Fan splitter cables

[Land3r]

Hi guys,

 

I've rencently build a new computer but i have ran into some issues for plugging all the fans.

I'm using a MSI Z97 Gaming 5 motherboard (http://us.msi.com/product/mb/Z97_GAMING_5.html#hero-specification) which features for fan control :

- 2 x 4-pin CPU fan connectors

- 3 x 4-pin system fan connectors

and in total would like to have 7 fans plugged in

I have 5 obviously atm (1 for cpu on CPU pin, 3 for case on system fan pin and 1 for case on CPU pin)).

The fan pins on the motherboard a 4 pin headers.

 

In order to plug all the remaining fans onto the motherboard, i am looking for a system that would allow that.

Most of my fans are 3 pins fans (pwm) with LED (4 / fan) (=more power consumption i guess).

Searching over the internet, i found several possibilities and i wanted your opinion on them.

First, buying a fan splitter cable:

* First, is it ok for the motherboard ?

* Will the motherboard be able to control them (pwm) ? (atm with one fan plugged in, it is controlled by MB, but with a splitter cable, will it works ?)

* Is it ok in term of powerconsumption for one MB fan pin header to power several (2, 3, 4, i don't know) fan ? (even more with the LED thing)

* Which one is better ? lol

Is it better a 4 pin header -> 2x4pin header ,4 pin header -> 2x3pin header, 3pin header -> 2x3 pin header, 3pin header -> 3x3 pin header ? .... the list is pretty damn long.

 

Second, buying a Molex to (2 or 3)x(4 or 3) pin adapter:

* Will pwm fans be controlled in any mean if plugged not on MB ? If not then what, full speed all the time ?

* Is it better if fan are powerred from PSU and not MB ?

 

Which option is the best one ?

Finally guys, would be great if you had any recommandation on another solution, would be appreciated

 

Thanks in advance,

Regards,

 

[SuperPug]

The simple solution would be one of these: http://www.amazon.com/Phobya-3-Way-Splitter-Single-Connection/dp/B004CLFOK4/ref=pd_sxp_f_pt Fans allows you to controll the fans with pwm (obviously all at the same speed) so this would be good to connect the case fans to.

 

To answer your question about the mobo fan header - yes it can handle having a fan splitter connected to it especially if its only a 3x splitter. More than that might be pushing it a little...

[Dufffman123]

A motherboard fan header has between 20 and 40 Watts maximum and if you plug only 2 fans into one fan connector you should be fine since one fan has about 2-5W of powerconsumption.

Also you can plug the 3 pin and the 4 pin fans into one connector, the 4 pin will be pwm controlled and the 3 pin will run on the 12vDC standart voltage.