PWM splitters

[xomaxhox]

Hi all,

 

I currently have 3 case fans and a single CPU fan on an air cooler and I want to upgrade them all to PWM (so 4 fans total but may go up to 5 at some point).

 

However, the pin diagram (attached) for my Asus H81M-P Plus mobo shows that the CPU fan header is PWM whilst the CHA fan header is +5V.

I was planning on running the case fans using a powered splitter (Akasa AK-CBFA03-45 Flexa FP5 PWM Splitter Cable https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B005EKU5CO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_pfoMCbB7GQAJS) from the CHA fan header. However, I'm assuming the +5V pin rather than PWM means that the chassis fan header is voltage regulated, so my initial idea of using a powered splitter would make the fans run at full speed all the time, right? 

So instead, can I just use a powered splitter on the CPU fan header and run all 4 (or 5 at a later date) fans from that? The manual says max power draw is 1A but if I'm using the molex powered splitter it should be fine shouldn't it?

 

Thanks!

[PopsicleHustler]

It should work fine if you power everything through molex and use CPU header as a control point .

[paddy-stone]

Personally, I'd go with a PWM controller, such as the corsair commando for example, that way you can have all the fans controlled by the CPU temp for example.

[cluelessgenius]

6 minutes ago, paddy-stone said:

Personally, I'd go with a PWM controller, such as the corsair commando for example, that way you can have all the fans controlled by the CPU temp for example.

you can do that even without it. using speedfan.

 

@xomaxhox yeah it should be fine. depending on the splitter. if it takes power from molex then youre good. i also only have 2 header because i run itx and i use a phobya pwm splitter. i have 9 fans taking power from sata and pwm signal from the chassis fan header. of course you loose the ability to control them individually but in most cases i find that not to be needed anyway. software like speedfan also helps with controling them alot. bit rough to set it up but once you get how its done its a pretty neat piece of software. i prefer it over solutions that mobo manufacturers throw at you like asus ai suite for example.

[paddy-stone]

40 minutes ago, cluelessgenius said:

you can do that even without it. using speedfan.

 

Key word here was:-

53 minutes ago, paddy-stone said:

Personally

Meaning it was what I would do.

[Gonzalo Noriega]

I cutted (I cut the cable) a usb cable and use a phone charger (5v 2.1 amp) to power my extra Fans (that are 5v)...

[cluelessgenius]

59 minutes ago, paddy-stone said:

Key word here was:-

Meaning it was what I would do.

i know i know. and thats fine too. all preference. im just saying one doesnt have to get extra hardware and pointing out a second options. no disrespect

[paddy-stone]

3 minutes ago, cluelessgenius said:

i know i know. and thats fine too. all preference. im just saying one doesnt have to get extra hardware and pointing out a second options. no disrespect

Ahh I see, no worries, always good to have options for sure.

 

I just prefer a hardware way of doing it, software can be bugg AF

 

[CodeNova]

 

2 hours ago, xomaxhox said:

So instead, can I just use a powered splitter on the CPU fan header and run all 4 (or 5 at a later date) fans from that? The manual says max power draw is 1A but if I'm using the molex powered splitter it should be fine shouldn't it?

 

<snip>

Your best bet would be to get a cheap externally powered PWM 'splitter', This alleviates the worry of drawing to much current from your onboard header.

cheap option

[cluelessgenius]

6 minutes ago, paddy-stone said:

Ahh I see, no worries, always good to have options for sure.

 

I just prefer a hardware way of doing it, software can be bugg AF

 

yeah right thats why i avoid corsair software for the controller  not just them thought i try to avoid all pheripherals manufacturers software as far as possible. im still traumatized by the earlier versions of corsair link back whe i had my h100i. they are all garbage in my book and i only use them if i have to. 

 

btw its not just corsair im not shitting on anyone directly. logitech for example is terrible at scaling. try running their software for configuring the mx master or max anywhere (i dont recall right now what the software is called) on a notebook with less then 1080p resolution.  the tool doesnt scale down  far enough and so you can even reach all the button properly. 

 

anyway enough with my rant on pheripheral manufacturers software.

[xomaxhox]

I'm not too worried about controlling the fans individually, was planning on just using the BIOS to set speeds to auto for all based on temperature.

 

In which case, sounds like I'm good to use a molex powered splitter to run all fans from the CPU fan header? (also not sure if I would have the room for a PWM controller in my mATX case anyway!)

[LogicalDrm]

2 hours ago, xomaxhox said:

I'm not too worried about controlling the fans individually, was planning on just using the BIOS to set speeds to auto for all based on temperature.

 

In which case, sounds like I'm good to use a molex powered splitter to run all fans from the CPU fan header? (also not sure if I would have the room for a PWM controller in my mATX case anyway!)

Yes. Powered splitter means that you can go over 1A limit. Mobo is then only used for controls while power comes from SATA (molex is starting to get rare so you might not want to connect molex adapter to PSU for just one fan splitter).

[xomaxhox]

Great, thanks for confirming @LoGiCalDrm and everyone else!

 

Re molex, I had issues with the SATA cables from my CX750M not being able to go into my SSDs so am currently using the set of molexs coming from the PSU with a molex-SATA adaptor for the SSDs.

[paddy-stone]

4 hours ago, cluelessgenius said:

yeah right thats why i avoid corsair software for the controller  not just them thought i try to avoid all pheripherals manufacturers software as far as possible. im still traumatized by the earlier versions of corsair link back whe i had my h100i. they are all garbage in my book and i only use them if i have to. 

 

btw its not just corsair im not shitting on anyone directly. logitech for example is terrible at scaling. try running their software for configuring the mx master or max anywhere (i dont recall right now what the software is called) on a notebook with less then 1080p resolution.  the tool doesnt scale down  far enough and so you can even reach all the button properly. 

 

anyway enough with my rant on pheripheral manufacturers software.

Yes, very true.. I think everyone has issues with software at some point, lol - but yes to have them not even scale properly so you can't even see the control buttons is frustrating AF, have had that happen too.

The Corsair Commander I meant though is more of a HUB/splitter and pretty cheap, like $15 or so... just allows you to control all the fans from CPU fan for example, so in the BIOS via fan curve, or set to performance etc. I just use the fan curve and set it to scale with CPU usage. Since I bought it it has gone with me through several main PC builds now as it makes things so much easier and cleaner for cable management too IMO.

[cluelessgenius]

11 hours ago, paddy-stone said:

Yes, very true.. I think everyone has issues with software at some point, lol - but yes to have them not even scale properly so you can't even see the control buttons is frustrating AF, have had that happen too.

The Corsair Commander I meant though is more of a HUB/splitter and pretty cheap, like $15 or so... just allows you to control all the fans from CPU fan for example, so in the BIOS via fan curve, or set to performance etc. I just use the fan curve and set it to scale with CPU usage. Since I bought it it has gone with me through several main PC builds now as it makes things so much easier and cleaner for cable management too IMO.

i can only find the commander pro and mini and those are way more expensive. anyway if yours is just a hub thn were doing the same thing. i liked phobya for the simplicity. modmytoys also make some good one. the concept really isnt that difficult. split fan cable into power and data lines and then get your power from sata / molex / whatever the hell you want. altough the commander at least has its connectors angled. phobya didnt and so i ended up removing a bit of the plastic that gives you the plug in direction and bend the pins myself for a lower profile.

[xomaxhox]

I've not been able to find a cheap "Corsair Commander" in the UK either, costs ~£50.

 

Just looking at PWM fans now then I'll be upgrading the system!

[paddy-stone]

5 hours ago, cluelessgenius said:

i can only find the commander pro and mini and those are way more expensive. anyway if yours is just a hub thn were doing the same thing. i liked phobya for the simplicity. modmytoys also make some good one. the concept really isnt that difficult. split fan cable into power and data lines and then get your power from sata / molex / whatever the hell you want. altough the commander at least has its connectors angled. phobya didnt and so i ended up removing a bit of the plastic that gives you the plug in direction and bend the pins myself for a lower profile.

 

1 hour ago, xomaxhox said:

I've not been able to find a cheap "Corsair Commander" in the UK either, costs ~£50.

 

Just looking at PWM fans now then I'll be upgrading the system!

UMMMM, my bad!!!   just realized it's actually a Thermaltake commander, lol

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B015KG6HP0/

[paddy-stone]

2 hours ago, xomaxhox said:

I've not been able to find a cheap "Corsair Commander" in the UK either, costs ~£50.

 

Just looking at PWM fans now then I'll be upgrading the system!

The corsair ml120/140s are nice, very quiet too, have these on my systems.

 

120

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01G5I6MRK/

 

140

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Corsair-CO-9050044-WW-Pressure-Magnetic-Levitation/dp/B01G5I6RK2/

[xomaxhox]

5 hours ago, paddy-stone said:

The corsair ml120/140s are nice, very quiet too, have these on my systems.

 

120

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01G5I6MRK/

 

140

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Corsair-CO-9050044-WW-Pressure-Magnetic-Levitation/dp/B01G5I6RK2/

I'm currently between:

• Corsair ML120
• Noctua NF-S12B redux
• Noctua NF-P12 redux

 

However, I can't find much info on the ML120's lower RPM sound/pressure/flow levels, just their maximums.

[paddy-stone]

43 minutes ago, xomaxhox said:

I'm currently between:

• Corsair's ML120
• Noctua's NF-S12B redux

 

However, I can't find much info on the ML120's lower RPM sound/pressure/flow levels, just their maximums.

All I can say is that for me the ML120s have been perfect.. I get hardly any noise from the fans, just the sound of the air being moved basically. I have mine on 30% for upto 40C operation, this means that my whole rig is very quiet when I'm just idling/sharing files/browsing and such, it really only kicks into higher gear for heavy tasks, but even then I can only hear the sound of the air moving over the rads/through filters etc rather than any mechanical noises. For a little over £20 these fans are f'ing awesome