Question Fan on pump header?

[beginner99]

Can I connect a normal fan to the motherboards water pump header?

The mobo in question has a header labled AIO pump with same specs as all fan headers (max current and wattage). Not too worried about that one also as google search seems to confirm this is fine.

However there is also a header named wpump header and in the manual this is labeled with higher max amperage and wattage. So can I still connect a fan to it and it will simply output lower current or will it kill my fan if I connect it?

 

[Paperdoc]

Don't worry about the current. The header supplies a regulated VOLTAGE and the normal impedance of the motor determines the current. The spec for current is the max that header can supply to a load that will allow very high current, but it is NOT a factor when you're connecting a single plain fan. There are SOME pumps sold as components of a DIY liquid cooling system that may draw more than the common 1.0 A current when fed a 12 VDC supply, so that is why there is a special "W_PUMP" header with a higher max current available.

Using the AIO_PUMP header for a single fan is no problem electrically. The issues involved are failure detection and control strategy.
1. The header will monitor the fan's speed signal for fan failure and warn you about that, might even take stronger action. Normally this would be monitoring the PUMP of an AIO system, and that is a vital component of CPU cooling, so it puts extra effort into that. As long as your actual CPU cooling system IS plugged into another place that does similar failure monitoring - the CPU_FAN header - then your CPU is being protected adequately from such a failure. You just need to know that, if you ever get a waring that the AIO Pump has failed, it has not - the failure is the FAN you connected to that header.
2. Control of the CPU_FAN header is based on measurement of actual temperature by a sensor inside the CPU chip. Control of case ventilation fans connected to a SYS_FAN or CHA_FAN header normally is based on a different sensor on the mobo. On some mobos, when you use the AIO_PUMP header its configuration options allow you to select that mobo header for its guidance. On others, however, you do not have this choice - the AIO_PUMP header may only have use of the CPU internal sensor and no other option is shown. While this is not a huge issue, IF you have the option it's a good idea to choose the mobo sensor for case ventilation fans.

EDIT (correct my error)
In item 2 above I said, "select that mobo header for its guidance..." That should have said use the mono SENSOR..."

 

[beginner99]

Thanks for your reply. Yes normal CPU fan is connected. It's simply I have that many fans and if using pump header works I prefer it over a seprate fan controller. These are low RPM fans so even with out control at full speed barely make any noise.

 

[Paperdoc]

I fully agree you do not need an added fan controller.