Need help with fans setup!

[harriswho]

Hi, I am a total nub when it comes to fan setup since this is my first build. My MOBO is an ASUS H97 Plus that has 2x4pin Chassis headers and 1x4pin CPU header. I think I am gonna be using the stock cooler for the CPU that comes with the i5.

My case is a NZXT S340 that has two stock 120mm fans that are already mounted at the top and back (exhaust fans?) but they seem to be 3pin. I can take some pictures and post them if you need to see their connectors.

I want to get 2 extra fans for the front of the case 120 or 140mm fans.

 

What do I need to get (including splitters) in order to have a silent running PC? Ideally I would like all 4 fans to be controlled automatically according to CPU or MOBO temperature and not have them run at 100% all time.

 

Please note that this is not a gaming build, I won't be playing games, just doing web design.

 

Thanks guys

[Kaitodesu]

you could invest a little more in a fan controller like the nzxt grid plus since your case doesn't have 5.25" bays and crank all your fans to the lowest speed possible for silence 

[Rovert19]

Hi, I am a total nub when it comes to fan setup since this is my first build. My MOBO is an ASUS H97 Plus that has 2x4pin Chassis headers and 1x4pin CPU header. I think I am gonna be using the stock cooler for the CPU that comes with the i5.

My case is a NZXT S340 that has two stock 120mm fans that are already mounted at the top and back (exhaust fans?) but they seem to be 3pin. I can take some pictures and post them if you need to see their connectors.

I want to get 2 extra fans for the front of the case 120 or 140mm fans.

 

What do I need to get (including splitters) in order to have a silent running PC? Ideally I would like all 4 fans to be controlled automatically according to CPU or MOBO temperature and not have them run at 100% all time.

 

Please note that this is not a gaming build, I won't be playing games, just doing web design.

 

Thanks guys

 

I would recommend using the AI suite software from Asus to control the fans. It is really easy to configure and it's free.

 

As for fans I have the Noctua NF-P14 redux. They're nice but on the expensive side.

[harriswho]

you could invest a little more in a fan controller like the nzxt grid plus since your case doesn't have 5.25" bays and crank all your fans to the lowest speed possible for silence 

That is indeed a nice solution that I have considered already but they don't sell them in Greece. At least I haven't found a store that does. Plus it's really a pity since I have an ASUS MOBO that offers the FanXpert software which I have heard is really efficient.

[harriswho]

I would recommend using the AI suite software from Asus to control the fans. It is really easy to configure and it's free.

 

As for fans I have the Noctua NF-P14 redux. They're nice but on the expensive side.

I think I'll go with that software correct and thank you for the recommendation on the fans but I am really looking for a more technical advice as to what to use in terms of cables in order to hook them up safely.

 

There is a really big confusion in my head when it comes to 3pin vs 4pin, power consumption safety when hooking two fans into 1 header, and by the time I thought I had it all figured out it got even more confusing when someone told me that a 4pin Y-Splitter only has 1 PWM 4pin end and that the other is a 4hole but 3pin end.

 

I need someone to suggest gear to me that will make things clear enough. Like "get this splitter and put one end to this header and the other two ends on these two compatible and safe fans". 

 

Cheers for the answers so far.

[Sam Z Man]

Get 2 splitters you can plug your 3 pin cables into the 4 pin connector and hook it up to the mother board.

Plug your exhaust fans into one splitter and your intake fans into the other than use Asus fan control to have them control themselves. You should be fine running 2 fans off one connector.

[harriswho]

Get 2 splitters you can plug your 3 pin cables into the 4 pin connector and hook it up to the mother board.

Plug your exhaust fans into one splitter and your intake fans into the other than use Asus fan control to have them control themselves. You should be fine running 2 fans off one connector.

Wow I didn't know you can hook 3pin fans into 4pin splitter headers. These 3pin fans as I mentioned are stock fans by NZXT. Do you think that they will work according to motherboard speed settings even if they are not PWM fans?

 

Thank you for your answer. Appreciate all the help I'm getting from you guys.

[Sam Z Man]

If you want a more silent build don't use the Intel cooler my advice would be to get something like a Noctua NH-U9B SE2, because stock Intel coolers will scream like a dying cat when your CPU is under load. If you do get a air cooler make it draw air from the front of your Case and exuast it out the back, you will also need another fan splitter if you get this CPU cooler.

[Sam Z Man]

Wow I didn't know you can hook 3pin fans into 4pin splitter headers. These 3pin fans as I mentioned are stock fans by NZXT. Do you think that they will work according to motherboard speed settings even if they are not PWM fans?

 

Thank you for your answer. Appreciate all the help I'm getting from you guys.

Oh yea your Case fans really have only 2 modes full power or off so you may want to consider replacing them with PWM fans.

[harriswho]

If you want a more silent build don't use the Intel cooler my advice would be to get something like a Noctua NH-U9B SE2, because stock Intel coolers will scream like a dying cat when your CPU is under load. If you do get a air cooler make it draw air from the front of your Case and exuast it out the back, you will also need another fan splitter if you get this CPU cooler.

Yes I will definately consider using a new CPU cooler instead of the stock one but since I am on a budget I think I will go with the screaming cats (that would make hell of a brand name) until I gather some more money for the one you are suggesting which by the way goes for $65 in Greece while only $49 in the US.

 

Cheers!

[Sam Z Man]

What I would get if I was in you situation.

3 Noctua NF-P14s redux-1200 https://pcpartpicker.com/part/noctua-case-fan-nfp14sredux1200

1 Noctua NF-S12B redux-1200 https://pcpartpicker.com/part/noctua-case-fan-nfs12bredux1200pwm

1 12" splitter

http://m.newegg.com/Product/index?itemnumber=12-423-161

1 (2 if you get noctua CPU cooler) 4 inch fan splitter

http://m.newegg.com/Product/index?itemnumber=9SIA4TZ2SN8399

1 Noctua NH-U9B SE2 https://pcpartpicker.com/part/noctua-cpu-cooler-nhu9bse2

[Sam Z Man]

Yes I will definately consider using a new CPU cooler instead of the stock one but since I am on a budget I think I will go with the screaming cats (that would make hell of a brand name) until I gather some more money for the one you are suggesting which by the way goes for $65 in Greece while only $49 in the US.

 

Cheers!

Yea right now I'm building myself a new PC and it is going to have a stock cooler and it's a 4790k on a Maximus VI Formula motherboard. Why well because I have just over a grand to spend on it but in 2 months when I have another 600$ im throwing on liquid cooling.

[harriswho]

1 (2 if you get noctua CPU cooler) 4 inch fan splitter

http://m.newegg.com/Product/index?itemnumber=9SIA4TZ2SN8399

 

Isn't it interesting how this splitter has 4 pins on one end and 3 on the other? Does that mean that it will control the speed of only one fan or not?

[blackadder]

Isn't it interesting how this splitter has 4 pins on one end and 3 on the other? Does that mean that it will control the speed of only one fan or not?

it normally goes off the 4 pin, 3 pin kinda have a high medium and low setting, the 4 pin should control both but, rpm readout will be from this 4 pin fan.

[Sam Z Man]

Isn't it interesting how this splitter has 4 pins on one end and 3 on the other? Does that mean that it will control the speed of only one fan or not?

The third pin that is only on one connector reads the speed of the fan and sends it to the motherboard if both fans sent inputs to the board your speed ratings would be screwed. Also why it's recommended to use fans that are as similar as possible when using a PWM splitter so you get consistent fan performance.

[harriswho]

Great stuff thanks.

 

I think I am gonna go with Noctua fans since they are really silent and require minimal power to run thus not only quiet but safe to hook with Y-Cables.