Is my CoolerMaster MasterLiquid ML240L V2 defective?
Is my CoolerMaster MasterLiquid ML240L V2 defective?
Your motherboard lacks a pump header setup. You should have it configured properly. In the images, you can see 1 to 1 or 2 to 2 options. Check your BIOS for fan controls. Look for an option indicating whether your CPU_FAN header supports an AIO pump. If not, set it to always run at full speed and connect the AIO accordingly. This should resolve your temperature concerns.
Hello, thanks for your response. It makes me question my earlier assumption even though I believed I was correct. Initially, I connected the pump with three pins to the CPU_fan header (as you described) and used a splitter on sys_fan1 (two pins as per your notes). You can view it here; the fan splitter is located behind that Aorus cover. I was testing whether switching the pump cable from the CPU fan to the Sys fan and setting the Sys fan speed to 100 would make a difference. Regarding the second point, I opened the BIOS now and found an option to set the CPU fan to pump in—a feature I hadn’t noticed before. Would this change anything beyond setting the fan speed to maximum? I assumed the CPU fan was always at 100%, and I expected that too, especially when connected directly to the PSU via MOLEX.
You aim to configure the pump plug into full capacity so fluid moves freely. Next, you let the CPU temperature manage fan speed for the AIO. As the CPU warms, fans increase rotation to dissipate more heat in the radiator. Also, verify the mounting pressure with the AIO—it appears inconsistent. There’s almost no thermal paste remaining in the area I highlighted, though there’s more than expected on the "top left" of the CPU.
Regarding the paste, it could have affected the outcome when I was tightening the screws. I plan to reassemble everything and adjust the BIOS settings on Smart Fan 5. Will this change how the pump functions across all fan headers? Also, what are your thoughts on the noise you heard in the video? Thanks for your assistance.
This setup lets you choose which sensor on the motherboard measures temperature. You could set the fan header for the AIO to 100% and keep it unchanged, or let the CPU temperature control the radiator fans using a standard curve. It sounds like you're hearing air movement, which is difficult to discern. On a workstation with Dell speakers, if you're concerned, try rotating the CPU block to improve airflow before mounting the AIO.
I'm worried about a high-pitched noise followed by a rattle. There might also be bubbles or water moving, and one hose felt warmer than the other. Using my infrared thermometer, I saw temperatures of 50°C and 35°C. I plan to reinstall it and follow your instructions with the pump before mounting. I didn't do this the first time, only with the radiator, and I'll let you know what I find.
I couldn't hear a high pitch noise. That being said, I'm in a heavy equipment shop with those crappy speakers. I've got almost 75dB background noise and they're doing some testing on a drill, so there's already high pitch electric motor sounds going. This is probably a big part of the problem that I read, but didn't notice as well. 3 pin is a DC header. 4 pin is PWM. DC tells the fan, or AIO, Here's x voltage. Spin as fast as you can. PWM, sends pulses to change the speed of the fan or AIO. When you plug the AIO back in and go to tell it to spin at 100% full time, change that header to DC mode instead of PWM as well. I saw you say 3 pin, but the manual made it look like a 4 pin connector so I figured it was a typo. Then I looked at the pictures closer.
I revisited the BIOS settings again, and here’s what I found. It seems any fan RPM can be shown in flow L/m, likely just converting data without additional function. Regarding the fan, I can switch from PMW to Voltage mode, and it’s been set to Auto automatically. Spoiler: it works.
Adjust to voltage, using DC as the setting. Move the markers on the chart to 100%. It’s best for the AIO pump to run at full speed or nearly so. The greater the water contact with copper, the cooler your CPU becomes. You’ll notice a slight temperature drop after tweaking those two controls.