So I'm buying a case that has two cooling fans already in it but my motherboard has only one fan header. I want to get a fan splitter, but don't know which one to get. My mobo is: Gigabyte GA-H110M-A Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard and my case is: DIYPC Cuboid-R MicroATX Mini Tower Case. Do you get 3-pin or 4-pin splitters, and would it affect performance?
Case has 2 fans, mobo only has 1 case fan header
- Thread starter Vulcan15
- Start date
xXBananasXx
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- Feb 8, 2015
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Well you could always just hook a molex adapter for the fans up to your PSU and run it like that and power it. Or you could get a PWM Y Splitter cable, like this one:
https://www.amazon.com/PWM-Y-Splitter-Cable-Adapter/dp/B002OFP6QW
Hope this helps!
Edit: I doubt it will affect performance.
https://www.amazon.com/PWM-Y-Splitter-Cable-Adapter/dp/B002OFP6QW
Hope this helps!
Edit: I doubt it will affect performance.
xXBananasXx
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- Feb 8, 2015
- 145
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You are in luck. First, true 4-pin fan headers that actually use PWM Mode for control can control 4-pin fans, but not 3-pin ones. And my guess is that your case came with pre-installed 3- pin fans.
Now the good news. Your mobo uses a 4-pin header, BUT the pin labels showing on p. 13 of the manual indicate that its SYS_FAN header is NOT using PWM Mode - it is using the older Voltage Control Mode. That method WILL work with both 3-pin ad 4-pin fans. This is exactly why many mobo makers today use this system of a 3-pin fan control system on a 4-pin header - so people like you with pre-installed 3-pin fans do not have a problem.
Now, as to a Splitter, it does not matter whether you buy a 3-pin or a 4-pin Splitter. Both will work with either fan type. Just do NOT buy a HUB. Many Hubs are sold under the term Splitter. The difference? A Splitter has one input arm with a female fan connector to plug into your mobo header, and two or more output arms with male (with pins) connectors to plug your fans into. A HUB has one additional arm that must connect to a power output from the PSU - either a 2-pin Molex or a SATA Power connector. A Hub gets power from the PSU, thus avoiding the limits of connecting several fans to a mobo header. HOWEVER, a Hub can ONLY work if your mobo header is truly 4-pin using PWM Mode, and can only control 4-pin fans. So, you need a Splitter. The limit on that is NOT a problem for you - any mobo can supply power to 3 or 4 common case ventilation fans, so don't worry.
Now the good news. Your mobo uses a 4-pin header, BUT the pin labels showing on p. 13 of the manual indicate that its SYS_FAN header is NOT using PWM Mode - it is using the older Voltage Control Mode. That method WILL work with both 3-pin ad 4-pin fans. This is exactly why many mobo makers today use this system of a 3-pin fan control system on a 4-pin header - so people like you with pre-installed 3-pin fans do not have a problem.
Now, as to a Splitter, it does not matter whether you buy a 3-pin or a 4-pin Splitter. Both will work with either fan type. Just do NOT buy a HUB. Many Hubs are sold under the term Splitter. The difference? A Splitter has one input arm with a female fan connector to plug into your mobo header, and two or more output arms with male (with pins) connectors to plug your fans into. A HUB has one additional arm that must connect to a power output from the PSU - either a 2-pin Molex or a SATA Power connector. A Hub gets power from the PSU, thus avoiding the limits of connecting several fans to a mobo header. HOWEVER, a Hub can ONLY work if your mobo header is truly 4-pin using PWM Mode, and can only control 4-pin fans. So, you need a Splitter. The limit on that is NOT a problem for you - any mobo can supply power to 3 or 4 common case ventilation fans, so don't worry.
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