connector: 2 pins for power, 1 for RPM and 1 for PWM? What's the second wire used for? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
runningmancs Posted July 22, 2015 Share Posted July 22, 2015 Maybe I'm mistaken and the other wire is being used for power, no idea. Either way, I too was puzzled when I saw that there was only 2 wires in the 4 pin connector AND I had to plug the SATA power connector in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunthief Posted July 25, 2015 Share Posted July 25, 2015 In the online manual, there is no comment on a sata cable (in contrast to the GT model), so I guess the unit gets all the power for the pump and fans via the pwm fan connection on the mainboard? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattlach Posted July 25, 2015 Author Share Posted July 25, 2015 In the online manual, there is no comment on a sata cable (in contrast to the GT model), so I guess the unit gets all the power for the pump and fans via the pwm fan connection on the mainboard? The printed manual is the same. No mention of the SATA cable at all. In reality - however - there is a SATA cable, and a separate 4 pin motherboad connector that only passes fan RPM signals to the motherboard, and doesn't power anything, or read the PWM signal from the motherboard. It looks like someone at Corsair goofed in creating the manual/documentation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employee Corsair Dustin Posted July 27, 2015 Corsair Employee Share Posted July 27, 2015 It's indeed a goof. Sent this information to the cooling manager to have the manual updated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waro Posted August 1, 2015 Share Posted August 1, 2015 So the 4 pin connector is in fact not PWM-capable and can be plugged into a 3-pin connector on the motherboard? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sebastiannielse Posted August 2, 2015 Share Posted August 2, 2015 I got my h110i GTX now. The h110i GTX have a single wire Cable, that is connected to any 3-pin or 4-pin connector on the motherboard. This connector only provides pump RPM information to the motherboard. All Power is supplied by the SATA connector. The reason of this is either the larger fans requiring more Power to these, or its the pump that is more powerful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattlach Posted August 2, 2015 Author Share Posted August 2, 2015 So the 4 pin connector is in fact not PWM-capable and can be plugged into a 3-pin connector on the motherboard? Yes, you might want to plug it in the CPU fan connector though. From what I understand, the only reason this connector exists at all is to provide RPM information to the motherboard, so the BIOS doesn't panic, like some do, and aut shut down, or something like that because it thinks your CPU fan is dead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waro Posted August 2, 2015 Share Posted August 2, 2015 OK thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunthief Posted August 2, 2015 Share Posted August 2, 2015 AS I understand, most mainboards do not have problems with a "missing" cpu fan, so it should not be a problem to just hide that 4 pin fan connector away in the case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sancommander Posted December 17, 2015 Share Posted December 17, 2015 Hi, Currently i have a new build started recently with also a H110i GTX. As instructed the 1-pin cable connector is connected to the CPU_FAN Header on my MB. (Asus Z170 Sabertooth), and the FAN's go to the FAN Connectors coming out of the unit itself. Since the CPU_FAN connection is only a RPM measurement for the board, and in this way you cannot regulate the fan's. This board is also equipped with a PUMP_Header, but regarding the manuals only for specific sets, which one is not clear. My questions : Can i also connect the connector to the PUMP_Header on the board? I'm not sure because a board is normally not booting without CPU_FAN Connected Can i also connect both FAN's to available PWM connectors on the board to regulate them? Or leave it as it is default? Thanks in advance Eric Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toasted Posted December 18, 2015 Share Posted December 18, 2015 1. Refer to the motherboard's user manual and if the header functions like a normal fan header, etc. You should be fine but you may encounter a CPU_FAN when booting. 2. Yes its possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aceisme Posted December 25, 2015 Share Posted December 25, 2015 So I got a H110i GTX AIO cooler and I would like to change the fans on it. With that in mind, I have two questions: 1. Does the H110i GTX support 3 pin fans? 2. If I connect the fans directly to the MB and control them that way (I assume I can do that), what would be the default pump speed set at on the H110i GTX? Do I need to install LINK to configure the pump speed? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toasted Posted December 26, 2015 Share Posted December 26, 2015 1. Support, as in to also control the fan speeds, No. http://forum.corsair.com/forums/showthread.php?t=141470 2. It depends what mode the pump is set on. If i recall correctly, there are two modes, Quiet and Performance. I don't have the specific RPM numbers for the pump though. Yes, you will need to install Corsair LINK as well as connect the cooler to the PC via a USB cable to change pump modes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aceisme Posted December 26, 2015 Share Posted December 26, 2015 Thanx for your reply. If I don't install Corsair LINK, what would the default pump speed be? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toasted Posted December 28, 2015 Share Posted December 28, 2015 Possibly performance mode. You should be able to check in the BIOS when you connect the RPM tachometer to a fan header on the motherboard. I think the max RPM (Performance Mode) is 3000RPM. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrailTrackers Posted January 2, 2016 Share Posted January 2, 2016 So the 4 pin connector is in fact not PWM-capable and can be plugged into a 3-pin connector on the motherboard? I also have this unit installed and actually, it's a 3-pin connector with only 1 wire in it, that should definitely be plugged into a cpu-fan header on the motherboard for the reason already mentioned. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pokemon Posted January 3, 2016 Share Posted January 3, 2016 That's correct TrailTrackers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.