Noob question: Using a fan hub

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
B

brutchev

Commendable
Jan 10, 2017
6
0
1,510
Hello,

I am very new, and I'm sure this is a dumb question, but I'd rather ask and have peace of mind!

I am looking to buy this fan hub: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00VNW556I/ref=ask_ql_qh_dp_hza


Now my question is: Since this is plugged into the PSU, I can plug as many fans as I want into it correct? I know that mobo fan headers have a 1amp limit, and each of my fans(I have 7) use 0.4AMPS...

This will work correct? I don't want to blow my new mobo tongue.gif

Also will this let me control the speed of the fans since they are only 3 pin(i know i cant control them all individually but I'd still like them to not be 100% all the time)?
 
Solution
P
Yes, that will work. I am assuming you mean that you have 7 CASE vent fans, not including your CPU cooler system. Further, all of them are of the 3-pin design.

3-pin fans require that the mobo header operate in Voltage Control Mode, aka DC Mode. All four of your mobo's CHA_FAN headers can do this, so you're good that way. You will need to make a couple of configuration changes in BIOS Setup.

Get SPLITTERS, not Hubs. The difference between these two types of devices is that a Hub has an extra arm that MUST be connected to a PSU power output to get power for all its fans. You linked in your initial post to a 4-pin fan Hub that is a box with ports on it, but there are Hubs that just are groups of cables with connectors and look like a...
Sort by date Sort by votes
cin19

cin19

Titan
Mar 14, 2011
15,726
218
112,340
Now my question is: Since this is plugged into the PSU, I can plug as many fans as I want into it correct?
Click to expand...
yes, up to 8 fans.

And I don't know what MB you got or will get, I know one of GA Z270 has 2Amp for each fan_header. But because your fan has 0.4A only, so as long as you don't add two fans on one fan_header of your new MB, you will be fine too.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
B

brutchev

Commendable
Jan 10, 2017
6
0
1,510


I've decided to go with z170-a and just use fan splitters. it has 4 fan headers, so I'll be putting 2 fans per header
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
P

Paperdoc

Polypheme
Ambassador
Oct 19, 2006
11,258
1,022
69,340
Yes, that will work. I am assuming you mean that you have 7 CASE vent fans, not including your CPU cooler system. Further, all of them are of the 3-pin design.

3-pin fans require that the mobo header operate in Voltage Control Mode, aka DC Mode. All four of your mobo's CHA_FAN headers can do this, so you're good that way. You will need to make a couple of configuration changes in BIOS Setup.

Get SPLITTERS, not Hubs. The difference between these two types of devices is that a Hub has an extra arm that MUST be connected to a PSU power output to get power for all its fans. You linked in your initial post to a 4-pin fan Hub that is a box with ports on it, but there are Hubs that just are groups of cables with connectors and look like a plain SPLITTER. But a Splitter does NOT have an arm that must plug into the PSU. A Splitter has ONE arm to a mobo header, and two or three output arms that you plug your fans into, and that's all they have. A Splitter is the only way to have 3-pin fans share a header that uses Voltage Control Mode. When you use it, you are limited to a max of 1.0 amps PER HEADER, so two of your fans on a Splitter for EACH of your headers is just fine.

Once you're hooked up, go into BIOS Setup, consult your manual on p. 2-48 and make these adjustments for ALL of your CHA_FAN headers. Ensure the "Chassis Fan Q-Fan Control" is set to "DC Mode"; set "Chassis Fan Q-Fan Source" to "MotherBoard"; ensure "Chassis Fan Profile" is set to "Standard". These settings will ensure that all your case ventilation fans will be under automatic control by the mobo using DC Mode (required for your 3-pin fans) and based on temperature measured by a sensor in the mobo, not on the one inside the CPU chip. Be sure to SAVE and EXIT so that these new settings become permanent.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Solution
B

brutchev

Commendable
Jan 10, 2017
6
0
1,510


you are the best
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
P

Paperdoc

Polypheme
Ambassador
Oct 19, 2006
11,258
1,022
69,340
cin19 is correct. You can get fans that pull a lot of current, so you do need to check their specs. Most common case vent fans use 0.1 to 0.25 amps, so up to 4 on a header is OK. But not always. OP, you say your fans consume 0.4 amps max each, so two on a header is OK. But that is a higher-than-"common" number, so what fans are you using?

Thanks for Best Solution.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
B

brutchev

Commendable
Jan 10, 2017
6
0
1,510


I am getting the corsair AF120 LED quiet edition
http://www.corsair.com/en-ca/air-series-af120-led-blue-quiet-edition-high-airflow-120mm-fan


 
Upvote 0 Downvote
cin19

cin19

Titan
Mar 14, 2011
15,726
218
112,340
If the fan does draw 0.4A only, you are fine to use the Y splitter for two on one fan_header. And because you had 7 fans, that means you need 3 of the Y Splitters at least, so check out the price. And I still recommend to buy the hub, you can control each fan too.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
B

brutchev

Commendable
Jan 10, 2017
6
0
1,510


Its just that I heard when fans start their amps go way up, higher than their running amps, so if I have 2 fans per header, at 0.8A, its cutting it close.


 
Upvote 0 Downvote
P

Paperdoc

Polypheme
Ambassador
Oct 19, 2006
11,258
1,022
69,340
Your information is correct, but not a problem. Any fan does draw a much heavier-than-normal current for a brief period (less than 1 second in most cases) at start-up. However, posts here have said that mobo makers have said that this start-up current does NOT need to be a worry with respect to the limits of the fan header circuits. They will supply 1.0 amps each (most mobo headers) sustained load, and can accept a momentary larger load at start-up.

I'm not sure what cin19 means about using a Hub. First of all, Hubs are strictly for use with 4-pin fan systems - they MUST have a PWM signal from the mobo header to work, and they only share that signal out to their fans, so those fans MUST also be of the 4-pin design. (There is one exception -the Phanteks PWM Hub - that still needs the PWM signal from a 4-pin header using PWM Mode, but actually can control 3-pin fans because its output ports all use Voltage Control Mode.) Whether you use a Hub in a 4-pin system, or use a Splitter in a 3-pin system (that is, mobo header uses Voltage Control Mode, and the fans are 3-pin OR 4-pin) you STILL get control of those fans' speeds by the mobo. Splitters, however, draw all of their fan power from the mobo header, so you are limited to that 1.0 amp max total current for all the fans on any single header.

You say you're getting the Corsair AF120 LED Quiet Edition fans, which do consume 0.4 amps max. That is much more than the non-LED version of the same fan (0.08 amps) apparently because of the power required by the LED's. Now I understand how come your fans use more current that I am used to seeing.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
P

Paperdoc

Polypheme
Ambassador
Oct 19, 2006
11,258
1,022
69,340
The problem with trying to use that Silverstone Fan Hub is it is a classic 4-pin hub. It gets power for all its fans from the PSU and provides that to each fan on its respective port's Pin #2 as a fixed 12 VDC. Then it gets a PWM control signal from one mobo CHA_FAN header and shares that out to all those fans. Those fans MUST be 4-pin design, because a 3-pin fan has no chip inside to use the PWM signal to modify the incoming power supplied.

However, the Corsair AF120 LED Quiet Edition fans that OP has chosen are the 3-pin design. Those can only be controlled by varying the voltage supplied to them on Pin #2. That is called the Voltage Control Mode. The four CHA_FAN headers on OP's mobo all can be configured to work this way, whereas the Silverstone 4-pin Fan Hub can not. So, using the mobo headers to control the fans directly is the right path. To get all his fans connected, OP will simply need to use SPLITTERS to connect two fans to each mobo SYS_FAN header. I just cautioned him to avoid buying any Hubs (and noted how to tell the difference).
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom