What’s the Difference Between CPU Fan And CPU OPT Fan?

In this article, we shall discuss the two separate, but confusingly similar headers on your motherboard that both seem to refer to a CPU fan.

To sum up, the regular CPU fan is designed to be the main fan for cooling your CPU. CPU OPT fan is used as an extra fan in case you need more than one connection for a different CPU cooling solution.

Why exactly are they called that way? Can they be interchanged? And what about the other fan headers in my motherboard? Read on below.

What Is A CPU Fan Header?

Commonly designated as CPU_FAN, this is a basic connection pin on your motherboard dedicated to a fan designed to cool the CPU.

It has four pins, which provide power, ground, sensing, and speed control features. It also has a notch on one side, so that the connector on the fan can only be plugged onto it on one side.

While the pin configuration of the CPU fan header is the same as with most fan headers on the motherboard, the specific CPU_FAN header has a built-in check and failsafe.

If there is no connected fan to it, the system will assume that your CPU does not have a fan installed, and will refuse to properly boot.

Furthermore, the CPU_FAN port will typically be situated near the CPU’s cooling system (near the VRMs, or adjacent to the DIMM slots).

The location is typically convenient enough so that the wires can be easily routed for optimal cable management.

What Is A CPU OPT Fan Header?

This one is designated as CPU_OPT, which stands for CPU Optional. As the name suggests, it is an additional header reserved for non-basic configurations for CPU cooling solutions.

A simple illustration is when the cooler has more than one fan. Coolers like DeepCool’s AK620 or Arctic’s Freezer eSports 34 Duo come with two separate 120mm fans.

All fans will have their own connectors, with one connected to the main CPU_FAN port, and the other connected to the CPU_OPT port.

While the CPU OPT fan header does not have the same boot time failsafe as the main CPU fan header, it can still provide minimal monitoring and diagnostic functions.

At the very least, the connector can tell if the fan connected to it has a potential malfunction.

Can You Use The Two Fan Headers Interchangeably?

If the linked devices are alike, then you can exchange them anytime.

But if the connections are different, such as when connecting fans and pumps from AIOs, then it is recommended to plug the fan to the main CPU_FAN header for less confusing diagnostics.

What About The Other Fan Headers On The Motherboard?

CHA_FAN and SYS_FAN are designated for chassis fans and system fans correspondingly. These are allocated for more customizable or robust fans.

It is good to note that even though these headers have individual labels, you can actually mix and match compatible hardware between them.

Simply ensure that the fans in the case are constructed and positioned to offer the best air flow needed for your computer.