A noob question

D3ftOn3Z

D3ftOn3Z

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My mobo has only 1 chassis fan connector. Let's say i want to connect 3 fans to it. How do i go about? I read somewhere that i need a fan cable splitter in order to achieve this. Is it reliable? Any other way to connect them?

My mobo specs : ASUSTeK Computer Inc. -Support- Specification P5G41-M LE
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
D3f's Customs
OS
Win 7 Ultimate SP1 x64
CPU
Intel Pentium Dual Core E5300 OC'd @ 3GHz
Motherboard
Asus P5G41-M LE
Memory
Kingston 2x2GB DDR2-800 Dual Channel SDRAM
Graphics Card(s)
Integrated Intel GMA X4500
Sound Card
Realtek 5.1 HD Audio (ALC887)
Monitor(s) Displays
LG Flatron W1943S @ 60Hz
Screen Resolution
1360 x 768
Hard Drives
Internal - WD Caviar Blue 500GB, External - WD My Passport Essential 500GB
PSU
Headway 450w PSU
Case
Pixxo Slim Black mATX Case
Cooling
Stock Cpu Fan, 1 x Top Case Fan
Keyboard
Logitech K120
Mouse
Logitech LS1 Laser Mouse
Internet Speed
17.66Mb/s Down, 0.82Mb/s Up
Other Info
Creative SBS A300 2.1 Speaker System, LG GH22NS50 22x Internal Super-Multi DVD-RW, 2Wire 5012NV Wireless Modem Router
You could always buy some fans that run off the PSU instead of the Mobo? Sometimes the headers on the motherboard don't meet the power requirements of more powerful fans.
 

My Computer

OS
Windows 7 Professional x64 Backtrack 4 R2
CPU
Intel Core i5-650
Motherboard
Gigabyte P55-UD3
Memory
4 GB Geil PC3 12800
Graphics Card(s)
HIS HD 4870 X2
Sound Card
Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Champion
Monitor(s) Displays
BenQ 22" G2220HD
Hard Drives
Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 500GB
Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 500GB
PSU
Antec High Current Gamer 620W Power Supply
Case
Thermaltake Armor+ MX
Keyboard
Microsoft SideWinder X6
Mouse
Razer Abyssus

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Me
OS
Win 7 Ultimate x64
CPU
FX-8350 @ 4.6 GHz so far
Motherboard
Asus M5A97 EVO
Memory
ADATA XPG V1 Series Black 8GB DDR3 1600
Graphics Card(s)
Sapphire R9 270x Dual-X
Sound Card
Xonar DGX w/ Corsair Vengence 1300
Monitor(s) Displays
Acer S232HL Abid
Screen Resolution
1920x1080
Hard Drives
120 GB OCZ Vertex 3
500 GB Seagate 7200.12
PSU
Antec Earthwatts 650W Green
Case
Antec Three Hundred
Cooling
Cooler Master 212 EVO
Keyboard
Logitech G510
Mouse
Logitech G500s
Internet Speed
35000/3000
Clinkz said:
You could always buy some fans that run off the PSU instead of the Mobo? Sometimes the headers on the motherboard don't meet the power requirements of more powerful fans.
Click to expand...
I see. What i'm looking at is the CM 120mm fans. Is it ok? & what kind of fans that run off the PSU. Sorry, i don't know much abt hardware. :o
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
D3f's Customs
OS
Win 7 Ultimate SP1 x64
CPU
Intel Pentium Dual Core E5300 OC'd @ 3GHz
Motherboard
Asus P5G41-M LE
Memory
Kingston 2x2GB DDR2-800 Dual Channel SDRAM
Graphics Card(s)
Integrated Intel GMA X4500
Sound Card
Realtek 5.1 HD Audio (ALC887)
Monitor(s) Displays
LG Flatron W1943S @ 60Hz
Screen Resolution
1360 x 768
Hard Drives
Internal - WD Caviar Blue 500GB, External - WD My Passport Essential 500GB
PSU
Headway 450w PSU
Case
Pixxo Slim Black mATX Case
Cooling
Stock Cpu Fan, 1 x Top Case Fan
Keyboard
Logitech K120
Mouse
Logitech LS1 Laser Mouse
Internet Speed
17.66Mb/s Down, 0.82Mb/s Up
Other Info
Creative SBS A300 2.1 Speaker System, LG GH22NS50 22x Internal Super-Multi DVD-RW, 2Wire 5012NV Wireless Modem Router
stormy13 said:
Something like this,

Newegg.com - StarTech 6.02" 6in TX3 Fan Power Splitter Cable Model TX3SPLITTER

Using a molex splitter (or adapter if the fans don't have molex connectoes) or a fan controller,

Newegg.com - Sunbeam RHK-BA Rheobus 5.25" Bay 4 Channel 20W Fan Controller Panel (Black)

would be a better option as there is no chance of possibly overloading the header on the motherboard and damaging either it or the motherboard.
Click to expand...
Thanks. The 1st link is the one i'm talking about. & is it compulsory to install the fan controller? Could i just use the cable splitter only? :)
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
D3f's Customs
OS
Win 7 Ultimate SP1 x64
CPU
Intel Pentium Dual Core E5300 OC'd @ 3GHz
Motherboard
Asus P5G41-M LE
Memory
Kingston 2x2GB DDR2-800 Dual Channel SDRAM
Graphics Card(s)
Integrated Intel GMA X4500
Sound Card
Realtek 5.1 HD Audio (ALC887)
Monitor(s) Displays
LG Flatron W1943S @ 60Hz
Screen Resolution
1360 x 768
Hard Drives
Internal - WD Caviar Blue 500GB, External - WD My Passport Essential 500GB
PSU
Headway 450w PSU
Case
Pixxo Slim Black mATX Case
Cooling
Stock Cpu Fan, 1 x Top Case Fan
Keyboard
Logitech K120
Mouse
Logitech LS1 Laser Mouse
Internet Speed
17.66Mb/s Down, 0.82Mb/s Up
Other Info
Creative SBS A300 2.1 Speaker System, LG GH22NS50 22x Internal Super-Multi DVD-RW, 2Wire 5012NV Wireless Modem Router
From reading the user comments it looks like it can be used as just a splitter, with the motherboard connector only really needed if the header on the motherboard is a 4 pin PWM connector and the fans are PWM capable as well.
 

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Me
OS
Win 7 Ultimate x64
CPU
FX-8350 @ 4.6 GHz so far
Motherboard
Asus M5A97 EVO
Memory
ADATA XPG V1 Series Black 8GB DDR3 1600
Graphics Card(s)
Sapphire R9 270x Dual-X
Sound Card
Xonar DGX w/ Corsair Vengence 1300
Monitor(s) Displays
Acer S232HL Abid
Screen Resolution
1920x1080
Hard Drives
120 GB OCZ Vertex 3
500 GB Seagate 7200.12
PSU
Antec Earthwatts 650W Green
Case
Antec Three Hundred
Cooling
Cooler Master 212 EVO
Keyboard
Logitech G510
Mouse
Logitech G500s
Internet Speed
35000/3000
The controller is not mandatory.

Most fans use under 1 amp. Many under .5 amps. Unless you are using powerful fans, you can normally connect 3 to a single header by splitters.

Any fan will run off the PSU if you have a Molex connector for the fan, rather than the standard tiny 3 pin or 4 pin connection. Molex connectors go directly to the PSU, unlike 3 pin or 4 pin connectors, which go to the motherboard.

If you use Molex connectors, you don't have to wonder if you might be overloading the motherboard fan header.
 

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Ignatz Special; 4 speed manual gearbox; factory air conditioning; one of one
OS
Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, 64-bit
CPU
Intel Skylake i5-6600K, not overclocked
Motherboard
AsRock Z170M Extreme 4, micro ATX
Memory
8 GB HyperX DDR4-2666 (2 x 4 GB)
Graphics Card(s)
none; graphics are integrated on CPU
Sound Card
onboard: Realtek ALC1150; external: USB Behringer UF0-202
Monitor(s) Displays
Dell S2340M 23 inch IPS
Screen Resolution
1600 x 900
Hard Drives
System: Crucial MX100 series SSD, 128 GB;
Data: Samsung Spinpoint 103SJ, 1 TB;
Backup: WD Caviar Green WD30EZRX-00D8PB0, 3 TB
PSU
Rosewill SilentNight 500 watt fanless, semi-modular
Case
Antec Solo II
Cooling
Noctua NH-U12S; Noctua F12 intake, Noctua S12A exhaust
Keyboard
Microsoft 200 6JH-00001 USB
Mouse
Dell or Microsoft optical wired; USB
Antivirus
Microsoft Security Essentials and Malwarebytes Premium
Browser
Pale Moon
Other Info
All fans PWM; speeds at idle: CPU circa 500 rpm; intake circa 600 rpm; exhaust circa 600 rpm; CPU temps 27 idle and 47 C load in a warm room (27 C/81 F) when running Intel Extreme Tuning Utility stress test.
stormy13 said:
From reading the user comments it looks like it can be used as just a splitter, with the motherboard connector only really needed if the header on the motherboard is a 4 pin PWM connector and the fans are PWM capable as well.
Click to expand...
Thanks for yr input. :) Much appreciated.
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
D3f's Customs
OS
Win 7 Ultimate SP1 x64
CPU
Intel Pentium Dual Core E5300 OC'd @ 3GHz
Motherboard
Asus P5G41-M LE
Memory
Kingston 2x2GB DDR2-800 Dual Channel SDRAM
Graphics Card(s)
Integrated Intel GMA X4500
Sound Card
Realtek 5.1 HD Audio (ALC887)
Monitor(s) Displays
LG Flatron W1943S @ 60Hz
Screen Resolution
1360 x 768
Hard Drives
Internal - WD Caviar Blue 500GB, External - WD My Passport Essential 500GB
PSU
Headway 450w PSU
Case
Pixxo Slim Black mATX Case
Cooling
Stock Cpu Fan, 1 x Top Case Fan
Keyboard
Logitech K120
Mouse
Logitech LS1 Laser Mouse
Internet Speed
17.66Mb/s Down, 0.82Mb/s Up
Other Info
Creative SBS A300 2.1 Speaker System, LG GH22NS50 22x Internal Super-Multi DVD-RW, 2Wire 5012NV Wireless Modem Router
Yeah you should be fine if your only running 120mm fans, its when you start running fans like this Thermaltake Case Fan
 

My Computer

OS
Windows 7 Professional x64 Backtrack 4 R2
CPU
Intel Core i5-650
Motherboard
Gigabyte P55-UD3
Memory
4 GB Geil PC3 12800
Graphics Card(s)
HIS HD 4870 X2
Sound Card
Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Champion
Monitor(s) Displays
BenQ 22" G2220HD
Hard Drives
Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 500GB
Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 500GB
PSU
Antec High Current Gamer 620W Power Supply
Case
Thermaltake Armor+ MX
Keyboard
Microsoft SideWinder X6
Mouse
Razer Abyssus
ignatzatsonic said:
The controller is not mandatory.

Most fans use under 1 amp. Many under .5 amps. Unless you are using powerful fans, you can normally connect 3 to a single header by splitters.

Any fan will run off the PSU if you have a Molex connector for the fan, rather than the standard tiny 3 pin or 4 pin connection. Molex connectors go directly to the PSU, unlike 3 pin or 4 pin connectors, which go to the motherboard.

If you use Molex connectors, you don't have to wonder if you might be overloading the motherboard fan header.
Click to expand...
I see... So the recommended amp for each fan to be able to use a splitter must be 5 and below? Or any 120mm fan will do?
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
D3f's Customs
OS
Win 7 Ultimate SP1 x64
CPU
Intel Pentium Dual Core E5300 OC'd @ 3GHz
Motherboard
Asus P5G41-M LE
Memory
Kingston 2x2GB DDR2-800 Dual Channel SDRAM
Graphics Card(s)
Integrated Intel GMA X4500
Sound Card
Realtek 5.1 HD Audio (ALC887)
Monitor(s) Displays
LG Flatron W1943S @ 60Hz
Screen Resolution
1360 x 768
Hard Drives
Internal - WD Caviar Blue 500GB, External - WD My Passport Essential 500GB
PSU
Headway 450w PSU
Case
Pixxo Slim Black mATX Case
Cooling
Stock Cpu Fan, 1 x Top Case Fan
Keyboard
Logitech K120
Mouse
Logitech LS1 Laser Mouse
Internet Speed
17.66Mb/s Down, 0.82Mb/s Up
Other Info
Creative SBS A300 2.1 Speaker System, LG GH22NS50 22x Internal Super-Multi DVD-RW, 2Wire 5012NV Wireless Modem Router

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
D3f's Customs
OS
Win 7 Ultimate SP1 x64
CPU
Intel Pentium Dual Core E5300 OC'd @ 3GHz
Motherboard
Asus P5G41-M LE
Memory
Kingston 2x2GB DDR2-800 Dual Channel SDRAM
Graphics Card(s)
Integrated Intel GMA X4500
Sound Card
Realtek 5.1 HD Audio (ALC887)
Monitor(s) Displays
LG Flatron W1943S @ 60Hz
Screen Resolution
1360 x 768
Hard Drives
Internal - WD Caviar Blue 500GB, External - WD My Passport Essential 500GB
PSU
Headway 450w PSU
Case
Pixxo Slim Black mATX Case
Cooling
Stock Cpu Fan, 1 x Top Case Fan
Keyboard
Logitech K120
Mouse
Logitech LS1 Laser Mouse
Internet Speed
17.66Mb/s Down, 0.82Mb/s Up
Other Info
Creative SBS A300 2.1 Speaker System, LG GH22NS50 22x Internal Super-Multi DVD-RW, 2Wire 5012NV Wireless Modem Router
D3ftOn3Z said:
ignatzatsonic said:
The controller is not mandatory.

Most fans use under 1 amp. Many under .5 amps. Unless you are using powerful fans, you can normally connect 3 to a single header by splitters.

Any fan will run off the PSU if you have a Molex connector for the fan, rather than the standard tiny 3 pin or 4 pin connection. Molex connectors go directly to the PSU, unlike 3 pin or 4 pin connectors, which go to the motherboard.

If you use Molex connectors, you don't have to wonder if you might be overloading the motherboard fan header.
Click to expand...
I see... So the recommended amp for each fan to be able to use a splitter must be 5 and below? Or any 120mm fan will do?
Click to expand...


If you dig deeply into your motherboard specs, you may find out how many amps are available at the fan headers. It will vary from motherboard to motherboard as far as I know.

Each fan you buy will have an amp rating. I bought two 120 mm fans recently. One was rated at .3 amps. The other at .1 amp. So both on the same header would draw .4 amps. I am running both off Molex and did not look up how many amps I could run off the fan headers---but I'm sure it was more than .4 amps, so I would have been OK. I chose Molex because I had Molex connectors.
 

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Ignatz Special; 4 speed manual gearbox; factory air conditioning; one of one
OS
Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, 64-bit
CPU
Intel Skylake i5-6600K, not overclocked
Motherboard
AsRock Z170M Extreme 4, micro ATX
Memory
8 GB HyperX DDR4-2666 (2 x 4 GB)
Graphics Card(s)
none; graphics are integrated on CPU
Sound Card
onboard: Realtek ALC1150; external: USB Behringer UF0-202
Monitor(s) Displays
Dell S2340M 23 inch IPS
Screen Resolution
1600 x 900
Hard Drives
System: Crucial MX100 series SSD, 128 GB;
Data: Samsung Spinpoint 103SJ, 1 TB;
Backup: WD Caviar Green WD30EZRX-00D8PB0, 3 TB
PSU
Rosewill SilentNight 500 watt fanless, semi-modular
Case
Antec Solo II
Cooling
Noctua NH-U12S; Noctua F12 intake, Noctua S12A exhaust
Keyboard
Microsoft 200 6JH-00001 USB
Mouse
Dell or Microsoft optical wired; USB
Antivirus
Microsoft Security Essentials and Malwarebytes Premium
Browser
Pale Moon
Other Info
All fans PWM; speeds at idle: CPU circa 500 rpm; intake circa 600 rpm; exhaust circa 600 rpm; CPU temps 27 idle and 47 C load in a warm room (27 C/81 F) when running Intel Extreme Tuning Utility stress test.
ignatzatsonic said:
If you dig deeply into your motherboard specs, you may find out how many amps are available at the fan headers. It will vary from motherboard to motherboard as far as I know.

Each fan you buy will have an amp rating. I bought two 120 mm fans recently. One was rated at .3 amps. The other at .1 amp. So both on the same header would draw .4 amps. I am running both off Molex and did not look up how many amps I could run off the fan headers---but I'm sure it was more than .4 amps, so I would have been OK. I chose Molex because I had Molex connectors.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the info. I've checked my mobo manual. It's using a 3-pin connector. The total amp it can support is 3.48 A.

So 3 of these fans should be ok right?
 

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My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
D3f's Customs
OS
Win 7 Ultimate SP1 x64
CPU
Intel Pentium Dual Core E5300 OC'd @ 3GHz
Motherboard
Asus P5G41-M LE
Memory
Kingston 2x2GB DDR2-800 Dual Channel SDRAM
Graphics Card(s)
Integrated Intel GMA X4500
Sound Card
Realtek 5.1 HD Audio (ALC887)
Monitor(s) Displays
LG Flatron W1943S @ 60Hz
Screen Resolution
1360 x 768
Hard Drives
Internal - WD Caviar Blue 500GB, External - WD My Passport Essential 500GB
PSU
Headway 450w PSU
Case
Pixxo Slim Black mATX Case
Cooling
Stock Cpu Fan, 1 x Top Case Fan
Keyboard
Logitech K120
Mouse
Logitech LS1 Laser Mouse
Internet Speed
17.66Mb/s Down, 0.82Mb/s Up
Other Info
Creative SBS A300 2.1 Speaker System, LG GH22NS50 22x Internal Super-Multi DVD-RW, 2Wire 5012NV Wireless Modem Router
D3ftOn3Z said:
Thanks for the info. I've checked my mobo manual. It's using a 3-pin connector. The total amp it can support is 3.48 A.

So 3 of these fans should be ok right?
Click to expand...

Looks ok to me. Each of those fans is only .07 amps.
 

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Ignatz Special; 4 speed manual gearbox; factory air conditioning; one of one
OS
Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, 64-bit
CPU
Intel Skylake i5-6600K, not overclocked
Motherboard
AsRock Z170M Extreme 4, micro ATX
Memory
8 GB HyperX DDR4-2666 (2 x 4 GB)
Graphics Card(s)
none; graphics are integrated on CPU
Sound Card
onboard: Realtek ALC1150; external: USB Behringer UF0-202
Monitor(s) Displays
Dell S2340M 23 inch IPS
Screen Resolution
1600 x 900
Hard Drives
System: Crucial MX100 series SSD, 128 GB;
Data: Samsung Spinpoint 103SJ, 1 TB;
Backup: WD Caviar Green WD30EZRX-00D8PB0, 3 TB
PSU
Rosewill SilentNight 500 watt fanless, semi-modular
Case
Antec Solo II
Cooling
Noctua NH-U12S; Noctua F12 intake, Noctua S12A exhaust
Keyboard
Microsoft 200 6JH-00001 USB
Mouse
Dell or Microsoft optical wired; USB
Antivirus
Microsoft Security Essentials and Malwarebytes Premium
Browser
Pale Moon
Other Info
All fans PWM; speeds at idle: CPU circa 500 rpm; intake circa 600 rpm; exhaust circa 600 rpm; CPU temps 27 idle and 47 C load in a warm room (27 C/81 F) when running Intel Extreme Tuning Utility stress test.
ignatzatsonic said:
Looks ok to me. Each of those fans is only .07 amps.
Click to expand...
Now i know what kind of fan to look for... :) Kudos to you for your thorough explanation. :thumbsup: Cheers! ;)
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
D3f's Customs
OS
Win 7 Ultimate SP1 x64
CPU
Intel Pentium Dual Core E5300 OC'd @ 3GHz
Motherboard
Asus P5G41-M LE
Memory
Kingston 2x2GB DDR2-800 Dual Channel SDRAM
Graphics Card(s)
Integrated Intel GMA X4500
Sound Card
Realtek 5.1 HD Audio (ALC887)
Monitor(s) Displays
LG Flatron W1943S @ 60Hz
Screen Resolution
1360 x 768
Hard Drives
Internal - WD Caviar Blue 500GB, External - WD My Passport Essential 500GB
PSU
Headway 450w PSU
Case
Pixxo Slim Black mATX Case
Cooling
Stock Cpu Fan, 1 x Top Case Fan
Keyboard
Logitech K120
Mouse
Logitech LS1 Laser Mouse
Internet Speed
17.66Mb/s Down, 0.82Mb/s Up
Other Info
Creative SBS A300 2.1 Speaker System, LG GH22NS50 22x Internal Super-Multi DVD-RW, 2Wire 5012NV Wireless Modem Router
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