Additional Case Fans

[Nixond1]

Hey everyone,

I am pretty sure this has been asked 100x before but i cannot find it on an all in one thread. Okay, so i am currently using a Asrock B350M Pro4 motherboard, and it has the following fan headers; CPU Fan, System fan (4pin) and system fan (3pin). I am swapping out my stock CPU cooler for the Coolermaster 120 lite AIO watercooler but this is going to cause a problem as it needs to be plugged into both the CPU fan and one of the system fan headers (4pin).

So, this only leaves me with one spare fan header (3pin) but i would like to fit 3 fans at the front and an addition 1 at the top as an exhaust along with the radiator/fan working as an exhaust (i know this is controversial as its drawing in warm air but due to the location it will not go anywhere else and i don't fancy having an intake at the back).

What do people recommend for the fitting the additional 4 fans as i only have 1(3pin) header left on my motherboard. I do not ideally want to use a splitter as this will draw all power from the header. So these are my ideas?...

1) If there is a device that lets me plug all fans into a single box that draws power from the PSU? This would be a good option (i know they will be on 100% but i have F12 silents so not much of a problem and full airflow is better than no air flow!)

2) Purchase a fan controller

What would people recommend is the best solution? and the best product/cheapest to buy?

I have tried to put in as much detail as possible to help.

Thanks in advance.

 

[EdwardTobia]

You can purchase fan header splitters so you can connect more than 1 fan to each header.

Depending on how many you want running off 1 header, you may need a splitter with additional power (molex/sata).

I have a powered 5 fan header splitter (additional SATA power) made by Akasa

 

[doyll]

Only PWM fan headers can be split and still be speed controlled using PSU power.

Having 4-pin headers does not mean they are PWM headers. Your motherboard manual, page 30 shows chassis fan header having fan speed control on pin-4 so probably PWM. Page 31 shows CPU fan connector pin-4 as fan speed control, but pin-2 is fan voltage control .. no idea what fan header is because pin-2 is votlge control if header is functioning as 3-pin variable voltage header and 12v if functioning as 4-pin PWM control.

There are several PWM splitters and hubs available to control PWM fans using PSU power. I have used many of these with few problems, but a few like older Akasa that had too many wires teminating on plug and wires were prone to breaking off after awhile.

Motherboard fan headers are usually rated for 1 amp with some being rated for more. Unless manual specifications say a header is rated for more than 1 amp I always assume 1 amp / 12 watt is maximum load, and because many fans list power rating of running fan, not startup load, I always limit the load to about 0.7A / 8 watt. Even that is pushing the limits because fan startup load can be 3-5 times running load.

With most PWM fans and most PWM controllers we can control 8-10 fans on one PWM control pin.

The best fan controller without exception is Aquareo 5 or Aquarero 6. Both come in several models, but all Aquareo 5 are the same controlers but LT does not have heatsink which is available as an accessory for about £8, and all Aquaero 6 are the same controllers. all of 5 use same control software and perform same functions except 5.25 screen .. same with all aquaero 6 models. The only differences are front panel, remote control, etc. .. features that have nothing to do with actual control, and Aquaero units have so many control options they much easier to use with monitor, mouse and keyboard.

I'll add that what fans you use makes a huge difference in what your case airflow will be. Having lots of fans does not mean case will have good airflow .. in fact it often means case has lots of fan noise with very little controlled airflow. Any fan with less than a static pressure rating of about 1.5mm H2O is not going to move much air even at full speed, and if running at 50% almost none at all .. and many stock case fans have extremely low pressure ratings.

Here is link to a basic guide to optimizing case airflow:
https://forums.overclockers.co.uk/t...-i-put-my-temp-sensor.18564223/#post-26159770