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First-time builder, case fan confusion

Tags:
  • Cases
  • Fan
  • Build
  • Systems
Last response: in Systems
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January 13, 2014 9:14:39 PM

Just finished my first PC build today! Everything seems to be working, except that I have no idea how to connect the case fans.

The case (NZXT Tempest 410) has two fans pre-installed. The front fan cable has a small three-pin connector and a two-pin molex connector. The rear fan cable has a small three-pin connector and two four-pin molex connectors. (Why the difference?)

I first tried connecting the fans to the power supply (EVGA 500B) using the molex connectors, didn't work.

Then I tried connecting them to the motherboard (Asus H81M-K), but it turns out the motherboard only has a single, four-pin "CHA_FAN" connector, and the cables from the case fans are too short to reach it anyway!

So... uh.... now what? :)  I understand there are multiple ways to do this for different levels of fan control, but for starters I just want to get the damn things spinning.

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January 13, 2014 9:53:54 PM

There's really only one way to plug them into the PSU so idk what's up with that. You turned the computer on right? If the molex is plugged in the PSU and the PC will boot then something is wrong with the fans or PSU
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January 13, 2014 10:02:31 PM

Yes, it boots fine (I poked around in the BIOS a bit, haven't installed the OS yet).

When plugged into the PSU with the molex connectors, the fans should spin up as soon as soon as the system is powered on, right?
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January 13, 2014 10:36:11 PM

Welp, problem solved.

The front fan is one of those easily-removable modules and was just BARELY not making contact, a tiny accidental bump set it spinning.

The rear fan seems to have a bad molex connector, I tried using a 3-pin to molex adapter instead and now it's working too.
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January 14, 2014 7:07:34 AM

Awesome! Glad t worked out for you
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!