Incorrect connecting of AIO

Prestonian · 11 Jun 2023 at 15:45

Hi there

Can anyone advise please regarding connecting an Alphacool Core Ocean T38 to a z790 MB?

I recently bought a pre-build from OCUK which was extremely loud upon setting up; after some advice here I got the fans to slow down by adjusting curves. However, the quieter running system revealed an off-putting, intermittent grumbling noise from the pump. I raised a ticket and sent in video evidence to the support team.

They kindly sent out a replacement for me to fit, but upon reading the instruction I realised the AIO fitted wasn't wired as per the guidelines. The 4 pin connector for the pump was connected to two wires, one yellow and one black, which I know are power wires. Being an engineer (not electronics) I assume this would result in max speed tempo for the pump, and not variable as it should be. Moving on from my assumptions, which could well be wrong, I'd like to know if this method of wiring is fine?

The booklet states to connect both 4 pin connectors to fan plugs on the MB, which is what I will do unless the advice here states otherwise.

I've spent hours trying to resolve this, and if it turns out to be error by the building team, I'll be pretty annoyed. I can understand faulty parts, as I sometimes have to let customers down after receiving faulty parts.

Thank you.

P.S which fan port would the AIO fans need to be plugged into? The pump I assume will go to CPU_fan, but not sure about the radiator fans.

Prestonian · 11 Jun 2023 at 16:53

bimbleuk said:
If the pump was plugged into a normal header with a default fan profile then it's possible the pump was at times not running so the noise was the pump starting and air gurgling. Some dedicated pump headers just run at max for that reason.

Thanks for the response.

The pump is plugged direct into the power loom from the PSU, so it's receiving max voltage regardless of temperature.

I can't see any ports on the MB that say 'pump' on it. The radiator fans are plugged into CPU_fan, so they adjust speed as temperature changes. Will the pump be okay in CPU_OPT?

Prestonian · 12 Jun 2023 at 01:10

I've had remote assistance off a tech that does this for a living, and he said this has been wired up illogically.

Instead of using the yellow connector, they should have just plugged the pump into the pump header which exists on this Mobo.

Connecting the AIO direct to the MB would have prevented the pump running on max constantly. It would have also saved OCUK the cost of the D connector.

The system wasn't tuned; when merely browsing the web, it was running at high speeds that made it sound like a wind tunnel. I paid for OCUK to build and configure this system. It clearly hasn't been configured very well.

Here's the images of the 4 pin pump connector connected directly to the PSU loom.

IMG-20230611-232835703 hosted at ImgBB

Image IMG-20230611-232835703 hosted in ImgBB

ibb.co

IMG-20230611-232546227 hosted at ImgBB

Image IMG-20230611-232546227 hosted in ImgBB

ibb.co

IMG-20230611-121342668 hosted at ImgBB

Image IMG-20230611-121342668 hosted in ImgBB

ibb.co

Prestonian · 12 Jun 2023 at 08:35

freddie64 said:
What did you go for?

Agree with this.

It was one of the gaming configurable systems; perhaps that's why it was wired to run flat out, assuming I would exclusively use it for gaming.

Z790 ud ax, 4070ti, i737000k I think.

Anyway, when the pump is plugged into the cpu_opt the speeds in the gigabyte control suite fluctuates similarly to 700rpm' 1300rpm, 1000rpm .

When home from work I'll try the pump header.

I'll also take this to CS, which I assume is Customer Service.

Thanks

Prestonian · 14 Jun 2023 at 17:00

So, I spoke with OCers tech; he said the pump requires more power than the fan headers supply, so they connect direct to the power loom.

When it was briefly connected to the Mobo, the RPM speed fluctuated erratically, but at least it wasn't noisy.

I think I need to buy a better cooler that can be controlled; the tech guy suggested https://www.overclockers.co.uk/nzxt-kraken-360-black-aio-cpu-water-cooler-360mm-hs-02d-nx.html

Prestonian · 14 Jun 2023 at 20:02

Thekwango said:
so they fitted a less than ideal aio in your pre-build? i'd be sending the whole thing back to be honest. if you've bought a pre built and then be advised to buy a different aio by the same people that provided the system i'd be sending that back and telling them to 'try again'

edit: i'd also suggest the explanation you got was a load of nonsense.

I actually said the parts can't be compatible if one can't work correctly when connected as per the instructions (pump plugged into the pump/fan header).
The AIO Core Ocean T38 is what I have; I have since Googled it and found report of it being a noisy AIO, but good value for money. As the saying goes....you get what you pay for.

Thanks

Prestonian · 14 Jun 2023 at 21:09

Thekwango said:
What response did you get to that?

A contrarian response about it having connections that fit the PSU loom (which they didn't use-as seen in the photos above) therefor it is compatible; so I was in no position to question it other than my original point about it not being per the instructions.

The chap was nice and polite, so I have no complaints on that front.

The CX service guy I originally dealt with is back tomorrow, so I'll have the discussion with him to see if we can resolve this.

Prestonian · 15 Jun 2023 at 10:40

That's me told...

Previous correspondence I was addressed by my Christian name.

Hey Surname

Thanks for getting back to me. To confirm. The molex to fan header goes directly to the PSU, and if the board doesn't have a dedicated AIO header then it will going into the PSU direct. Your Gigabyte board doesn't have a AIO pwm Fan header for any AIO, so it needs to go into the PSU moxlex fan header. The Rad Fans will be plugged into the CPU header on the board.

To confirm this is the correct setup for this AIO with your system, as your board doesn't support a PWM AIO header. Please plug into the power supply =)

Thanks to everyone that replied.