Need help with 3 pin fan power adapters.

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Mrnix

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Hi, simple question here;
My MB only has 1 3-pin connector on it and I'm about to buy a new case which has capability of holding 7 fans. My current case is Dell XPS 8300 which a pile of s**t with pretty much no air flow and only came with one fan at the rear. I'm also upgrading my GPU from a 560 ti to 660 ti (top) which needs good cooling for it to run optimally, which my case cannot provide. Problem here is that the MB that came with the XPS 8300 only has one 3 pin fan connector and I want at least 3 fans for my new case, which is the Aerocool xPredator x1 (Black), so I want a way that I can power/connect 3 fans into the Motherboard. I don't want a new MB because I'm not qualified and can't afford more parts at the moment.

Case: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B008XC6N0S/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE

Fans: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Corsair-CO-9050006-WW-Series-Edition-Pressure/dp/B007RESFR2/ref=pd_bxgy_computers_img_y

Card: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ASUS-GeForce-GTX-660-Ti-DirectCU-II-Top-2GB-GDDR5-PCI-Express-3-0-1059MHz-6008M-/300873477131?pt=UK_Computing_Computer_Components_Graphics_Video_TV_Cards_TW&hash=item460d74ec0b

Thanks in advance :)
 
Solution
wiggbot
The splitter I mentioned will actually connect to your cpu fan as well.
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812119248

Basically, you plug the cpu fan into the adaptor, and then the adaptor into your cpu fan header. Your cpu fan will function exactly as it did, but now every 4 pin case fan you plug into the case fan connectors will be controlled identically to the cpu fan. So, when you're doing something that heats up your cpu and in turn causes your cpu fan to spin faster, so will your case fans. This is a nice and easy solution to controlling case fans. Your computer is quiet at idle and only spins up the fans when it needs it.

You can get simple y splitters for system fan headers will work too, but I start to get a...
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wiggbot

wiggbot

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You don't need to run the case fans off the mobo fan headers. As mentioned, you can always just hook them up directly to a free molex connector. This will run them at max, and most likely will be loud.

There is a free/cheap way, and a more expensive way.

A free or cheap way is to make a custom crossover cable so that the case fans do not get the full 12 volts, but either 5 or 7 volts. Essentially, you cut and re-solder a molex cable to give you what you want. So, if you want 7 volts, you connect 12 volts to your fan + and 5 volts to you fan -. 12 - 5 = 7 volts. To get 5 volts, you connect 5 volts to your fan + and ground your fan -.

A slightly more expensive method is to use a y splitter cable. Essentially, you connect one end to the PSU, one to the cpu fan header, one to your cpu fan, and the rest to your case fans. Using this method automatically adjusts your case fans (provided they are 4 pin fans) according to your cpu pwm output. So, when your cpu warms up and your computer tells your cpu fan to spin faster, it'll increase the speed of all of your case fans as well.

The most expensive option would be to get a standalone fan controller. While these give you the most control, they are pretty expensive for what they are and take up a slot in your computer.
 
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Mrnix

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Ok, thanks for the quick response. In regards to your y-splitter solution,you mentioned that the splitter should connect the cpu fan but mine is already plugged in and powered. It looks like I basically need a splitter that can be come out of my MB's one 3 pin slot and go out into more 3 pins to power all of my fans. Also, my board doesn't have any remaining molex connectors so all fans are going to be powered through one slot and the fans I'm getting are quiet so them being on full power isn't a problem (I have a corsair 650 w psu). SO are there Y splitters than have lots of outputs for 3-4+ fans safely without blowing the one cable or slot as they are powering lots of fans?
My specs;
Intel core i7 2600 (non k) 3.4 ghz
8 gb ram
650 watt psu
Asus 560 dcu ti >> soon to be Asus 660 ti dcu top

You also mentioned a fan controller but I don't care for the control, just being able to have multiple fans. Is there also another option to power 3 pin fans, for e.g
These are some of my PSU outputs/specs;
- 8x SATA Connectors
- 2x PCI-Express Connectors
- 8x 4pin Molex Connectors - Ok, so here I have tons of 4pin Molex connectors availble, so if I can find some 12mm 4 pin fans, can I connect them to these?
- 80plus Bronze Certified Efficiency
 
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wiggbot

wiggbot

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The splitter I mentioned will actually connect to your cpu fan as well.
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812119248

Basically, you plug the cpu fan into the adaptor, and then the adaptor into your cpu fan header. Your cpu fan will function exactly as it did, but now every 4 pin case fan you plug into the case fan connectors will be controlled identically to the cpu fan. So, when you're doing something that heats up your cpu and in turn causes your cpu fan to spin faster, so will your case fans. This is a nice and easy solution to controlling case fans. Your computer is quiet at idle and only spins up the fans when it needs it.

You can get simple y splitters for system fan headers will work too, but I start to get a little nervous about putting too many fans on a single one. I'm sure it isn't a big concern, but you are pushing some current through them, especially on starting the fans.

You can indeed connect fans directly to your 4 pin molex cables off your PSU. The only issue there is that they will run at full speed without the ability to control them. If you don't mind noise, that'll work and be by far the easiest method. Depending on your case, running case fans at full speed may not be necessary.
 
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Solution
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Mrnix

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The splitter cable you linked me here looks good but I don't understand where to connect the PSU cable as my PSU has cables coming out of it, it doesn't have any sockets on the box to plug anything into. Also, could you tell me which cables on the PSU I can plug a 4 pin fan into. In other words, which cable is the molex cable capable of connecting to my fans? >> http://c1.neweggimages.com/NeweggImage/productimage/17-139-005-06.jpg << Pic of my PSU wiring
My Motherboard also has 2 spare sata slot left.
 
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wiggbot

wiggbot

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Sorry, I guess I skimmed over that part.

That harness is powered by a spare 4 pin molex connector from your PSU. What this means is that all of the fans connected to that harness get their power directly from the PSU, instead of through the motherboard. The reason one of those connects to the cpu header is to get the pwm signal that controls how fast the fans spin. This pwm signal is distributed to all of the fans, and this is how they are all controlled the same.

If you were to power all of the fans off of the cpu header, there would be a danger of wrecking the header due to too much current.
 
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Mrnix

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Quick question, Thinking about it now I like the thought of having control of my fans as I spend a lot of time mucking around and not putting stress on my system so I want the fans to be quiet when they're not needed.
Here is what I'm looking at; http://www.scan.co.uk/products/aerocool-f4xt-adjustable-fan-controller-4-sets-of-fans-with-3-adjustable-speeds?utm_source=google+shopping&utm_medium=google+shopping
Yeah the question... I know this sounds dumb but how is the controller powered? Sata or 4 pin or what?
 
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Mrnix

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