Bypassing stupid proprietary ASUS controller for Ryujin II Cooler?
Posted by theo6942069@reddit | buildapc | View on Reddit | 8 comments
Hello everyone, I recently bought 3 ROG STRIX Ryujin II coolers second hand to use in some upcoming builds. It was suspiciously low priced at €33 a pop so I made the purchase.
I knew it wouldn't come with the right mounting bracket so I bought this separately, but stupidly didn't do more research and only now after testing realized the pump fan is powered via micro-usb that needs to be connected to a controller to operate. So it's basically paperweight right now since my CPU reaches 95°C at idle without the fan spinning.
I don't have this controller and doubt I'll be able to find it at a resonable price, so thought up a workaround using multiple converters, connecting the male micro-usb connector to a 'female micro-usb to male USB-A converter' after which could connect this directly to the back of the motherboard or use a 'male USB-A to 9-pin internal USB coverter'.
Would this power the pump fan? If so would it always run at full speed or will I be able to modify/modulate the speed?
Thanks for any help or clarifications!
Zajeb_85@reddit
Hello, I know it's an old post, but I managed to bypass the stupid hub. I also got a second hand unit that did not have the hub and therefore rendering the unit useless since it delivered power to the pump(stupid Asus design) via the micro USB cable. If anyone is in need of help, I can assist with pictures and step by step guide how to do it. Long story short - removed the micro usb cable completely and soldered a classic 4pin cable to the pump PCB and that way you have a classic connection to a CPU fan (or any other) header + the 9pin USB that is needed for the screen to work and show data.
naunen@reddit
pm you
Aleksanterinleivos@reddit
It doesn't do anything without the box and you can't control any part of the cooler without both the box and Armoury Crate installed.
theo6942069@reddit (OP)
Wow that is so dumb man, I think they realized that too since the Ryujin III just uses a conventional PWM pump connector i believe.
Aleksanterinleivos@reddit
Trust me, I know. I have the same cooler collecting dust in the closet because I fucking despise Armoury Crate and will never install it on anything I own again.
I just asked Noctua for the mounting hardware and went back to running the same almost a decade old air cooler, shit just works.
theo6942069@reddit (OP)
Definitely, air cooling is simply superior. Reliable, Durable and simple. Shit like this annoys me so much, a €300 AIO that is worth nothing if you lose the damn controller. I think Corsair does this too on some of their coolers for no good reason. Have u tried using my strategy or does ASUS state somewhere that it only accepts their controllers?
Aleksanterinleivos@reddit
I have not tried plugging in random cables no, because I have no idea if that cable even uses standard USB pinout or not. Best case scenario, nothing happens. Worst case scenario, you burn your shit down because you've just short-circuited something.
But I did try searching if anyone had ever figured out how to run it without the box/software, and doesn't seem like anyone has.
I assume in theory some nerd could figure out all the pinouts and maybe with some custom wiring you could run the pump at max speed. But full control of it all would require like writing custom drivers and shit, and if that was worth the time and effort someone would have done it already years ago.
kaje@reddit
The controller probably power the pump via SATA power connector from the PSU. It's controlled via USB.