Case Fans and Splitters

IAmTheTofu

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Sep 20, 2014
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The manual for your mobo says it has only one SYS_FAN header, and it is the 3-pin type operating only in Voltage Control Mode. The "splitter" you linked to actually is a hub adapter device for use ONLY with 4-pin fan systems - mobo headers AND fans. Your mobo cannot supply the required PWM signal to that device so it can work. So no, that is not the solution.

I would suggest a two-part solution since you have three fans now connected directly to a Molex output from the PSU. That connection means all of them are getting a constant 12 VDC supply and running at full speed. BUT this suggestion depends on what type of connectors already are on your three case fans.

IF your fans all have standard 3-pin female fan connectors on the ends of...

firefoxx04

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Jan 23, 2009
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The case fans MUST be PWM and the connection on the board must support PWM fan control. That is the only way this will work.

You would be better off taking a 3pin splitter and running a few fans off it and directly connected to the motherboard.

The splitter you are looking at will run the fans at 12v, meaning if they are 3pin fans or 4pin fans running in voltage mode, they will run at 100%.
 
The fans must be:

1) PWM (4-pin), and also
2) Variable (i.e. 800RPM to 1800RPM)

If using MOLEX you probably have 3-pin, voltage-controlled fans that are non-variable.

*For those fans, you can get a low-noise limiter. It's basicaly a 3-pin extender. Not sure where to buy but Noctua includes them in their kits. It's a resistor, so basically it limits the voltage to the fan thus it spins slower but is not variable.

back to PWM fan control->
If that's the case, then you then need to setup the BIOS fan control, and possibly Windows fan control software for better control (motherboard site usually).
 
Update:
Some motherboards with 4-pin fan headers can support 3-pin, variable fans but not all.

I would suggesting either way that you go to pcpartpicker and look for some fans with these specs:

a) 12cm?
b) PWM
c) 800RPM to 1800RPM (or similar)

*Alternatively get a 3-pin or 4-pin fan (doesn't matter) that is no more than 1000RPM and is fairly quiet (i.e. 25dB or less). for case fans these are generally fine. My fans never go above 800RPM anyway since the temperature isn't driving them higher.
 
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/bitfenix-case-fan-bffspro12025kkrp

Here's a good example of an inexpensive case fan. It may be 1200RPM but the noise level is very low. I use RPM as a rough guide but noise is what you should go by (in relation to air movement but for our usage I don't compare as most case fans are good enough).

$10 gets you a fan with about 19dB noise which is not noticeable even if it's the only fan spinning.

There are cheaper fans that do as well or better in specs, though it's hard to compare fairly as some may not last well.
http://pcpartpicker.com/parts/case-fan/#s=120&X=0,1057&R=5,4&sort=a6&page=1
 

Paperdoc

Polypheme
Ambassador
The manual for your mobo says it has only one SYS_FAN header, and it is the 3-pin type operating only in Voltage Control Mode. The "splitter" you linked to actually is a hub adapter device for use ONLY with 4-pin fan systems - mobo headers AND fans. Your mobo cannot supply the required PWM signal to that device so it can work. So no, that is not the solution.

I would suggest a two-part solution since you have three fans now connected directly to a Molex output from the PSU. That connection means all of them are getting a constant 12 VDC supply and running at full speed. BUT this suggestion depends on what type of connectors already are on your three case fans.

IF your fans all have standard 3-pin female fan connectors on the ends of three wires (Black, Red, Yellow) and then you are using some sort of adapter to connect them to the PSU's female 4-pin Molex output, then your task is not too hard. On the other hand, if your fans each have only 2 wires from then ending in a male 4-pin Molex connector with only 2 of its 4 pins in use, then doing what i will suggest would require finding adapters to make it work OR replacing at least two of the fans. So if that latter situation is your case, maybe forget this post.

IF your fans have standard 3-pin female connectors on the ends of their three wires, then you can do this. First you need a 1-to-2 Y-splitter for 3-pin fans like this:

http://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-12in-Power-Splitter-Cable/dp/B002DY7M1G/ref=sr_1_5?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1461297009&sr=1-5&keywords=3-pin+fan+splitter

It allows you to connect two of your fans to the only SYS_FAN header on your mobo. (You normally can connect 2 fans to such a port, but not more.) That will allow you to use the mobo's normal automatic fan control system to adjust fan speeds according to the actual temperature inside your case, and usually this means running them slower and quieter.

For the third fan it will have to stay connected to your PSU output. HOWEVER, you can buy a set of these "low-noise adapters" for 3-pin fans (you will only need one):

http://www.amazon.com/Noctua-NA-SRC10-Accessory-Low-Noise-Adaptors/dp/B00KG3KELQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1461296793&sr=8-1&keywords=low-noise+fan+adapter

You inset this into the fan line between the fan's connector and the PSU adapter. It is just a small resistor that reduces fan speed, noise, AND air flow. The effect is fixed as long as you use the adapter - there is no adjustment. As long as that still gives you enough cooling you can leave this fan running slower than it is now.

This two-pronged approach is a way to slow down all three of your case ventilation fans and make them quieter. It depends on the assumption that those three fans now deliver more cooling than you really need and slower fans will still do the job OK. It uses automatic (mobo-based) fan speed control for two fans, and simply fixed reduced speed on the third fan.
 
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