Problem with case fans.

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sam22222

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Sep 14, 2014
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ok basically I bought 3 packs of dual fans assuming that they would be dual and only have one lead to plug into a header, however I've found that that is not the case...

they all have individual ones and I don't have enough headers, also they have 3 pin connecters and my MoBo s 4 pin headers I don't know problems this will cause either. I also have a 850W gold PSU.

my MoBo - http://us.msi.com/product/mb/Z97_GAMING_5.html#hero-overview

so really the whole situation is confusing me, the MoBo has 3 system fan headers and 2 CPU fan headers , can Inot use one of the CPU ones for one of my case fans also? (I have 7 case fans 6 ones I bought separately in dual packs and I got 2 ith the case but I've taken 1 out also I have a 1 fan CPU cooler after market one)

would a splitter work? or would that overload the connectors power?

any help would be great thanks :)
 
Solution
Karsten75
Do not use a CPU fan header for a case fan.

You can get fan Y-cables that will split a fan header into two fan connectors. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812162026

4-pins is PWM, which means the mobi can adjust the fan speed according to temperatures (set in BIOS). If you use a 3-pin fan, it will work, but no PWM function will be available. Make sure you plug it so the right 3 pins are connected - I think it won't spin and you will damage the pins if you try it wrong, though.
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Karsten75

Karsten75

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Oct 15, 2009
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Do not use a CPU fan header for a case fan.

You can get fan Y-cables that will split a fan header into two fan connectors. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812162026

4-pins is PWM, which means the mobi can adjust the fan speed according to temperatures (set in BIOS). If you use a 3-pin fan, it will work, but no PWM function will be available. Make sure you plug it so the right 3 pins are connected - I think it won't spin and you will damage the pins if you try it wrong, though.
 
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Solution
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sam22222

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Sep 14, 2014
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will a 4 pin fan header splitter work if u put a 3 pin one in it? and how can u tell which are the right 3 pins?
 
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sam22222

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but will having 2 fans overload the current on the MoBo headers? or can they take it? I cant seem to find how much they can take.
 
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sam22222

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also how will the fans work? will they all run at one time? at the same speed all the time? or what will I be able to control them? if not how can I get it so I can control them? will they run on full the whole time or change when they are not needed? I'm really confused by all this. (it is my first time build)
 
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Karsten75

Karsten75

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Some simple logic should tell you what will/can happen. each fan header is a single unit. If the PWM pin is active, then the motherboard can control the fan speed. It does not know that you attach a splitter cable, so if there are two PWM fans on one header, they will both operate as one at one speed setting.

Without PWM, all the fans will run at one speed. Many non-PWM fans can be controlled by lowering the voltage to 7 or 5 V. Again, on one header that will control all the fans on that header at the same level.

If you want to manually control them you can get a fan controller. I have never used a fan controller (I prefer PWM fans) so I do not know whether a controller can individually adjust each fan or whether is globally adjust all fans in unison.

Look though this list to see what you can do with fan controllers and how much they are.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&Description=fan+controller
 
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