Zotty decided to go crazy with an iCUE LINK water cooled 9000D build and totally max out the case with 28x iCUE LINK QX120 RGB fans in a push-pull config. They wrote out a build log for this section of the build. Everything below this is in their own words. Enjoy.
For those interested in building a new PC with the CORSAIR 9000D or considering upgrading your current 9000D setup to maximize its cooling capabilities, here is a guide on how to install a substantial number of CORSAIR iCUE LINK RGB Fans on CORSAIR radiators. When I say a substantial number, I really mean business.
I figured I would share how I went about connecting up my 28x iCUE LINK QX120 RGB 120mm PWM PC Fans that are mounted to my 4 x CORSAIR Radiators.
CORSAIR Parts List
Using the above, I will show you how to connect all 28 fans in such a way that you stay within device limits and do not have to worry about any limited power situations. ( I will not be showing or explaining power or USB connections in this guide. If you got this far, I suspect you already have this knowledge.)
The current limits are no more than 12 devices per channel on the iCUE LINK System Hub, totaling 24 devices per hub.
I will configure a single iCUE LINK System Hub for the two Hydro X Series XR7 480mm Water Cooling Radiators at the front of the 9000D, and another iCUE LINK System Hub for the two Hydro X Series XR7 360mm Water Cooling Radiators at the top of the 9000D.
This Diagram should help you visualise what we are trying to achieve.
Let's start with the Front of the Case.
I found that the simplest way to prevent issues with Fittings and RGB connections being overly close is to simply avoid using them altogether, as illustrated below.
Instead, go to the other end of the fans (in my case, at the top of the fans rather than the bottom) and loop over from the back of the radiators to the front of the radiators using 2 x iCUE LINK Cable, 2x 135mm with Slim 90° connectors as shown below.
You will now need to connect two iCUE LINK cables, one 600mm with straight/slim 90° connectors to the other end of the fans you have just connected to.
This leaves you with two cables that you will route into the back of the case.
Now that you have fed the cables into the back of the case, we can take a look at hooking them up to the two hubs needed.
Now this is where Device limits come into play. We have 16x fans on 2x radiators and are treating each radiator as a bank of 8 fans. You can route one bank of 8x fans directly to the iCUE LINK System Hub.
The other bank of 8x fans you will route to the iCUE LINK 4-Way Signal Splitter
And now you need to connect the iCUE LINK 4-Way Signal Splitter to the empty channel on the iCUE LINK System Hub, which brings us back to this image.
Now that everything is connected, it's just a matter of supplying power and a USB data connection to the iCUE LINK System Hub.
This will keep you within device limits and allow you to have all 16 fans and the iCUE LINK XD5 RGB ELITE LCD Pump/Reservoir Combo under the same device tab/group in iCUE. This allows you to tie Fan and Pump Curves together and view data such as fan/pump speeds/temperatures, etc.
Top Fan Configuration
Of course, you now know you need to connect the fans on the side of the radiators using the 2 x iCUE LINK Cable, 2 x 135mm with slim 90° connectors, and attach the 2 x iCUE LINK Cable, 1 x 600mm with straight/slim 90° connectors, just like you did with the front radiator/fans.
This is mine
Again, I connected everything in the same way as I did the front, using one of the iCUE LINK 4-Way Signal Splitters to allow me to add the iCUE LINK XD5 RGB ELITE LCD Pump/Reservoir Combo and keep things grouped together in iCUE.
Well, that about wraps things up for LINK connections. As I progress with the build, I will cover power and cable control.
As always, I'm happy to help on whatever platforms you find me: Zotty on the forum and Discord, and Z0TTY on Reddit.
Good luck on your quest.