too many fans??? Help

[smokin_mitch]

okay I need some help

I want to add another couple of fans to my pc:

a corsair dominator ram fan setup

and a 25cm fan that is on the side panel of my case (thermaltake Armor, just ordered the side panel with fan hasnt arrived yet)

My question is how do i power these fans as there is no free Aux fan power left on my mobo im pretty sure?

I'm using a BFG 680i mobo, i have the optional chipset cooling fan on, a cpu fan (thermaltake bigtyp 120vx fan), and my case thermaltake Armor has (2x120mm fans and 2x80mm fans) so if i have no aux fan spots left on my mobo to plug the new fans into what do i have to do?

stupid question maybe but I've never added fans to a case before so no jokers please lol

[Sparky]

Use the molex cables from your power supply. If your new fans don't have molex connectors you can get a cable adapter to allow you to connect. Only drawback is you won't be able to monitor the fan speeds via your mobo's diagnostic

[smokin_mitch]

ah cool

I think the 25cm fan on the side panel i ordered uses a molex connector, so i guess i just need 1 adapter for the Corsair Dominator fan and i dont mind not being able to monitor the fan speed as long as they work


Problem solved


thnx

[hainer36]

like said before use the molex connectors, and remember never to use the 3pin headers for anything larger than 80mm (might be able to get away with 92mm, if their low speed) you will blow your mobo's headers out

[smokin_mitch]

Is that true I shouldnt run my 120mm fans off the mobo?

cause I am If its bad I might have to change it But i'm pretty sure its ok

[hainer36]

i was always told that you should never run a 120 off the mobo. and i never have/will. but if theres nothing wrong for you/you wanna do it that way, go nuts

[Zertz]

It depends how many Watts the header is rated for. An average 120mm fan draws 5-7W. It should be listed somewhere in your mobo manual how much the headers can handle.

[Prizy]

just to be safe i prob wouldn't run anything over 80mm on the 3pin chassis and now most of your fans have molex connectors anyway.

[Apoptosis]

depends on the power rating on the 120mm fans... I run 120mm fans to cool my memory modules on all the test systems and after years of doing it off the mobo I've had zero problems with low RPM 120mm fans. Some of them come with just 4-pin molex connectors and those I would never adapt down to be a 3-pin.

[DMB2000uk]

i was always told that you should never run a 120 off the mobo. and i never have/will. but if theres nothing wrong for you/you wanna do it that way, go nuts

I have 4 120mm fans on my mobo headers >_<

They work OK though, and its not blown anything (yet). Besides, I can't be bothered to switch them to Molex as I would have to find somewhere to hide even more wires.

Dan