Corsair SP120 RGB Fans

Lankoss

Lankoss

Lankoss

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24 Dec 2015
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202
Hello, I recently bought a PC second hand and it came in a Corsair 570X. I removed the AMD motherboard last week and today I've been putting in my Intel build. While plugging everything back in I noticed that the RGB Corsair fans each have two cables, one is a standard 3pin cable that goes to the motherboard, and the other is a 4 pin type that was plugged into the included Corsair Fan controller that comes with the case.

Am I right in thinking I only need to plug in the 4 pin cables to the Fan controller and don't need to connect the 3pins to the headers on the motherboard? Or has the 3 pin got something to do with the RGB? Its my first time using RGB fans or even PWM fans for that matter, so I want to make sure I set it up right.
 
Yes. It's not a fan controller that comes with the case, it's only an RGB controller. So you need to power the 3-pin cables some other way, like through motherboard.
 
Danny75 said:
Yes. It's not a fan controller that comes with the case, it's only an RGB controller. So you need to power the 3-pin cables some other way, like through motherboard.
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Ahhhh thanks clearing that up, I wasn't aware of that. Bit disappointing but I will make do.

I do have one more question, I have 4 case fans to power in total, 2 of them I have connected to CHA_FAN connectors on my motherboard (Asus Strix Z370-E) but I have now ran out of headers. All I have left is CPU-OPT, AIO_FAN and M.2_Fan. Is it possible to power all 4 fans?
 
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Lankoss said:
I do have one more question, I have 4 case fans to power in total, 2 of them I have connected to CHA_FAN connectors on my motherboard (Asus Strix Z370-E) but I have now ran out of headers. All I have left is CPU-OPT, AIO_FAN and M.2_Fan. Is it possible to power all 4 fans?
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I won't comment on the M.2_Fan header, not familiar with it, too new lol. But the other two are fine (unless AIO runs at full 12v all the time). If it doesn't work out for some reason, there's always this which'll work with both 4pin PWM and 3-pin fans:

My basket at Overclockers UK:
Total: £5.73 (includes shipping: £2.74)​
​
 
level 1
cordawg92
1 point · 8 months ago


You can plug the case fan into the M.2 fan header, but it will run at a fixed speed, which you can set in the BIOS. Even though it's a PWM fan header, it's going run a set speed (According to Asus support), but my assumption is that it runs corresponding to the M.2 drive temperature.

https://www.reddit.com/r/buildapc/comments/8lack3/using_asus_m2_pwm_fan_header_to_control_case_fan/

I ended up moving the case fan to the second chassis fan header so that it could spin according to my cpu temps.

https://www.reddit.com/r/buildapc/comments/8n1pnx/can_i_hook_up_a_case_fan_to_my_m2_fan_header_on/
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So yeah, use the other two. For sure, CPU_OPT will be fine to control. AIO_FAN you'll have to see.
 
Danny75 said:
So yeah, use the other two. For sure, CPU_OPT will be fine to control. AIO_FAN you'll have to see.
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I think what i'll do is, i'll order 2 of those splitters but the 2 fan version, then run two fans off of each of the CHA_FAN headers just so im not running 3 fans off of one header.
 
Lankoss said:
I think what i'll do is, i'll order 2 of those splitters but the 2 fan version, then run two fans off of each of the CHA_FAN headers just so im not running 3 fans off of one header.
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3 fans off 1 header is fine, generally 1 motherboard header will handle upto 1 amp, and each fan is approx 0.25-0.3 amps, totalling 0.9 amps, just short of what the header will handle, 3 is the max, check the label on the back of the fan and it will say what they are.

2 x 2 fan connectors is fine though, just posted this for future reference if you want to add more fans.

or you could get one of these and take the worry away all together, all fans get there power direct from the PSU, the motherboard only supplies the signal RPM. https://www.overclockers.co.uk/phanteks-pwm-fan-hub-black-ca-009-pt.html
 
Jamin280672 said:
3 fans off 1 header is fine, generally 1 motherboard header will handle upto 1 amp, and each fan is approx 0.25-0.3 amps, totalling 0.9 amps, just short of what the header will handle, 3 is the max, check the label on the back of the fan and it will say what they are.

2 x 2 fan connectors is fine though, just posted this for future reference if you want to add more fans.

or you could get one of these and take the worry away all together, all fans get there power direct from the PSU, the motherboard only supplies the signal RPM. https://www.overclockers.co.uk/phanteks-pwm-fan-hub-black-ca-009-pt.html
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Thanks for the info. I have already ordered the cable so I will go that route. I will check the amps of the fans before I install it to make sure they don't exceed 0.3amps.
 
Lankoss said:
Thanks for the info. I have already ordered the cable so I will go that route. I will check the amps of the fans before I install it to make sure they don't exceed 0.3amps.
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Please let us know what it says on the tin if you don't mind. I've seen two figures quoted for SP 120 RGB amperage: 0.08 and 0.13 (the latter was measured by a pretty professional reviewer).
 
Danny75 said:
Please let us know what it says on the tin if you don't mind. I've seen two figures quoted for SP 120 RGB amperage: 0.08 and 0.13 (the latter was measured by a pretty professional reviewer).
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How do I check the amps they are pulling? The cable arrived today, was going to stick it in tomorrow sometime as my thermal paste just arrived also.
 
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