Well this is where the fan hub comes in.
The
Phanteks PWM Fan Hub is capable of powering up to *
11x fans (3-pin) through PWM modulation, while occupying only 1x 4-pin header of your motherboard per Fan Hub. At the same time this Fan Hub also keeps your chassis interior clean and tidy by centralizing all your fan cables. The PWM hub comes with pre-drilled mounting holes for easy installation to your Enthoo cases and also Velcro strips for use with other chassis. Power LED illuminates the Phanteks Logo when the PWM hub is powered on.
Phanteks did a very poor job of that English translation.
Basically what I think they are saying is we can run up to 11 fans (should be up to 30w maximum load) on their hub.
"through PWM modulation"
I'm not even sure what that is supposed to mean.
Is 'PWM modulation' supposed to mean the PWM signal from motherboard, or is it to mean the hub pulses power to the fans ??? My guess is PWM signal from motherboard. I don't have the equipment needed to test hub to see if it's power to fans is pulsed 12v or variable voltage. My simple VOM shows a change in voltage.
"occupying only 1x 4-pin header "
Again, what does that mean?
The use of 1x 4-pin 'PWM controlled' header? Because that is what is required for the Phantgeks PWM (controlled) fan header to control accessory 12 volt power.
That bit of writing is more advertising hype than explaination.
OcUK requires users to use host sites to post images, will not allow direct posting of images from manufacturers sites, has no provisions to adjust image size on OcUK, etc. It is very hard to supply guides and data here. If it was easier to do I would just post an image of section of manual showing the below text and drawings of how to hook it all up.
Here is text from mamnual
The PWM hub functions optimally when modulated by a PWM signal from the motherboard, which will allow the greatest control range. However, not all 4-pin motherboard connectors implement the PWM signal modulation.
Connecting the 4-pin to CPU_FAN
For full PWM functionality, Phanteks' PWM hub requires users to connect the 4-pin connector to the "CPU_Fan" connector of the motherboard, because all motherboard manufacturers implements a PWM signal modulation on this connector. Connect the SATA 12V powr to power the PWM hub. Not all motherboards have their CPU_Fan connector set on PWM signal modulation by default. Please consult your motherboard documentation for this matter.
Connecting the 4-pin to other 4-pin header (besides the CPU_Fan)
Other 4-pin connectors can be found on modern motherboards besides the "CPU_Fan" connector (e.g. "CPU_Fan2", "CHA?FAn", "OPT_Fan"), however not all motherboard manufacturers implement a true PWM signal modulation onto these connectors. These type of 4-pin connectors modulate the RPM by voltage, which has a smaller control range compared to modulation by true PWM signal.
The 12v SATA power cable can not be used to power the PWM hub if connecting to these types of 4-pin connectors, due to the interference with the RPM regulation by voltage (resulting in the fans running on full RPM). The PWM hub will draw it's power fromthe 4-pin connector, which is limited to a total device consuming 30W in total.
Important Note:
1 motherboard connector can only read 1 RPM signal. Therefore, the motherboard will only read the RPM signal from 1 device connected to Fan 1. Assuming the motherboard even uses the RPM reading, all other devices will be regulated according to FAN 1. For this reason a Y-splitter should not be connected to FAN 1.
Connecting the 4-pin to other 4-pin headers besides the "CPU_Fan" connector (e.g. "CPU_opt", "CHA_Fan2", "OPT_Fan.") may result is fan control not working properly. Not all motherboard manufacturers implement a true PWM signal modulation to all 4-pin fan headers. Some 4-pin fan headers do not use the 4th pin at all. Other fan headers may have modulated 12v on pin-2 instead of variable voltage.
Even it has many confusing statements .. which is the result of their translation.
But it is a fact most of these hubs can be used as variable voltsge splitters as long as the auxiliary power (PSU Sata or Molex connector) is not used.
If the hub is receiving PWM signal on pin-4 from motherboard, it will regulate the power to fans plugged into hub .. which of course will regulate their speed.
FYI, most all motherboard fan headers monitor fan speed, but very few motherboards use rpm reading to control fan speed. They use heat to determine percent of PWM signal to send so fans spin faster, move more air, and keep at component cool. What the actual speed (rpm) the fan is spinning (rpm) means nothing to the motherboard. It only does a cause / effect of more heat = more PWM% or more voltage to fan.
