Do You Want CPU OPT When You Have CPU FAN?

Once you have a look at your laptop’s motherboard, chances are you’ll discover a CPU OPT one shut by as soon as you discover the CPU FAN header. Though at first look its that means is evident, its actual perform could be a full thriller to new {hardware} lovers. Let’s demystify that CPU OPT header and clarify the way it works and what it does!

What Is CPU OPT?

The CPU OPT header in your motherboard is an additional port for distinctive equipment that you could be wish to add to your processor’s cooling unit. You’d often use it for specialised coolers that use a number of followers or water-cooling setups.

Functionally, CPU OPT is similar as CPU FAN, offering a 12-volt DC connection at a minimal of 1 amp. A CPU cooler producer would require this machine connection to make sure that it will get sufficient energy by way of the whole system to chill the chip adequately.

CPU OPT vs. CPU FAN

Regardless of their virtually equivalent perform, there are just a few key variations between these two headers. See beneath for a fast abstract.

In brief, when you’ve got a CPU cooler, its main connection ought to all the time be CPU FAN. In any other case, you danger damaging the integrity of your system, and your motherboard will certainly refuse in addition the system. In lots of circumstances, it could refuse to go wherever previous the power-on self-test (POST).

Additionally useful: there’s rather more concerned in PC airflow than CPU followers. Study the ins and outs of consumption and exhaust followers to raised defend your desktop PC.

Is CPU OPT Essential?

CPU OPT is an important a part of your motherboard’s ecosystem, compartmentalizing between main and secondary cooling tools. This provides you the room it’s essential experiment with issues like splitters and even some case followers, so long as all the things you connect with it requires lower than one amp altogether.

CPU FAN ought to solely be used for the “important” cooler fan, and that is it. Do not connect the rest there!

What About Splitters?

Since most splitters obtainable on-line don’t let you know which fan header they need to be linked to, it is easy to imagine that CPU OPT is not wanted in your motherboard and that you may simply put a splitter on CPU FAN.

Nonetheless, this could result in undesirable system efficiency. Splitter cables for fan headers add one other level of failure in a system the place rather a lot can go fallacious already. The cooler may have improper thermal contact, the fan could possibly be improperly linked, or the cooler could possibly be faulty.

You’d should spend further time diagnosing these points in the event you add a splitter on high of all the things else that is between the CPU FAN header and your chip (e.g., Thermal Paste -> Cooler contact -> Fan -> Fan cable -> Fan connector -> CPU FAN header).

Tip: in the event you discover your PC is not performing effectively, chances are you’ll wish to calm down your CPU, because it could possibly be overheating.

Can I Use Case Followers on CPU OPT?

Completely! So long as all the things linked to the CPU OPT header attracts lower than one amp of energy (strongest followers use about 0.3 amps), you’ll be able to join no matter you wish to your coronary heart’s content material!

Simply verify how a lot amperage every element requires for regular operation, and be certain that it provides as much as lower than your 1-amp price range. Some motherboards will put extra amperage by way of CPU OPT than CPU FAN, so verify your motherboard’s guide to see whether or not you will have some bonus allowance you’ll be able to benefit from.

Along with this, you would go for a fan hub that makes use of an exterior energy supply (like a SATA energy cable, which might present 54 Watts of energy). This manner, you now not have to fret about an amperage price range.

Good to know: in case your PC followers appear too loud, chances are you’ll wish to carry out some primary repairs.

A Phrase on AIO Water Coolers

Whilst computer systems have develop into a lot simpler to assemble than within the quagmire years of the 90s, the shortage of standardization of water coolers remains to be considerably current. The method remains to be fairly simple, so long as you keep on with the directions in your system.

AIO water coolers are supposed to be the simplest to put in, however might generally provide you with some obscure directions on the place to attach the 4-pin header. A header meant to regulate the followers ought to all the time be linked to the CPU FAN.

Most often the place there are two 4-pin headers, one could be meant for the followers, and the opposite would energy the pump. Be sure that the fan header is linked to the CPU FAN and the pump header goes to the AIO PUMP port of your motherboard. In case your motherboard would not have one, verify the producer’s directions to see whether or not it is attainable to place it in CPU OPT.

To keep away from confusion, most AIO coolers would require a SATA energy connection out of your energy provide and an extra USB header to regulate sure options by way of software program (e.g., LED colours, pulse-width modulation, and results).

Learn your producer’s directions very fastidiously to keep away from working your system with an improper cooler connection.

Going a Little Additional

If you have not but bought a cooler on your CPU and are nonetheless pondering on what to place in your CPU FAN and CPU OPT ports, take a look at our information on what tools it’s best to get, and weigh the professionals and cons your self!

Remember that the cooling setup is not the one factor that your CPU’s efficiency lives and dies on. You must also look into what sort of voltage regulators your motherboard has. A brand new motherboard may truly give your CPU a splash of life if it is not performing because it ought to.

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