Help With Arctic P12 Case Fans And Best Way To Connect Them

Rocky-Roader · 10 Jul 2025 at 16:01

I'm removing the 6 fans that came with my case, they are molex and daisy chained so I have no control over the speeds hence it's noisy and after using the computer for an hour I look forward to switching it off to get some peace!

I would like to replace them with Arctic P12 fans so that I can control them with the motherboard and make things a little quieter, these seem triffic value at £6 and have an insane 10 year warranty.

Problem is, my motherboard (msi b850 gaming wifi plus) only has 4 sys fan connectors.

The motherboard manual says the max current for each of these fans is 1a.

The arctic website says the P12 fans are 0.1 A

But the overclockers site says: 0.08 A

So I'm just wondering if i would be able to safely connect 2 fans to 1 motherboard header? (wondered if 0.1a was a mistake for 1a)

I've been looking at the Arctic Freezer AM5 twin fan CPU cooler to go with it but am worried that it may not be very sturdy as it only has 2 securing screws

hornetstinger · 10 Jul 2025 at 16:02

I use a artic fan hub about a tenner, and I power the 5 fans from that, case fans

then motherboard header for two fans

I'd only connect three fans max to one header.

qbazdz · 10 Jul 2025 at 16:28

Do you mean that manual states 1A max per header?

hornetstinger · 10 Jul 2025 at 16:31

Arctic 10 Way PWM Fan Hub

Order Arctic 10 Way PWM Fan Hub now online and benefit from fast delivery.

www.overclockers.co.uk

Use that for all case fans if you have lots and want single point of connection

Or just things like this

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/kolink-1-3-pwm-braided-splitter-cable-35cm-ca-07h-kk.html

The master fan reports fan speed, but if all the fans are the same then it's fine, as they'll be at that rpm as well

aaronyuri · 10 Jul 2025 at 16:39

You may have enough ports on your mobo and you're fine. Alternatively, you get a fan hub or splitters. Simples.

Get 4-pin for PWM and 3-pin for voltage control. Make sure you buy the appropriate splitters or fan hub that supports the corresponding voltage (3-pin) or PWM (4-pin) control. Some fan hubs support both voltage and PWM control.

hornetstinger · 10 Jul 2025 at 16:41

aaronyuri said:
You may have enough ports on your mobo and you're fine. Alternatively, you get a fan hub or splitters. Simples.

Get 4-pin for PWM and 3-pin for voltage control. Make sure you buy the appropriate splitters or fan hub that supports the corresponding voltage (3-pin) or PWM (4-pin) control. Some fan hubs support both voltage and PWM control.

yeah ensure 3 or 4 pin, matching fans to motherboard, fan hub etc.

I upgraded all my molex case fans to 4 pin. I did the pin swap on the molex so that helped with noise

Armageus · 10 Jul 2025 at 16:41

Rocky-Roader said:
The arctic website says the P12 fans are 0.1 A

But the overclockers site says: 0.08 A

0.08A might be a slightly older revision of the fan, it's entirely possible Arctic have updated the spec over the lifetime of the product.

Rocky-Roader said:
So I'm just wondering if i would be able to safely connect 2 fans to 1 motherboard header? (wondered if 0.1a was a mistake for 1a)

You will be absolutely fine to connect 2 or even 3. Just daisy chain them together via the "PST" connector on the fan - no hubs or anything necessary.

aaronyuri · 10 Jul 2025 at 19:46

Armageus said:
You will be absolutely fine to connect 2 or even 3. Just daisy chain them together via the "PST" connector on the fan - no hubs or anything necessary.

Do bear in mind that only the PWM PST variant has this header. The ordinary P12 do not.

Armageus · 10 Jul 2025 at 20:26

aaronyuri said:
Do bear in mind that only the PWM PST variant has this header. The ordinary P12 do not.

Which is the product the OP has linked

aaronyuri · 10 Jul 2025 at 20:46

Armageus said:
Which is the product the OP has linked

I was posting for OP's awareness - not telling you to suck eggs.

Rocky-Roader · 11 Jul 2025 at 13:02

aaronyuri said:
I was posting for OP's awareness - not telling you to suck eggs.

I appreciate you pointing it out, having been comparing the amp/watts on various sites it seems easy to accidentally end up buying the wrong fans as some titles don't mention PWT yet have a photo of the box that does, plus as they are all the same model you can only tell by seeing the picture of the connector.

Thanks to everyone for their help and info, the PWT version seems to be great value and ideal,

Does anyone know if pre order takes longer than a month?

RE CPU coolers, is a 6 pipe cooler better than a 4 pipe cooler? or does it depend on the actual design of the thing?

aaronyuri · 11 Jul 2025 at 13:05

Rocky-Roader said:
RE CPU coolers, is a 6 pipe cooler better than a 4 pipe cooler? or does it depend on the actual design of the thing?

Check reviews for the cooler and see what performs the best for the best value. The number of heat pipes doesn't necessarily reflect cooling performance.