Coolpanel 2 Connection query

[Guest Juggler]

I've got the AeroCool Coolpanel 2 for temp monitoring etc but I just wanted to clarify how it all connects up.

 

I've got 4 fan leads each with 2 connectors one for the fan in and the other I assume to plug into various motherboard fan sockets. I'm getting the NF4 SLI-D board and it's all going into a Thermalrock Circle Full tower case.

 

So first of all I have a non-controlled Sharkoon fan to stick onto the XP90c cooler, can I run this through the panel and plug it into the CPU FAN power socket?

 

The two 120mm fans have both 4 pin and three pin leads. I assume both of these will need connecting with the three pin going through the fan controller unit?

 

Finally there's also another fan holder which will also have a sharkoon fan in there to aid airflow and again like the cpu fan I assume this plugs into the coolpanel and then the lead off that goes onto an appropriate fan socket on the motherboard (or a three pin power lead on the PSU if there is one).

 

Last but not least where is the optimal position for the temp sensor on the CPU? Obviously not on the die itself but what's the best place for it? As for the other 3 sensors any suggestions for placement?

 

Thanks

[zkissane]

I've got 4 fan leads each with 2 connectors one for the fan in and the other I assume to plug into various motherboard fan sockets.

 

Yes, sort of. You plug the fan into the male connector from the CoolPanel. That provides the power. If you want, you can plug the female connector from the CoolPanel into the motherboard; that simply passes on the rotation speed so that the motherboard sensors can pick it up (for review in the BIOS screen or on MBM).

 

Obviously, the CoolPanel monitors the rotation speed regardless of if you hook the connector to your motherboard.

 

So first of all I have a non-controlled Sharkoon fan to stick onto the XP90c cooler, can I run this through the panel and plug it into the CPU FAN power socket?

 

Yes.

 

The two 120mm fans have both 4 pin and three pin leads. I assume both of these will need connecting with the three pin going through the fan controller unit?

 

Yes. However, my experience with the CoolPanel2 says that you don't want more than 1 120mm fan per channel (using something like this), unless you take out the RPM sensing wire. The lowest you can set the fan alarm is 600RPM. You can't disable it (without breaking the buzzer itself ). Having more than one fan messes up the RPM sensing, and the panel will set off the alarm intermittantly. If you remove the RPM sensing wire, though, and reset the panel it will simply think the fan doesn't support RPM monitoring and will leave you (and your ears) alone.

 

Finally there's also another fan holder which will also have a sharkoon fan in there to aid airflow and again like the cpu fan I assume this plugs into the coolpanel and then the lead off that goes onto an appropriate fan socket on the motherboard (or a three pin power lead on the PSU if there is one).

 

Again, the male plug from the panel provides power. If you want to monitor the fan's speed in your BIOS or in something like MBM, then plug the female connector into the motherboard. Otherwise, tuck it somewhere out of the way. Don't bother plugging it into your power supply; it won't do anything.

 

I don't know where or how to "glue" the temperature probes in place. I don't seriously use them; I've just haphazardly slipped #1 in between the heatsink clip and the PCB on the "bottom" (i.e. the part that actually points up when it's mounted in the PCI-X slot) of my video card.

[Guest Juggler]

GRIN.

 

Thanks for the reply it helped me make sure I didn't make any mistakes. New rig is up and running with the CPU sitting below 30c most of the time. Looks like I got it right.