Wanted to know my fan connectors

krit2 · Feb 27, 2017

I would like to upgrade my PC for better cooling, so i have looked for Cryorig QF120 and found it for 12 bucks but i dont know whether my motherboards have enough connectors for my case.
I know that my case still have two more top fan unoccupied so i wanted to buy two of these QF120 and i do know that the case supported 120mm fans but dont know that my motherboards have enough mounting holes or not.

I have occupied one exhaust back fan and one front intake fan that is powered right now.

My mobo: MSI H97 GAMING 3
i5-4690S
16GB DDR3 1600
MSI GTX 950
2 corsair stock fans that comes include with the case.

raisonjohn · Feb 27, 2017

As per your motherboard specifications, you have:
-2x 4-pin CPU fan connectors (i.e., CPUFAN1 and CPUFAN 2, both located along the topmost edge of the mb)
-3x 4-pin system fan connectors (i.e., SYSFAN1 just above the PCI_E1 slot, SYSFAN2 at bottom, and SYSFAN3 at far right edge)

So, once your CPU fan goes to the CPUFAN1 header, you'll have 4x remaining fan connectors in your motherboard and enough for your 4 total case fans.

krit2 · Feb 27, 2017

raisonjohn :

Ok, one more question please, i do know that the QF120 is a PWM fan so the connector will be 4-pin while my stock case fans are DC fans with 3-pin connector but they are plugged into the same 4-pin connectors. My problem is i wanted to moved some of the fans but i dont whether is it ok the plugged in which of the 4-pin. and is it ok the plugged in to which ever the 3-pin.. Sorry for my bad english...

user11464 · Feb 27, 2017

yes you can plug 3 pin connectors into the 4 pin fan header. the 3 leftmost pins should have a tab under them and the connector has two tabs that go around that.

raisonjohn · Feb 27, 2017

Your motherboard only has 2 headers that have PWM function: the CPUFAN1 and the CPUFAN2. These PWM headers supply a constant 12VDC and allows for the control of the fan's speed based on temperature readings via the PWM pin, provided that, the case fan installed in these PWM headers are also PWM fans such as the QF120's.

The 3 other headers (SYSFAN1 to SYSFAN 3) are all DC/non-PWM headers. These DC headers cannot control the fan's speed via PWM function; it can only control the fan's speed by changing the voltage supplied to the fans, whichever fan-type you install in these headers. Controlling the speed of DC fans, sometimes, is not advisable as there *may* be a chance that setting a low voltage will stall the fan motor (not running).

Despite the SYSFAN headers (DC) having 4-pins physically, the 4th pin has no function at all electronically. So, if your fan has a 4-pin or a 3-pin connector, you can still plug it in by aligning the rectangular groove of the connector to the small rectangular bar at the SYSFAN header alongside the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd pins.

If you plug a PWM fan to a DC header (SYSFAN1 to 3), it will run 100% unless you set a fan curve in BIOS or MSI software to control the fan's speed via voltage control. In short, the PWM fan now acts as a DC fan, as you lose the PWM function due to the DC header.

If you plug a DC fan (whether 3-pin or a 'dummy' 4-pin connector) to a PWM header (CPUFAN1 to 2), it will NOT have PWM functions and will constantly run at 100% (no control).

krit2 · Feb 27, 2017

raisonjohn :

Your motherboard only has 2 headers that have PWM function: the CPUFAN1 and the CPUFAN2. These PWM headers supply a constant 12VDC and allows for the control of the fan's speed based on temperature readings via the PWM pin, provided that, the case fan installed in these PWM headers are also PWM fans such as the QF120's.

The 3 other headers (SYSFAN1 to SYSFAN 3) are all DC/non-PWM headers. These DC headers cannot control the fan's speed via PWM function; it can only control the fan's speed by changing the voltage supplied to the fans, whichever fan-type you install in these headers. Controlling the speed of DC fans, sometimes, is not advisable as there *may* be a chance that setting a low voltage will stall the fan motor (not running).

Despite the SYSFAN headers (DC) having 4-pins physically, the 4th pin has no function at all electronically. So, if your fan has a 4-pin or a 3-pin connector, you can still plug it in by aligning the rectangular groove of the connector to the small rectangular bar at the SYSFAN header alongside the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd pins.

If you plug a PWM fan to a DC header (SYSFAN1 to 3), it will run 100% unless you set a fan curve in BIOS or MSI software to control the fan's speed via voltage control. In short, the PWM fan now acts as a DC fan, as you lose the PWM function due to the DC header.

If you plug a DC fan (whether 3-pin or a 'dummy' 4-pin connector) to a PWM header (CPUFAN1 to 2), it will NOT have PWM functions and will constantly run at 100% (no control).

I see, that clear things out much better. Thanks for your time and explanation

One more question please, do i need to configure the QF 120's fan settings in the bios after i installed them? Or do they will automatically change speedup or down automatically (PWM functions).

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