Very Stupid question about Fans

[asdf]

Hi:
I'm building my first computer, and have just about everything
hooked up & running except my case fans.
I have a Lian Li 70 with 2 big intake fans and 2 exhaust fans.
My motherboard is an A7N8X Deluxe.

Now here is the stupid question.

Where do I hook up the 4 big case fans? The motherboard has 3
connectors for fans and I've used 2 of them (for CPU and for
northbridge.)

Right now I'm running the computer with the sides off, to keep
things cool.

But where-oh-where do the case fans hook in?

Thank you very much!

 

[Ben Pope]

Hi:
I'm building my first computer, and have just about everything
hooked up & running except my case fans.
I have a Lian Li 70 with 2 big intake fans and 2 exhaust fans.
My motherboard is an A7N8X Deluxe.

Now here is the stupid question.

Where do I hook up the 4 big case fans? The motherboard has 3
connectors for fans and I've used 2 of them (for CPU and for
northbridge.)

Right now I'm running the computer with the sides off, to keep
things cool.

But where-oh-where do the case fans hook in?

Thank you very much!

If they have the 3-pin motherboard header style connectors, then you're out
of luck. Usually you can get fans with the 4-pin molex connectors (like
those that plug into hard drives). You can rewire the fans, and you can
probably buy adaptors. If you re-wire the fans, there's no problem in
wiring them in parallel to got all 4 onto 1 molex, if you want. Not sure if
the motherboard headers would appreciate that sort of current.

Ben

 

[Barry Watzman]

I think that you are engaging in fan overkill.

But, anyway ......

Most motherboards have 3 fan sockets, these are small 3-pin sockets with
a tach input to measure the fan speed. One is always used for the CPU
fan. Often, one is used for a chipset fan and/or the fan inside the
power supply. That may leave you with 0 or 1 free fan socket on the
motherboard. (a few motherboards have more than 3 fan sockets).

Once you run out of motherboard fan sockets, any additional fans should
be the "2-wire" kind rather than the "3-wire" kind. These run off of
the disk drive power cables (4 wires, but only 2 are used), and usually
they can be "daisy chained" so that you can run as many of them as you
want. "2-Wire" fans have no tachometer signal, so they are not
monitored, and their speed is not measured. There are adapters
available to convert a fan from 2-wire to 3-wire or vice-versa, although
if a fan doesn't have a tach signal, it's speed will never be measured.
Personally, at $6 to $8, if you have a 3-wire fan and need a 2-wire
fan, I'd just buy a new fan.

Again, I think that you are engaging in "fan overkill", I think that two
cooling fans (one input and one exhaust) is plenty.

 

[Bob Retelle]

Now here is the stupid question.

Where do I hook up the 4 big case fans?

Here's an even better question:

Why do you NEED "4 big case fans?"


Unless you're using a 300 watt light bulb to light the case (kuel eFx,
man), you're not likely to need that much airflow.

And if you DO manage to hook all those fans up, you'll be back
tomorrow with the perennial complaint, "My computer is too loud, how
do I sound-proof it?" 4 fans are going to make it sound like a 747.


Go to www.cyberguys.com and check out their fan connector adaptors.

You can plug the case fans into spare power supply connectors with the
right adaptors.


If you absolutely, positively HAVE to have 4 fans, that is.



BobR

 

[BigFNDeal]

I have 4 case fans too, and it's not terrible, I actually like the sound,
it's relaxing. I keep a regular house fan running pretty uch every night by
my bed for white noise while I sleep, so the comp doesn't bother me. I have
1 intake 32.5CFM quad led fan and anorher 53CFM as intake, as well as 2
exhouast 32.5CFM quad led fans and the power supply (Vantec ION w/ 2 fans)
as well as a CoolerMAster Aero7+ and a MicroCool Northpole.

 

[asdf]

I think that you are engaging in fan overkill.

But, anyway ......

Most motherboards have 3 fan sockets, these are small 3-pin sockets with
a tach input to measure the fan speed. One is always used for the CPU
fan. Often, one is used for a chipset fan and/or the fan inside the
power supply. That may leave you with 0 or 1 free fan socket on the
motherboard. (a few motherboards have more than 3 fan sockets).

Once you run out of motherboard fan sockets, any additional fans should
be the "2-wire" kind rather than the "3-wire" kind. These run off of
the disk drive power cables (4 wires, but only 2 are used), and usually
they can be "daisy chained" so that you can run as many of them as you
want. "2-Wire" fans have no tachometer signal, so they are not
monitored, and their speed is not measured. There are adapters
available to convert a fan from 2-wire to 3-wire or vice-versa, although
if a fan doesn't have a tach signal, it's speed will never be measured.
Personally, at $6 to $8, if you have a 3-wire fan and need a 2-wire
fan, I'd just buy a new fan.

Again, I think that you are engaging in "fan overkill", I think that two
cooling fans (one input and one exhaust) is plenty.

Here's why I have the 4 fans (besides the fact that the case came
with all 4.)

1. I have 6 hard drives directly behind the 2 intake fans, in a
special cage.

2. I'm also running a hot ATI 9800 Pro.
3. Two DVD burners and 1 reader.
4. 1 CD burner and 1 reader
5. a 3200+ Barton
6. Audigy 2 soundcard
7. 1.5Gb Corsair 3500 ram
8. 3-com ethernet
9 promise controller card

All in all, I expect things to get pretty hot inside that case
after I button up the sides.
Since the lian Li came with 4, I decided I might as well hook up
all 4.

PS: I've lost about 60% of my hearing, so the sound won't
bother me, and there's no one else in the house.

 

[Kevin Miller]

I have 4 case fans too, and it's not terrible, I actually like the sound,
it's relaxing. I keep a regular house fan running pretty uch every night by
my bed for white noise while I sleep, so the comp doesn't bother me. I have
1 intake 32.5CFM quad led fan and anorher 53CFM as intake, as well as 2
exhouast 32.5CFM quad led fans and the power supply (Vantec ION w/ 2 fans)
as well as a CoolerMAster Aero7+ and a MicroCool Northpole.

I leave my system on while I sleep as well. It sounds like a small
room air conditioner, but I can't sleep well without all that white
noise...

Kevin Miller

"The avalanche has already started;
it is too late for the pebbles to vote."

 

[stanmc]

Here's why I have the 4 fans (besides the fact that the case came
with all 4.)

1. I have 6 hard drives directly behind the 2 intake fans, in a
special cage.

2. I'm also running a hot ATI 9800 Pro.
3. Two DVD burners and 1 reader.
4. 1 CD burner and 1 reader
5. a 3200+ Barton
6. Audigy 2 soundcard
7. 1.5Gb Corsair 3500 ram
8. 3-com ethernet
9 promise controller card

All in all, I expect things to get pretty hot inside that case
after I button up the sides.
Since the lian Li came with 4, I decided I might as well hook up
all 4.

PS: I've lost about 60% of my hearing, so the sound won't
bother me, and there's no one else in the house.

In looking at the pics of the case on the newegg.com site the four fans
you reference seem to have four pin molex connectors. The one pic seems
to have only two of the pins present. If the fans do have molex 4-pin
connectors you might want to get some molex splitters such as part
#864722 at www.compusa.com. Your equipment list would seem to indicate
that you might have maxed out the 12-volt 4-pin molex connectors. Which
devices you choose to split, of course, is up to you.

 

[jlsue]

I leave my system on while I sleep as well. It sounds like a small
room air conditioner, but I can't sleep well without all that white
noise...

Wow, I never realized how many people sleep with their computers..... sad
really.

 

[Ron]

Well, as you mentioned, there is still one mobo fan header available, so you
*could* attach one fan there. But...

I'd suggest using 4-pin Molex connectors for the fans (buy adapters if you
have to) and running them off the p/s. I'd also suggest hooking up just ONE
intake and ONE exhaust 'til you see if the other pair are going to be
required.

Sadly, this set-up will not permit RPM monitoring, but even if you DID
attach one fan to the mobo...you'd only be able to monitor that ONE fan
anyway. Additionally, perhaps your 120mm fans do not have single-lead
monitoring wires, so even if you had your heart set on monitoring one of
them, you would not be able to.

Please post a follow-up.
Ron

 

[Ron]

Oh...and I neglected to add that there is sometimes a concern about current
draw [with fans that are connected to the mobo]. I'm assuming that the fans
in question are 120mm, but regardless...powering them from the p/s is
prudent.

Ron