Not enough USB headers and not enough 4-pin case fan headers. heeelp

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Louis H

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I'm just waiting for my psu and gpu to arrive, but in the meantime I've been looking at the wires in my case, and trying to see where they connect to my motherboard. I have the CiT Dominator case and my motherboard is the ASRock B75 PRO3.

The first problem i found was that my case has three exterior USB 2.0 ports, but my case only has two slots. Is there any way to solve this or do i just have to deal with an inactive USB port?

Also, I have two fans on the side, two at the front and one at the back. The ones on the side have their own four pin cable and there's a button on the outside of the case to control them. On the interior there's another four pin fan cable, and I can't find another so I assume it is for the single back fan too. In total I have two four pin cables for my fans.
The problem is my case only has one four pin header. The rest are 3 pin. If I connect the side fans (which have the control button) to the four pin, and the front and back fans to a 3 pin, leaving the top quarter unconnected, will the fans still function on the three pin header? In my manual it has labelled the top pin as FAN_SPEED_CONTROL so I assume it is only necessary for the fans with the exterior button.

P.S. What does GND mean as a pin on a header? Loads of them are labelled with this
 
Solution
jb6684
Yes, 4 pin fan can connect to 3 pin header... BUT, you won't need to. Your fans have speed controllers on the front panel so use molex to 3 pin adapters (yes, three (3) pin as the fourth pin provides PWM (speed control) which a powersupply doesn't provide and again, you don't need since your case as switches to control speed) to connect those fans to the power supply NOT the motherboard....
http://www.dalco.com/p-874-3-pin-male-fan-to-4-pin-male-power-adapter-cable-6-in.aspx?gclid=CLKqzvH_zrsCFUsV7Aod7h8APg


Your case show 3 USB 2.0 and 1 USB 3.0 on the top panel
http://www.amazon.co.uk/CiT-Dominator-Reader-Interior-Control/dp/B00EOV7EH8

Your mother board:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157314

You have NO...
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Louis H

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Please does anyone know if a 4-pin fan can connect to a 3-pin fan header?

I don't really care about the USB problem anymore, but this fan connection problem is important.
 
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jb6684

jb6684

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Yes, 4 pin fan can connect to 3 pin header... BUT, you won't need to. Your fans have speed controllers on the front panel so use molex to 3 pin adapters (yes, three (3) pin as the fourth pin provides PWM (speed control) which a powersupply doesn't provide and again, you don't need since your case as switches to control speed) to connect those fans to the power supply NOT the motherboard....
http://www.dalco.com/p-874-3-pin-male-fan-to-4-pin-male-power-adapter-cable-6-in.aspx?gclid=CLKqzvH_zrsCFUsV7Aod7h8APg


Your case show 3 USB 2.0 and 1 USB 3.0 on the top panel
http://www.amazon.co.uk/CiT-Dominator-Reader-Interior-Control/dp/B00EOV7EH8

Your mother board:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157314

You have NO internal USB 3.0 ports, so, that single front panel (blue one) will remain "empty"
You have ONLY 2 internal USB 2.0 ports ("USB 6-7" labeled) so, only 2 of the two (black) will can be connected
 
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Louis H

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Thanks so much
 
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jb6684

jb6684

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The "Molex" is one of the types of connectors found on power supplies. It's the big White connector on the right in this picture:
http://www.dalco.com/p-874-3-pin-male-fan-to-4-pin-male...

You need to connect the cable from the fan controller switch on your case to the powersupply. Then just use the multi-position switch the fan controller provides to change fan speed (hi/med/low...) This would be "Hardware Speed control.

Running things directly from the powersupply means you can connect any number of fans without concern for overloading the motherboard (some folks us adapters and connect 2, 3, or 4 fans to a single header on the motherboard which can overload it).

If you just connect a fan directly to the motherboard, then you use the software control for motherboard to change fan speed. NOTE: not all motherboards provide speed control on their fan headers..


 
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Louis H

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Ok i've been a bit of an idiot and got four pin headers and molex cables mixed up. I just looked at my motherboard and clocked that they are nothing alike.
On my motherboard i have one 3-pin and one 4-pin for fans. I'll need two adapters so that the big molex cables can connect. If i buy two molex to three pin adapters and use those on my motherboard (using a 3pin cable on a 4pin header) will they work and will the case controls function?
I don't understand the advantages of connecting it to the powersupply instead of the mobo, can you explain this please. Will the three pin needed for the mobo be the same three pin needed for the PSU? because i need to know which cable to buy.

Thanks
 
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Louis H

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Oh ok i understand now. sorry for the other message i kept finding out new things which confused things.

So i'll need two molex to three pin cables which will connect my fans to my power supply. I'm in England so i can't order from the website you showed me, but should i be looking for cables like that one? With male 3 pins and male molex.
 
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Louis H

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I'm looking for these male cables but i can't find ones like the one you showed me. They have both male and female molex's in one cable which is so confusing. Will these still work?
http://www.kenable.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=329
 
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jb6684

jb6684

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You may not need adapters, check out photo number 8 of 22. That Black connector is a Molex. Generally, those case mounted fan controller switches (you have two mounted on top panel) have a Molex connector on them to connect directly to your powersupply. The take the 12volts=high, 7volts=medium, and 5volts=low and send it to your fans, that's your "Hardware Speed Control".....

Trace the wires from those two top mounted speed control switches (see photo 3 of 22).... bet they have Molex connectors already :)

 
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jb6684

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Yes, IF you find your fan controllers ONLY have the small "fan header" type connectors then this cable will allow you to connect them directly to the powersupply...

I'm looking for these male cables but i can't find ones like the one you showed me. They have both male and female molex's in one cable which is so confusing. Will these still work?
http://www.kenable.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=3...
 
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Louis H

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I'm really confused as to what cables i need now :') I have two of these female molex cables (http://www.cpustuff.com/images/D/DSCF9200-ip.jpg) that are dangling in my case. One from the side fans and one from the big bundle of wires which leads to the control panel and the front and back fans. Which cable type attaches to the powersupply is it molex or is it three pins.
http://www.kitguru.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Multiplay-i49-BeQuiet-PowerZone-850w-Dan-Wheeler-KitGuru-Exclusive-Silent-Wings-3-Connections.jpg what is this one

And where are the photos you are referring to?
 
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