So I have a msi h81m-p33 motherboard and my case has 4 spots for fans. 1 back, 1 front, and 2 left. Right now the cases peri stalled fan is in the back. I want to buy for new fans to replace the case fan and add to the other three spots. Do I have enough fan headers on this motherboard to do this.
How many fans can I plug into the motherboard
- Thread starter Jacob_96
- Start date
Yes, with explanations:
1. As a "rule of thumb" you usually can connect up to 2 fans to one mobo fan port, but not more. It is limited by the extra surge current for a few seconds when the fans first start up, which can be 2 or 3 times the normal running current. Common case ventilation fans normally run about 0.1 to 0.2 amps, so two fans might consume up to 1.2 amps briefly at start-up. Normal mobo fan ports are limited to 1.0 amps max output. To do this, you buy a 2-from-1 splitter adapter. It connects 2 fans to 1 port, also ensuring that only one of those 2 fans sends its speed signal (on Pin #3) back to the mobo.
2. Your CPU cooling system will plug into the CPU_FAN port, and all case ventilation fans go to the SYS_FAN ports. You have two SYS_FAN ports, so using adapters you could connect up to 4 fans.
3. IMPORTANT - you have two different SYS_FAN ports to use, and they require different fan types. One is a 4-pin port, and for that you need two 4-pin fans (PWM Mode) fans and a 4-pin splitter like this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812423160&cm_re=4-pin_fan_splitter-_-12-423-160-_-Product
(There's also a 12" version if needed.)
The other port is 3-pin, so for that you need two 3-pin (Voltage Control Mode) fans and a 3-pin splitter like this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812423168&cm_re=3-pin_fan_splitter-_-12-423-168-_-Product
(actually, a 4-pin splitter would also be OK for this job.)
The issue here is that a 4-pin mobo fan port cannot control the speed of a 3-pin fan; hence, you are best to match fan port type with the correct fan type.
So, you should plan to buy two 4-pin fans, two 3-pin fans, and two splitters (either one of each type, or two 4-pin splitters).
From your mobo's manual it appears that configuring the fan control systems is not done in BIOS Setup. But the mobo comes with a CD full of stuff, including a hardware monitoring utility that you install and run under your OS. It allows you to see details of the fans and system temperatures, and make any adjustments to fan settings that you think you need. Most systems will have automatic control of the fans by the mobo set as the default configuration, but you can check to be sure.
1. As a "rule of thumb" you usually can connect up to 2 fans to one mobo fan port, but not more. It is limited by the extra surge current for a few seconds when the fans first start up, which can be 2 or 3 times the normal running current. Common case ventilation fans normally run about 0.1 to 0.2 amps, so two fans might consume up to 1.2 amps briefly at start-up. Normal mobo fan ports are limited to 1.0 amps max output. To do this, you buy a 2-from-1 splitter adapter. It connects 2 fans to 1 port, also ensuring that only one of those 2 fans sends its speed signal (on Pin #3) back to the mobo.
2. Your CPU cooling system will plug into the CPU_FAN port, and all case ventilation fans go to the SYS_FAN ports. You have two SYS_FAN ports, so using adapters you could connect up to 4 fans.
3. IMPORTANT - you have two different SYS_FAN ports to use, and they require different fan types. One is a 4-pin port, and for that you need two 4-pin fans (PWM Mode) fans and a 4-pin splitter like this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812423160&cm_re=4-pin_fan_splitter-_-12-423-160-_-Product
(There's also a 12" version if needed.)
The other port is 3-pin, so for that you need two 3-pin (Voltage Control Mode) fans and a 3-pin splitter like this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812423168&cm_re=3-pin_fan_splitter-_-12-423-168-_-Product
(actually, a 4-pin splitter would also be OK for this job.)
The issue here is that a 4-pin mobo fan port cannot control the speed of a 3-pin fan; hence, you are best to match fan port type with the correct fan type.
So, you should plan to buy two 4-pin fans, two 3-pin fans, and two splitters (either one of each type, or two 4-pin splitters).
From your mobo's manual it appears that configuring the fan control systems is not done in BIOS Setup. But the mobo comes with a CD full of stuff, including a hardware monitoring utility that you install and run under your OS. It allows you to see details of the fans and system temperatures, and make any adjustments to fan settings that you think you need. Most systems will have automatic control of the fans by the mobo set as the default configuration, but you can check to be sure.
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