Can you run 120mm fans from the onboard fan headers?

TechnoCorruption · 17 Jan 2008 at 16:05

I am trying to find out how much power my 120mm fans require and if I can run them from the onboard headers rather than having them on molex's.

I have a P5K-E with 2x120mm Akasa Ultra Quiet Smokes...

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=FG-037-AK&groupid=701&catid=57&subcat=4

I also have a 120mm Coolermaster fan but can't find any details out about it.

The manual for the motherboard says that the fan headers support 350mA ~ 2000mA (24 W max) or a total of 1 A ~ 7 A (84 W max) at +12V.

How can I tell how much power my fans are drawing. There are no power specifications on OcUK or the Akasa web page :confused:

Monkeynut · 17 Jan 2008 at 16:08

it's usually between 0.1A - 0.3A

Raikiri · 17 Jan 2008 at 16:09

They won't be using much, I have an Akasa Amber here which are pretty much the same thing and it uses 0.18a / 2.16w @ 12v.

Should say on the fan itself.

TechnoCorruption · 17 Jan 2008 at 16:22

Thanks for the info

I'll take the fans out and see what they say on them.

Rroff · 17 Jan 2008 at 16:26

Never had a problem runnings fans off the onboard headers (infact never thought about it before hmm) something to bare in mind thho if your running more than one fan off a header.

YorkshirePadd26 · 17 Jan 2008 at 17:22

Just don't run Deltas from them as they'll melt your mobo !

Rroff said:
Never had a problem runnings fans off the onboard headers (infact never thought about it before hmm) something to bare in mind thho if your running more than one fan off a header.

TechnoCorruption · 17 Jan 2008 at 18:05

I checked the stickers on my fans and the Akasa and Coolermaster are 0.16a so they seem to be well within the allowed specification.

I just swapped them over and got rid of the molex cables and enabled Q-Fan in the bios. They are rotating at only 700-800rpm but they are still pushing a fair bit of air, plus its easier on my ears

Thanks again for the help.