Can my mobo support 4 fans?

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akosip31

akosip31

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Oct 26, 2012
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I have an Asus A88XM-A Motherboard on an Aerocool VS-3 ATX Case. I would like to add 4 more 120mm fans using 4pin connectors. My question is: Can my mobo support 4 fans using 4pin connectors with Y adapters? Don't know much about the power requirements and how much the mobo supports. Below are links of the items.

Asus A88XM-A Motherboard
http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/A88XMA/


DeepCool Ice Blade Fan 120mm
http://www.deepcool.com/product/dcoolingaccessory/casefan/2013-12/47_634.shtml

Thanks
 
Solution
volcanoscout
That's not a good idea. Most fan headers are rated at 1 amp and around 15 watts. Each of those fans are drawing 3W and .25A, so putting four on the header would have it right at max and could burn your header out. Ideally you only have one fan per header, but obviously that won't work for you.

The fans are PWM fans, but you may not realize that chassis header is not PWM - the 4th pin is non-functional. If you're looking to exercise PWM control over the fans, you have to connect them to the CPU fan header as that's the only true PWM connector. One option that will solve your power and control problem is getting a PWM fan splitter like this...
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akosip31

akosip31

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Oct 26, 2012
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My question is: Can the single Chassis Fan socket (4pin) on my mobo handle 4 fans attached to it. I have a Seasonic S12II 520w Bronze
 
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Armo1000

Armo1000

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Jul 25, 2014
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Yes it will do
 
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volcanoscout

volcanoscout

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That's not a good idea. Most fan headers are rated at 1 amp and around 15 watts. Each of those fans are drawing 3W and .25A, so putting four on the header would have it right at max and could burn your header out. Ideally you only have one fan per header, but obviously that won't work for you.

The fans are PWM fans, but you may not realize that chassis header is not PWM - the 4th pin is non-functional. If you're looking to exercise PWM control over the fans, you have to connect them to the CPU fan header as that's the only true PWM connector. One option that will solve your power and control problem is getting a PWM fan splitter like this:

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/13548/cab-464/Akasa_Flexa_FP5_PWM_5-Way_Splitter_-_Smart_Fan_Cable_AK-CBFA03-45.html?gclid=CK3T5_zz_b8CFSpo7Aodug0A9w

This will allow you PWM control over all of the fans and is powered directly from the PSU, so amperage and wattage concerns are nil. Basically you'll plug your case fans into four of the leads, and your CPU fan into the lead that's labeled "Master", then plug the female connector to your CPU header. All of the fans will receive the same PWM commands as your CPU fan, so if you have it set on a profile, as your CPU heats up all of your fans will ramp up. The command basically works like a capability percentage rate rather than a change in voltage or a targeted RPM. When the mobo tells the CPU fan to spin at 70% of it's max capacity, all the other fans will go to 70% also, even if their rated RPM capacity is higher or lower than the CPU fans.

If you have a two-fan CPU cooler, you'll need a different splitter, but otherwise it'll work fine.
 
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akosip31

akosip31

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Oct 26, 2012
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Thank you for that detailed reply. I plan on getting 2 Ice blades and connect it to the chassis fan header using the provided Y splitter and 2 Wind blades to connect to the PSUs molex connectors. I have read from the mobo's manual that the chassis header has a 4th PWM pin.

Can you also recommend the best fan placement for my Aerocool VS3 case? Currently it only has 1 exhaust fan on the rear and I'm thinking of adding 2 windblades on the side panel and 2 PWM controlled iceblades on the bottom and front panel.
 
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volcanoscout

volcanoscout

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Just read the manual myself- this is one of the rare boards that actually has PWM on a chassis header. I'm used to the 4-pin non-PWM that most boards have.

The two fans on the side are fine, as well as adding one to the front. I would put the fourth one in the top/rear mount as exhaust. You may need to get a couple of extenders in addition to a PWM splitter.
 
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akosip31

akosip31

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Oct 26, 2012
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Will use a Y-splitter to connect 2 PWM iceblades onto the chassis header and 2 molex windblades. The case has a stock exhaust fan at the back so I'm thinking of replacing it with a windblade and transfer the stock into the bottom as an intake.

So my plan is 1 intake iceblade on the front panel, 1 intake iceblade and 1 intake windblade on the sides, stock fan on the bottom as an intake and 1 exhaust windblade on the rear.

Thanks for all the help. :)
 
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volcanoscout

volcanoscout

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If you want to optimize your cooling, you can try the different fans in different mounts and monitor your various temps to see what works best. The goal should be to create as unified an airflow as possible. People often assume that more fans blowing from more directions is better, but often it just creates big eddies of air inside the case.
 
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volcanoscout

volcanoscout

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This is the proper forum. If you read down through the posts you'll see that not only is it relevant, it's also been solved, so the OP asking a couple of follow-on questions certainly isn't hurting anything, even if they're only tangentially related.
 
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akosip31

akosip31

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Oct 26, 2012
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Got the fans and placed it at the mounts I stated in my previous post, temp ranges from 38-40C with normal usage which I think is good. I will try using it while gaming and check the temps from there. One of the fans seems wobbly compared to the others. Is there a quick fix for that or would I need to ask for a replacement? Thanks.
 
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volcanoscout

volcanoscout

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Replace.
 
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