Case Fans

[Markoman01027]

I am looking at this case fan right here:
http://www.directron.com/directron/80l1a.html

I am wondering if I should use that 3 pin molex connector or should I just use a regular connector that connects to one of the power supply leads? Does it even come with that? What is best?

My current ones only connect to the power supply leads, and they seem to work fine.

[Cricket]

Panaflos come "untailed" or with bare wires. You splice in the kind of connector (3 or 4 pin) that you want to use.

I usually splice them to 4 pin Molex connectors and connect them directly to the power supply.

:) Cricket

[Markoman01027]

Thanks for the reply Cricket,

That is what I want to do. I want to splice them up into a 4 pin Molex connector and connect them to the power supply..How would I splice them to a 4 pin Molec connector? Can you explain how to do it or do you have a website with instructions?


I also want to add- Is it possible to have two Molex Connectors that connect to one of the power supply leads? What I mean is, one connector connects to an open power lead, and the other one connects to an IDE device..so your basically not losing any power cables..thats how my case fans are setup...

Can I do that those case fans?

[Cricket]

When I order fans and cooling stuff from 2CoolTek, I usually order a few extra 3 to 4 pin power adapters (http://2cooltek.safeshopper.com/58/46.htm?931). I cut the 3 pin connector off and splice the Panaflo to the 2 wires by soldering the wires together (red to red, black to black) and then cover each joint with heat shrink tubing. That's it.

:) Cricket

[Markoman01027]

So everything will work fine even though I cut the 3 pin connector off?

[Fastfly]

You can also have the fan going into a 4 pin molex but have the signal yellow wire going to a cha fan thing on your MB to see RPM.

[Cricket]

Originally posted by Markoman01027
So everything will work fine even though I cut the 3 pin connector off? Sure...you have to cut the 3 pin connector off to get to the two wires you're going to splice the fan to.

:) Cricket

[PardeGT]

May I suggest a cheaper alternative?

I just purchased some NMB fans from www.SVC.com (they have a 9.6 rating on resellerratings). These fans are great at less than 20db and have the 3-pin connector already on them (with rpm monitoring to boot). Right now they are $2.50 a piece but I ordered 15 and got them for $1.87 each. If you are stuck on the panaflo they have them too for $6.99 with a 3-pin connector already there as well.

HTH

[Markoman01027]

Thanks PardeGT. Just looking for better performing Case Fans but quieter ones.

[PardeGT]

I'm really happy with NMB's as they are very quiet. The ones SVC shipped me all have a black jacket over the wires as well for a clean appearance. The fans are dual ball bearing and look of high quality - the picture provided by SVC didn't do it justice.

[Cricket]

Originally posted by Markoman01027
Just looking for better performing Case Fans but quieter ones. That's a tough combination...good performance and quiet. Panaflo's are quiet, but they don't move that much air. I wouldn't use them in a overclocked system.

NMB is a good brand to use. They've been around a long time and their fans are solid. They'll run and run and run.

Pabst is another good brand that runs nice and quiet, if you can find them.

But if you're looking for fans that move more air, you'll have to stick with high RPM ones. Or get bigger fans, they move more air than smaller fans. That's one trick some overclockers will use. I have a aluminum body 120mm Panaflo L1A that spins at only 1700RPM but moves a ton of air (70cfm) and it's really quiet...just haven't found a use for it yet. Might look cool in a Lian Li or similar.

Nice link, PardeGT.

:) Cricket

[PardeGT]

Here's a pic

[Markoman01027]

PardeGT,

Anyway that I can convert that 3 connector that connects to the motherboard to a 3-4 pin connector that connects to one of those power supply leads? The reason why I am asking this, is because I heard if you connect it to the motherboard, you can blow out the motherboard if the voltage is too high with the case fan or something like that. Not sure.

[scott_d]

sure there is, in fact, there is one on sale at www.svc.com right now
http://www.svc.com/3pinto4pinad.html
It is true that you can blow the header on the mobo out, so I usually dont connect any fans to it, just the RPM sensor
HTH

[Cricket]

Originally posted by Markoman01027
PardeGT,

Anyway that I can convert that 3 connector that connects to the motherboard to a 3-4 pin connector that connects to one of those power supply leads? The reason why I am asking this, is because I heard if you connect it to the motherboard, you can blow out the motherboard if the voltage is too high with the case fan or something like that. Not sure. You can use this 3 to 4 pin RPM adapter (http://2cooltek.safeshopper.com/58/300.htm?931) to connect the fan to the power supply power lead and also connect the fan's RPM sensor wire to the motherboard for RPM monitoring.

:) Cricket

[Markoman01027]

So if I purchase that 3 to 4 pin RPM adapter, I can plug in the 3 pin connector and then the 4 pin connector to one of the power supply leads for the NMB fans?

[Cricket]

Originally posted by Markoman01027
So if I purchase that 3 to 4 pin RPM adapter, I can plug in the 3 pin connector and then the 4 pin connector to one of the power supply leads for the NMB fans? Yes, as long as it's a 3 to 4 pin RPM power adapter.

:) Cricket

[Markoman01027]

My motherboard has many connectors. One for Power Fan, System Fan, Chipset Fan, etc. But they all support 12V I believe. Am I able to connect many 3 pin case fans to any of those open connectors right?

Fan Power Connectors:
CFAN1(Processor Fan)
SFAN1(System Fan)
PSFAN1(Power Supply Fan)
NBFAN1(Chipset Fan)
"Support System Cooling Fan with +12V"

CFAN1 is already being used by CPU fan. NBFan1 is open, aswell as SFAN1 and NBFAN1. The reason why I want to get a 3 to 4 pin converter, so I can just connect the fan to one of the power supply leads, and not have to worry about connector limitations.

[glc]

You can fill up the connectors on the motherboard, but when you reach the total current draw limit OR the individual limit on any one connector, the motherboard can go up in smoke. This is why using 4 wire Molex fans is generally recommended here. I've never had a problem using the motherboard connectors for a standard retail-type CPU fan and ONE standard case fan, but I'd be leery of using them for high RPM premium fans that move a lot of air. Some premium CPU fans come with an adapter and there is a caution in the installation instructions about this - and they recommend that you not use the motherboard connector for their particular unit.

[Markoman01027]

Thanks for the reply GLC,

Yeah I am going to use the 4 wire molex power supply lead connector. I was just wondering about the 3 pin connectors on the motherboard.

It's ok to put them in the 3 pin connectors on the motherboard aslong as they are not above 12V right?

With my CPU fan, I have a 4 pin connector to one of the power leads and I also connect a 3 pin connector to the CPU FAN connector on the motherboard for RPM reading.
Thanks!

[Cricket]

How many fans are you talking about? If you're just going to use the RPM adapter, I don't think it makes a difference how many 3 pin headers you use the RPM adapter on since it's only getting RPM readings. But if you're talking about connecting the fan power directly to the header, I think smaller fans like the chipset one isn't a problem, but high output 60mm and normal 80mm fans might put a good draw on the motherboard. The PSU fan isn't a problem since it's just reading the RPM, not drawing power...it gets it's power from within the power supply.

:) Cricket

[Markoman01027]

Thanks for the reply Cricket. Probably 2 Case Fans. I have 3 right now, but I don't need 3. Only gonna have 2 next time probably. I have 1 front and 1 rear, and one on the side case.

[glc]

The Enlight 7250 cases now come with an 80mm front fan with a 3 wire - and I haven't had a problem yet - and I use the 3 wire for the stock Intel cpu fan. When I put a rear fan in, I always use a 4 wire.

[PardeGT]

Sorry I didn't get back right away but yes you can use the 3 to 4 pin adapter and go off a power supply lead. However, the specs on the 80mm quiet NMB fans show .06A and .72W. The stock intel P4 Sanyo Denki fan pulls .16A (no wattage listed but it should be around 2W) and intel expects you to plug it to the board.

Each fan header on my Asus P4T-E board handles .35A and 4.2W and the new intel boards (taken from the Intel D845PEBT2) can support .8A for the cpu fan and .3A on each of the other two fan headers.

So there sould be no problem running two NMB's (one intake, one exhuast) and the P4 fan from the motherboard. I would think most other new boards should be close to the same.


note: just thought some actual #'s might be of some help. :)