Is it ok to plug a Y splitter to the CPU fan header? Airflow question too

gab_th

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My motherboard has 1 case fan header, but the case I'm going to get has room for 5 fans, which I intend to max out. Therefore, I'm going to use 2 splitters, and connect one to the case fan header. Is it ok if I use the CPU fan header to power the CPU fan + 2 case fans via a splitter?

Furthermore, how does one go about setting the fans to intake or exhaust? My case will have two at the top, two at the front and one at the back. How do you recommend to set it up?

Thanks.
 
Solution
Normally you can have 2 fans max per header on the motherboard.

If you look on the fans they have arrows that show the direction of air flow. By having them point outside the case or inside the case is how you change from exhaust or intake.
 

Rogue Leader

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I personally would never use a splitter on the CPU fan header even just for the simple fact that the speed is controlled by the CPU temp, so every time your processor cranks up those case fans are gonna crank up max and be loud.

Why don't you buy a cheap fan controller, this way you can control the fans and keep things quiet when needed and turn them up if needed as well. Or get a fan hub:

Hub:
https://smile.amazon.com/SilverStone-System-Cables-Black-CPF04/dp/B00VNW556I/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1465930672&sr=8-2&keywords=cpu+fan+controller

Controller:
https://smile.amazon.com/HDE%C2%AE-3-5-Panel-Speed-Controller/dp/B006UFMH3W/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1465930672&sr=8-4&keywords=cpu+fan+controller

The fans have arrows, or the side with the fan on it (not the motor side) is the intake, and it exhausts towards the motor. Your 2 fronts should be intake, your top and rear should be exhaust.
 

gab_th

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I dislike the idea of having manual control, so I was strongly considering the Silverstone hub, but I was told that they would be constantly maxed out. I intend to buy these fans, because they are cheap: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000O8I474/ref=ox_sc_act_title_3?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A2EUTVCJXLAJ4K

Could you recommend other fans that would work well with the Silverstone hub? Also, what header do the hub and the controller use? Or is it directly from the PSU?

 

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Thats not true about the hub, it can be controlled via your motherboards fan control. Plugging directly into your PSU with a fan plug runs them at max all the time but thats not what this does. The Silverstone plugs into the fan header so you have that fan control. You can use your case fan header.

The controller plugs directly into your PSU and all control is by the knobs on it. There are more expensive controllers that can connect to the header and to an internal USB to give you desktop control if you want it.

I have used those fans before, for a cheap fan they do the job pretty well and are reasonably quiet.
 
Solution

gab_th

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So, these cheap fans + Silverstone hub are a go?

 

Rogue Leader

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If I were you and I didn't want to manually fan control, yes