How to connect more fans? When i have no more motherboard headers?

ConorJW

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Hello,

As the title says i have more case fans that i want to connect than i do motherboard fan headers i.e (SYSFAN)
Motherboard is: MSI X99S SLI Plus ATX LGA2011-3 Motherboard
http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/msi-motherboard-x99ssliplus

The motherboard has 2x CPUFANS (i am using 1 of them with my cpc fan) and 3x SYSFANS. i will be using all of them up with case fans but i still have 2-3 more (3pin)fans i want to connect?
How will i be able to connect them? do i need an adapter? Ive heard using a splitter is not recommened? Also a fan controller ruins the look of the case in my opinion but still might consider.

I have a square 6 pin PERIF cable that connects to the power supply with 4 female molex connectors attached like a chain .
Should i buy some male molex to 3pin connectors and then connect to my 3pin fans? is that right?

Sorry im new to building pc's

Hope someone can help, thank you!
 
Solution


No it won't. All the fan splitters I've seen / used only feed the speed signal of one fan. Both will be speed controller by the motherboard though. Even these cheap $2 splitters have this feature:

Coboc TX4SPL2-6 6" Sleeved 6 inch 1 to Two(2) x 4-pin TX4 PWM Fan Power Splitter Cable(Net Jacket)

Unless your fans are very high current / high RPM fans, you will be fine. Even then I remember many years ago I called Gigabyte and asked them about plugging two high RPM (I gave them the current draw as well) and they said it was no problem.

I would not...

ConorJW

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Thanks for the quick reply, is that basically a splitter? would that be ok with 1 port handling 2 fans?
Also sorry but whats a T balancer and what does that do? and now does it get powered up?
 
The value of a motherboard connection is that the motherboard can control fan speeds.
Connecting two fans via a splitter will confuse the motherboard with two speed signals.
You should always be able to connect with a fixed speed via the psu.

Are you over fanned?
Most of the time, two good front intake fans is all you really need.
Personally, I like a constant fan speed anyway.
 

ConorJW

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Ok thanks for the help, some people say dont use splitters and some say its fine haha
 

ConorJW

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Thanks, so if 2 fans on 1 port will confuse the motherboard. what is a better option? connecting to the power supply like you said? could you link some cables that do so please? the fans i have are 3pin
 


No it won't. All the fan splitters I've seen / used only feed the speed signal of one fan. Both will be speed controller by the motherboard though. Even these cheap $2 splitters have this feature:

Coboc TX4SPL2-6 6" Sleeved 6 inch 1 to Two(2) x 4-pin TX4 PWM Fan Power Splitter Cable(Net Jacket)

Unless your fans are very high current / high RPM fans, you will be fine. Even then I remember many years ago I called Gigabyte and asked them about plugging two high RPM (I gave them the current draw as well) and they said it was no problem.

I would not plug them directly to the PSU if you can help it, no reason for them to spin full speed all the time. This just wastes power, and creates more noise for no reason.

 
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ConorJW

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Thank you for the help and advise. I dont know what the current and rpm of the fans are as they are the fans that come with the Corsair 750D Case?
 


It doesn't matter, you'll be fine. They have those splitters in various lengths and configurations. There are 8 fans plugged into my motherboard at the moment.