I want to fill all the fan ports on my case with PWM fans. But seeing how PWM fans run pretty loud on 100%, I was wondering to connect them to the motherboard 4pin headers with 4pin splitters instead of those splitters that require a molex adapter with it. However, I do not want to overload the motherboard's 4pin header and fry the board. Is it overkill to have all PWM fans for a CM Storm Scout II? And would a 4pin Y splitter for one motherboard 4pin header be too much load on it? Since it does have to double the voltage to keep the two fans running at the same rpms.
PWM fans overkill?
- Thread starter MugenKb1
- Start date
Solution
I see. I'm thinking of putting at least a couple of PWM fans in the case. For sure one on the side panel outlet of the scout II to cool the graphics card, and one on the top rear exhaust (or should I place it on the top exhaust ports?). My motherboard is an MSI Z77-G45, so it has 3, 4pin headers. So that leaves me with one 4 pin header for my cpu fan.
Because then it would mean that they're running at 100% right? Since the PSU connectors won't be connected to the motherboard. And all the 4pin to molex splitters that I've found online only have 1, 4 pin connector on it, and the others are 3 pin connectors. Kind of defeats the purpose IMO.
Why not use a simple fan controller like the NZXT Sentry 2? If I remember right (It's been a while) Manual control is better from my experience. Somewhat inexpensive (Frys.com had them pretty cheap, once upon a time) and not hard to wire up and work with. From what I remember though, these don't play nice with PWM fans, so you can get less expensive fans and manually adjust them.
It's can't take PWM fans, but honestly for simple case fans, your throwing money away. I've used these in a LOT of my builds (which is my profession BTW) and have never had a problem. They move enough air and are dead quiet.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103052&nm_mc=KNC-GoogleAdwords&cm_mmc=KNC-GoogleAdwords-_-pla-_-Case+Fans-_-N82E16835103052&gclid=CLv1opn-j7cCFWXZQgodux0AwQ
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103052&nm_mc=KNC-GoogleAdwords&cm_mmc=KNC-GoogleAdwords-_-pla-_-Case+Fans-_-N82E16835103052&gclid=CLv1opn-j7cCFWXZQgodux0AwQ
44.73 is enough, plus you are using 4 of them so take into account how much air that is total. I always try to use the same amount of fans for intake as exhaust, but some prefer more positive air pressure (more fans pulling air in then exhausting). It all depends on the case, and make sure you research it well.
Edit:
I looked at your case and the specs and some reviews. I'm not convinced it's all that great if your after cooling. It's pretty, but no top 120MM fan (stock), kind of odd placement of 2 fans on the side panel (I say odd because they won't really help in cooling off a primary video card. They sit too low. Might be good for cooling off a second card or the PSU though as well as bringing air into the case, which most reviews said was desperately needed.) so unless your married to the idea of this case it might be best to return it and get something in the same price range, but better reviewed. Personally I like the Antec 300 and 302 cases (the 302 is better, has better cooling, USB 3.0 and good cable management.)
I don't mean to bash. And the point of this thread was PWM fans, and overall cooling. The fans I recommended will help. But you can only do so much with a design that is, well, flawed I think. But it does look very nice!
Edit:
I looked at your case and the specs and some reviews. I'm not convinced it's all that great if your after cooling. It's pretty, but no top 120MM fan (stock), kind of odd placement of 2 fans on the side panel (I say odd because they won't really help in cooling off a primary video card. They sit too low. Might be good for cooling off a second card or the PSU though as well as bringing air into the case, which most reviews said was desperately needed.) so unless your married to the idea of this case it might be best to return it and get something in the same price range, but better reviewed. Personally I like the Antec 300 and 302 cases (the 302 is better, has better cooling, USB 3.0 and good cable management.)
I don't mean to bash. And the point of this thread was PWM fans, and overall cooling. The fans I recommended will help. But you can only do so much with a design that is, well, flawed I think. But it does look very nice!
My case is a CM Storm Scout II. I think I may end up with more intake than exhaust fans. I'll keep the two stock fans in the front, and fill up the two side panel fan ports (thinking of putting in a PWM one there along with a regular 3pin one for the graphics card) and I guess one intake fan on the bottom near the PSU. And exhaust would be the rear, and the two fan ports on the top. Thinking of putting one PWM fan for the exhaust as well.
I initially wanted to put a PWM fan in the front intake in place of one of the stock fans, but I don't have enough 4pin headers on the motherboard to do so.
ksham
Splendid
- Mar 29, 2013
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Well the problem really isn't splitting a header to supply two fans. You can do that. One extra fan isn't going to kill the motherboard.
The motherboard controls the fan's speed by upping or lowering its current depending on the temperature. But splitters suck at reporting the actual current between the two fans. They usually report the current as the sum total, which would then mean that the motherboard cannot control them properly.
The motherboard controls the fan's speed by upping or lowering its current depending on the temperature. But splitters suck at reporting the actual current between the two fans. They usually report the current as the sum total, which would then mean that the motherboard cannot control them properly.
ksham
Splendid
- Mar 29, 2013
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I wouldn't recommend PWM fans for anything outside of the CPU cooler fans. But my point was that if you want to run your setup with PWM fans, then you can use a splitter for the top and rear fans and plug that into one 4-pin header on the motherboard. Then you can have the other two motherboard fan headers for something else. While the motherboard may not be able to correctly control the exhaust fan's speeds to the proper voltage, it doesn't matter because you don't need a powerful exhaust fan. Hot air naturally rises so you can technically live without the top exhaust fan anyway. Get my point?
Yup, got it. What do you think about these?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812311002
are they actually drawing 100% of the power from the PSU or still some from the connection to the motherboard? I think I would rather use these than a 4pin splitter just to be on the safe side for the sake of my motherboard.
ksham
Splendid
- Mar 29, 2013
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That doesn't look bad. I can't speak from experience though because I've never used that product. The only Evercool product that I've used thus far are their fans. But yes, you can plug it into either the motherboard header or into the PSU with the molex connector. Most fans nowadays come with a split like that so it's pretty common.
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