URGENT: Help is needed for Corsair H100i PRO RGB installation

[andiey]

Dear folks,
I have a Corsair H100i PRO RGB which has 2 120mm fans and 1 pump.
My motherboard is Asus ROG Strix Z390-F.

I have finished most part of my build. Now I am installation this AIO and I've found problem.

I have connected the two fans' 4-pin connectors to CPU_FAN and OPT_FAN headers on the mobo, thought that will give BIOS control over their speeds.
Then as I was about to stick the pump to the CPU I was noticing that there are several connectors and cables stemming out from the pump.

As you know, there is a splitter which splits two male 4-pin connectors. Then there is a separated 3-pin connector cable. Last one is a SATA cable, this one I understand it is supposed to be connected to the PSU for power so no problem with this one.

Then I check the manual and I have doubts. According to the manual, the splitter cable is supposed to connect up the two 4-pin PWM fans. Then it says connect the 3-pin connector to the CPU_FAN header on the motherboard.
It doesn't make sense to me. The 3-pin connector if connected to the CPU_FAN header, then what is going to be connected to the AIO_PUMP header on the mobo? How do I keep track of the pump' speed?

Am I missing something here?

 

[sneekypeet]

Connect as instructed, control via software. It works.

 

[andiey]

Connect as instructed, control via software. It works.

Am I expecting that via iCue, I will be seeing the CPU fan speed as well as the AIO speed?

 

[sneekypeet]

Am I expecting that via iCue, I will be seeing the CPU fan speed as well as the AIO speed?

You will see that and a whole lot more.

 

[andiey]

So I have to download the iCUE software after the hardware installation? If that is true, then in BIOS, I will only see the speed of CPU_FAN1? But what is this speed referring to? The speed of the PUMP or the speed of the FANs?

Had I known this confusing thing, I would have purchased other brand like the cooler master. Besides, such installation is hard to hide the cables...so many of them!

 

[sneekypeet]

I would assume it to be a pump speed. Even then, depending on the number of poles in the motor, you have to multiply the given number. However, at bios level, I would be happy to just know the pump is working.

 

[andiey]

I would assume it to be a pump speed. Even then, depending on the number of poles in the motor, you have to multiply the given number. However, at bios level, I would be happy to just know the pump is working.

Thanks for your reply, m a bit desperate. I searched everywhere but found no useful information.
I guess my previous experience with H60 has led me to think that only 1 connection is required to connect the pump to the CPU FAN header.
The H100i PRO RGB is definitely different.

So let me get this right: so the 2 PWM fans are "linked" up with something (which we need not to know what that is) inside the pump unit and the 3 pin connector hooked up to the CPU_FAN header on the motherboard will allow information regarding the fan's speed and the pump speed to be processed by the iCUE software, do I understand it correctly?

If yes, then I have a concern: does it mean that I have one less option to monitor (not change or control) the fan's speed and the pump speed via ASUS BIOS and its Xpert 4 monitoring software?

Just my personal comment, I feel this is very strange arrangement by Corsair. A normal thinking will lead one to connect the two PWM fans to the CPU_FAN and CPU_OPT headers for speed control. Then maybe the 3-pin (I believe it is the PUMP speed controller?) connected to another header maybe AIO_PUMP? As it is 3-pin, nobody can control its speed it will run at full speed by default. Had I know this particular Corsair product is so confusing and eliminate BIOS tweaking, I would have chosen to buy another brand, afterall my case is a Cooler Master. IT's just that Corsair has earned some goodwill in my heart over the years as I used it first generation H60 AIO.

Sent a question to Corsair forum, nobody answers

 

[newtekie1]

The H100i Pro should also have a USB connector on the pump. The fans that are plugged into the connectors coming out of the pump are controlled through the USB cable(the USB also controls the RGB).

The fan connector from the pump that plugs into the CPU Fan header only sends the pump speed to the motherboard. It does nothing else. This is necessary for two reasons. One reason is that some motherboards will give an error and pause the boot process if nothing is detected on the CPU fan header. The other reason is so that you can make sure the pump is running even in the BIOS, because it's more important the pump is running at that point than the fans.

Personally, I don't like use iCue to control my fan speeds, I prefer the motherboard do it. So I plug the two fans in to CPU_Fan and CPU_Opt so they'll both be controlled by the motherboard based on CPU temperature. Then I plug the fan cable coming from the pump into one of the chassis fan headers so I can still monitor pump speed too. I tuck that double fan connectors that comes out of the pump where you can plug fans into back somewhere out of the way and don't plug anything into them.

You don't have to use the iCue software. Corsair is just giving people that option, because not every motherboard is going to have two CPU fan headers or a bunch of fan connectors so you have an extra to plug in the pump speed sensor.

It works either way.

 

[eidairaman1]

Connect as instructed

 

[er557]

I got this product, very straighforward, same as h100i v2, except the sata connector. Simply connect both fans to the double headers from the pump, connect the 4pin single to the cpu fan header on the mobo, do connect the provided micro usb cable to the pump and then to usb2 header on the mobo, then you will have full control via icue( i prefer corsair link). Connect the pump to the cpu via the appropriate screws as per your socket type, and you should be good to go.

 

[John Naylor]

Follow the directions ... all of them.

 

[Zach_01]

I have the H110i, pretty much the same...
Connect the 2 fans to pump cables
The SATA pump to PSU
The side pump usb to internal usb header
Optional: conect the 1pin small header to MB CPU for other software to see pump speed as CPU rpm (dont need to, but...)
Install CorsairLink and set it up.
There are 3 profiles Performance/Balanced/Silent or make as many custom as you like for the fan speed curve and pump speed (low/high)
I have set a custom fan curve, pump always low (~2370rpm) and never high (2850rpm) and the fans are assigned to water temp and not directly on CPU temp.

I do not know if Link can control RGB or you need iCue for this.

Most likely you can control RGB from CorsairLink. Mine has just a Corsair logo on pump that you can control as you like

 

[peterocc]

Good evening from Switzerland!

I'm experiencing the exact same issue as OP... Same board except the AIO is the h100i RGB Platinum SE.

Instructions say:

1. connect SATA to power - Done
2. connect 3 pin to CPU Fan - Done
3. connect 4 pin to fans - Done
4. connect USB to USB Header - Done
5. connect thin dual cables to cooler? There is 1 thin cable (thin 4 pin and 3 pin) coming out of the block. Where do these connect or is simply ignore and tuck?

Please help!

 

[sneekypeet]

Good evening from Switzerland!

I'm experiencing the exact same issue as OP... Same board except the AIO is the h100i RGB Platinum SE.

Instructions say:

1. connect SATA to power - Done
2. connect 3 pin to CPU Fan - Done
3. connect 4 pin to fans - Done
4. connect USB to USB Header - Done
5. connect thin dual cables to cooler? There is 1 thin cable (thin 4 pin and 3 pin) coming out of the block. Where do these connect or is simply ignore and tuck?

Please help!

You missed a step in the instructions then. Connect fans on the radiator to the fan power leads from the head unit.

IIRC the H100 has four cables. There is the SATA lead, there is a pump tach lead (goes to motherboard fan header, the USB cable you have to connect, and the last lead should be to connect fans. Step 5 mentions all of this but the USB cable.

 

[peterocc]

You missed a step in the instructions then. Connect fans on the radiator to the fan power leads from the head unit.

IIRC the H100 has four cables. There is the SATA lead, there is a pump tach lead (goes to motherboard fan header, the USB cable you have to connect, and the last lead should be to connect fans. Step 5 mentions all of this but the USB cable.

Thanks for replying. The USB Micro is connected as it controls power to the block. The PC boots for 40-60 seconds then powers off.

The 2 male 4 pin cables are connected to the two 120mm fans on the radiator.

The cable in question is this one. It comes from the block and has male 4pin and a male 3pin.

 

[sneekypeet]

Thanks for replying. The USB Micro is connected as it controls power to the block. The PC boots for 40-60 seconds then powers off.

The 2 male 4 pin cables are connected to the two 120mm fans on the radiator.

The cable in question is this one. It comes from the block and has male 4pin and a male 3pin.

View attachment 137349

To me, those appear to be RGB control wires. On the SE model, do both fans have a single wire from them, or two?

 

[peterocc]

To me, those appear to be RGB control wires. On the SE model, do both fans have a single wire from them, or two?

Each fan (Corsair LL120) has 2 wires. One is unmarked female 4pin, the other is labeled RGB.

I connect the unmarked female 4pin to the thicker male 4pin coming from the block and the RGB wire goes into the Corsair Commander unit.

This mystery cable has had me up the past 2 nights and this dream build has become my nightmare.

 

[er557]

what is the big problem? connect as instructed in the manual. also, having the pc boot and shutdown means overheating, the pump fails to touch the cpu firmly enough, check your socket screws first.

 

[peterocc]

what is the big problem? connect as instructed in the manual. also, having the pc boot and shutdown means overheating, the pump fails to touch the cpu firmly enough, check your socket screws first.

thanks for replying.

i pulled the block off the CPU this am and cleaned and reapplied thermal paste. I also removed the nvme drives, GPU and then tested. Still powered off after 40 secs. I then pulled the RAM and tested and the PC stays on. I’m at a complete loss now. the block powers on as the lights are on and I can water moving through the tubes.

i had to step out but will continue testing when I return in a few hours.

 

[er557]

did the pc work at all before the aio?, did you connect all psu cables like 8 pin, 6 pin, try other psu? go into bios when pc is on to check temps before it shuts down!

 

[erixx]

Manual is telegraphic style, bad concept.

Corsair likes since ages to route all cables of all kind (fans included) to 1 center (pump) (plus wants you to use their USB controlled software.
It is not the only way to connect this.
Plus the RGB cables... can go to RGB headers on your mobo, if present.

 

[andiey]

Thanks for replying. The USB Micro is connected as it controls power to the block. The PC boots for 40-60 seconds then powers off.

The 2 male 4 pin cables are connected to the two 120mm fans on the radiator.

The cable in question is this one. It comes from the block and has male 4pin and a male 3pin.

View attachment 137349

I never see this one on my unit??

SHM

 

[Kovoet]

I got this product, very straighforward, same as h100i v2, except the sata connector. Simply connect both fans to the double headers from the pump, connect the 4pin single to the cpu fan header on the mobo, do connect the provided micro usb cable to the pump and then to usb2 header on the mobo, then you will have full control via icue( i prefer corsair link). Connect the pump to the cpu via the appropriate screws as per your socket type, and you should be good to go.

Totally agree about link. Link is much better than iCue, so much easier to use.

 

[peterocc]

Ended up the additional cables are ARGB connectors and not necessary so I tucked them away.

The automatic shutdowns were the result of RAM (Corsair Vengeance Pro DDR4-3200) clockspeed being too high for the motherboard (ASUS ROG Strix Gaming-F) to support out of the box. I had to downclock the speed to 2133 until I could update the BIOS. It then was able to support 3200.

 

[kapone32]

This is

Dear folks,
I have a Corsair H100i PRO RGB which has 2 120mm fans and 1 pump.
My motherboard is Asus ROG Strix Z390-F.

I have finished most part of my build. Now I am installation this AIO and I've found problem.

I have connected the two fans' 4-pin connectors to CPU_FAN and OPT_FAN headers on the mobo, thought that will give BIOS control over their speeds.
Then as I was about to stick the pump to the CPU I was noticing that there are several connectors and cables stemming out from the pump.

As you know, there is a splitter which splits two male 4-pin connectors. Then there is a separated 3-pin connector cable. Last one is a SATA cable, this one I understand it is supposed to be connected to the PSU for power so no problem with this one.

Then I check the manual and I have doubts. According to the manual, the splitter cable is supposed to connect up the two 4-pin PWM fans. Then it says connect the 3-pin connector to the CPU_FAN header on the motherboard.
It doesn't make sense to me. The 3-pin connector if connected to the CPU_FAN header, then what is going to be connected to the AIO_PUMP header on the mobo? How do I keep track of the pump' speed?

Am I missing something here?

The same as most AIOs. The splitter cable you install to the 2 fans and use the CPU_OPT header (it allows boths fans to spin at the same RPM). The pump unit you install to the CPU Header. The SATA port is most likely to provide power to the pum in the absence of 2 CPU headers. Using the board's software or Corsair LInk will allow you to see and control the pump speeds.