not enough 4pin case fan headers

[wolfff]

so i am maybe going to get a motherboard that has 3 case fan headers and i have got 5 fans installed in my pc wich i all want to make us off. i dont know a lot about controlling fans but my friend told me i need 4pin connecters to be able to control the fans not 3pin connecters. my fans are amazing but have a zoom noise at 1000-1200 rpm and i want to be able to put them on a rpm always that dodges those zoom noise rpms. aka i want to be able to controll the rpm.

The question:

 

can i buy fan splitters and still controll my fans  rpm with those splitters? or do i need to buy some kinda hub? someone give me info on how this works pls

[wolfff]

dont know if this should be in cooling or motherboards but it is a motherboard thingy with 4pin stuff

[minibois]

Just now, wolfff said:

can i buy fan splitters and still controll my fans  rpm with those splitters?

Yes.

Basically the way it works, the third pin on a fan is for RPM sense, so the motherboard knows how fast the fan is spinning. A fan splitter goes from your motherboard to multiple fans and that third pin is only present on one of the fan sides on the splitter and that way it gets the fan speed and with the 4th pin it can control all fans at once.

 

Preferably you want the same type of fans on a splitter and not multiple types. The reason this is, is because your motherboard controls fans in percentage. 100% on some fans is a lot more rpm/noise/airflow than 100% on another type of fan.

2 minutes ago, wolfff said:

my friend told me i need 4pin connecters to be able to control the fans not 3pin connecters.

That's not 100% true.

You need 4 pin fans for PWM control, which is more accurate of a fan control method than the DC fan control present on 3 pin fans.

For this reason - the more accurate control - I do recommend 4 pin fan in general.

 

TL;DR: yes, I recommend 4 pin fans and you can get a simple fan splitter to connect multiple fans to one header.

[wolfff]

20 minutes ago, minibois said:

Yes.

Basically the way it works, the third pin on a fan is for RPM sense, so the motherboard knows how fast the fan is spinning. A fan splitter goes from your motherboard to multiple fans and that third pin is only present on one of the fan sides on the splitter and that way it gets the fan speed and with the 4th pin it can control all fans at once.

 

Preferably you want the same type of fans on a splitter and not multiple types. The reason this is, is because your motherboard controls fans in percentage. 100% on some fans is a lot more rpm/noise/airflow than 100% on another type of fan.

That's not 100% true.

You need 4 pin fans for PWM control, which is more accurate of a fan control method than the DC fan control present on 3 pin fans.

For this reason - the more accurate control - I do recommend 4 pin fan in general.

 

TL;DR: yes, I recommend 4 pin fans and you can get a simple fan splitter to connect multiple fans to one header.

so if i get a 4 pin to 4pin splitter i'm good to go? do you recommend any splitter? or all they all good. and where do i controll my fans? i think i can controll it in my amd drivers right?

[paddy-stone]

Adding to what @miniboissaid above. He did cover it, but I'm basically just expanding on that.

 

You could for example have 2x top case fans using a splitter, and set that on 20% rising PWM fan curve - set to go higher with the case temp for exhausting the hot air.

front case fans, set to 50% min fan curve and rising with CPU temp on one splitter... and so on.

 

That is how I do it on my desktop, so that each zone has it's own fan curve and splitters. On my server build though I have them all connected to a hub regardless of fan type, and on a curve set to rise with case temp. You can tell the difference because of the mixing of fan types and having different RPM.

[paddy-stone]

5 minutes ago, wolfff said:

so if i get a 4 pin to 4pin splitter i'm good to go? do you recommend any splitter? or all they all good. and where do i controll my fans? i think i can controll it in my amd drivers right?

Virtually any splitters will do, you can get 2/3/4 connections splitters by the way, they don't have to be 2.... and you control them in the UE|FI/BIOS and set the fan curve.

If you wanted to be able to control them yourself manually, then you'd want a fan controller instead.

[minibois]

5 minutes ago, wolfff said:

so if i get a 4 pin to 4pin splitter i'm good to go?

You'd need a 1 to 3 splitter cable or two 1 to 2 splitter cables, if you want to connect 5 fans to 3 header and then you'd be good to go.

6 minutes ago, wolfff said:

do you recommend any splitter? or all they all good.

I've had good luck with a cable from EKWB, but I can imagine most cables would be fine.

6 minutes ago, wolfff said:

and where do i controll my fans?

I control it in the BIOS.

[wolfff]

2 minutes ago, paddy-stone said:

Virtually any splitters will do, you can get 2/3/4 connections splitters by the way, they don't have to be 2.... and you control them in the UE|FI/BIOS and set the fan curve.

If you wanted to be able to control them yourself manually, then you'd want a fan controller instead.

 

1 minute ago, minibois said:

You'd need a 1 to 3 splitter cable or two 1 to 2 splitter cables, if you want to connect 5 fans to 3 header and then you'd be good to go.

I've had good luck with a cable from EKWB, but I can imagine most cables would be fine.

I control it in the BIOS.

but, in the bios i can make sure the fans dont hit 1000-1200 rpm? and if they do they go higher or lower rpms?

[paddy-stone]

2 minutes ago, wolfff said:

 

but, in the bios i can make sure the fans dont hit 1000-1200 rpm? and if they do they go higher or lower rpms?

It's done by fan % not RPM.... but you can set the max you want them to hit, so if you set it to 80% for example.

[wolfff]

1 minute ago, paddy-stone said:

It's done by fan % not RPM.... but you can set the max you want them to hit, so if you set it to 80% for example.

oh so if the rpm is max 2000 and i set them to 80% they go to about 1600 rpm or smt?

[wolfff]

2 minutes ago, paddy-stone said:

It's done by fan % not RPM.... but you can set the max you want them to hit, so if you set it to 80% for example.

ooooh the max

[wolfff]

2 minutes ago, paddy-stone said:

It's done by fan % not RPM.... but you can set the max you want them to hit, so if you set it to 80% for example.

so if i set the fans at max 40 procent it wont hit 1000 rpm and will still be fine or smt?

[paddy-stone]

1 minute ago, wolfff said:

oh so if the rpm is max 2000 and i set them to 80% they go to about 1600 rpm or smt?

 

1 minute ago, wolfff said:

ooooh the max

 

1 minute ago, wolfff said:

so if i set the fans at max 40 procent it wont hit 1000 rpm and will still be fine or smt?

 

Yes, if they are 1200max, setting it to 80% for example would result in it being 960RPM. You can for example have the fan curve like 20% at 30C/40% at 40C etc, usually there are 4/5 values you can set it to IIRC, with the last one being max.

[wolfff]

Just now, paddy-stone said:

 

 

 

Yes, if they are 1200max, setting it to 80% for example would result in it being 960RPM. You can for example have the fan curve like 20% at 30C/40% at 40C etc, usually there are 4/5 values you can set it to IIRC, with the last one being max.

so i got artic p12's... 5 of them. what rpm / percentage should i set them at? i want to keep my pc cool (duh) but i dont know what is the sweet spot for fans 5 to be at.

 

finna get a rx 6800 xt and a ryzen cpu with a dark rock pro 4 cooler

[wolfff]

3 minutes ago, paddy-stone said:

 

 

 

Yes, if they are 1200max, setting it to 80% for example would result in it being 960RPM. You can for example have the fan curve like 20% at 30C/40% at 40C etc, usually there are 4/5 values you can set it to IIRC, with the last one being max.

also i just chose that i will be going for the Gigabyte Aorus B550 PRO V2 motherboard. it has everything i need, enough usb's, the non v2 version is TIER S so i assume this must be a tier S mobo aswell. and 6 4pin headers!!! perfect.

[paddy-stone]

1 minute ago, wolfff said:

so i got artic p12's... 5 of them. what rpm / percentage should i set them at? i want to keep my pc cool (duh) but i dont know what is the sweet spot for fans 5 to be at.

 

finna get a rx 6800 xt and a ryzen cpu with a dark rock pro 4 cooler

It depends on what the fans are doing, like pushing/pulling, where they are situated and such... as I mentioned before you can set each splitter to a different zone, and have a different fan curve for each zone.

You will want to play around with it, to see what works best for your situation.

[wolfff]

1 minute ago, paddy-stone said:

It depends on what the fans are doing, like pushing/pulling, where they are situated and such... as I mentioned before you can set each splitter to a different zone, and have a different fan curve for each zone.

You will want to play around with it, to see what works best for your situation.

alright! i will have 3 up front and 1 in the back and 1 in the top also back. in the corsair 4000d airflow case so i assume cooling will be just fine if i play around w it indeed. thanks so much for all ur help my dude!

[paddy-stone]

Just now, wolfff said:

also i just chose that i will be going for the Gigabyte Aorus B550 PRO V2 motherboard. it has everything i need, enough usb's, the non v2 version is TIER S so i assume this must be a tier S mobo aswell. and 6 4pin headers!!! perfect.

I would not choose a motherboard based on fan headers, it's much better to use hubs/splitters to get the total amount you need. Choose the motherboard based on other features you might need, eg wifi/m.2/USB-C and other aspects.

[wolfff]

Just now, paddy-stone said:

I would not choose a motherboard based on fan headers, it's much better to use hubs/splitters to get the total amount you need. Choose the motherboard based on other features you might need, eg wifi/m.2/USB-C and other aspects.

the fan ports are just lucky that is has 6, the motherboard has much usb ports (wich i really really need) and it is TIER S also the vrms are tier s i believe and all the other features are okay to me, using a x370 mobo rn so itll be a good upgrade

[paddy-stone]

1 minute ago, wolfff said:

alright! i will have 3 up front and 1 in the back and 1 in the top also back. in the corsair 4000d airflow case so i assume cooling will be just fine if i play around w it indeed. thanks so much for all ur help my dude!

I would use 1 fan splitter for the top/rear zones as they are both doing the same job basically, of pushing air out of the case, it normally doesn't have to be very strong there, so maybe 30-50% at most I would say, but it does depends on case.

[wolfff]

Just now, paddy-stone said:

I would use 1 fan splitter for the top/rear zones as they are both doing the same job basically, of pushing air out of the case, it normally doesn't have to be very strong there, so maybe 30-50% at most I would say, but it does depends on case.

ill put the top/ear fans at 40 procent then. and the front fans, do i put those at 80 percent or smt?

[paddy-stone]

1 minute ago, wolfff said:

the fan ports are just lucky that is has 6, the motherboard has much usb ports (wich i really really need) and it is TIER S also the vrms are tier s i believe and all the other features are okay to me, using a x370 mobo rn so itll be a good upgrade

Ahh OK, didn't know how new to computing you were, and didn't want you to buy based on basic functions of the board, which are easily compensated for with peripherals is all... good to know you weren't

[paddy-stone]

Just now, wolfff said:

ill put the top/ear fans at 40 procent then. and the front fans, do i put those at 80 percent or smt?

You set a fan curve, not a static %... so that it can adjust itself if it needs to, so if the case/cpu gets hotter it will increase the fan %

[wolfff]

1 minute ago, paddy-stone said:

Ahh OK, didn't know how new to computing you were, and didn't want you to buy based on basic functions of the board, which are easily compensated for with peripherals is all... good to know you weren't

i know very much but fan stuff is new to me so ur a big help in teaching me stuff rn hahaha

[paddy-stone]

Here's what mine is like 

 

25% at 30C or below

40% at 45C

60% at 60C

80% at 75C - which is max IIRC

 

But just play with them and see if you like it that way, and if it keeps your PC components cool enough.