AdviceMotherboard Only 3 Fan Headers
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AdviceMotherboard Only 3 Fan HeadersPosted:

Tasty
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Basically, I ran out of fan headers. There is the fan header for the CPU cooler, and 3 extra ones, although there are 4 different places to mount fans in my case. That being said, I want to add another fan to my PC, but have already used all the headers. The fan I would be adding is RGB (if that makes any difference, as I know it would use a bit more power).

What should I do to add another fan?

I know there are PWM fan splitters, which is an option. I also know that I could purchase a fan controller that would connect to the PSU, and that the fans would get power from the controller.

What is my best option here?

Thank you!

~Tasty
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Depends which RGB fan you buy. If it's a Corsair LL, it'll need the Commander Pro or Lighting Node Pro or whatever they call it.

If you don't need a proprietary controller, then you already know the other options- fan splitter or controller. Controller is technically the better option of the 2, assuming you get a decent one, but a splitter would work just fine.
#3. Posted:
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21 wrote Depends which RGB fan you buy. If it's a Corsair LL, it'll need the Commander Pro or Lighting Node Pro or whatever they call it.

If you don't need a proprietary controller, then you already know the other options- fan splitter or controller. Controller is technically the better option of the 2, assuming you get a decent one, but a splitter would work just fine.

Thanks 21! Is there any chance the splitter would cause any power issues?

This is the fan I was looking at: corsair.com/us/en/Categories/Prod...tech-specs

7-12v seems kind of high?
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It kind of depends whether a fan splitter could cause any issues.. Depends on how much power each fan connected to the splitter uses, and how much power the motherboard provides to the fan header you've connected the splitter to. I think most fan headers are usually capable of providing 1A, that Corsair AF120 uses 0.40A, so you'd be limited to 2 of those on one header.

That AF120 you've linked is not RGB btw, that's a static blue LED. Corsair's LL120 or ML120 are what you should be looking at for RGB Corsair fans. Like I said before though, those will need Corsair's proprietary controller.
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21 wrote It kind of depends whether a fan splitter could cause any issues.. Depends on how much power each fan connected to the splitter uses, and how much power the motherboard provides to the fan header you've connected the splitter to. I think most fan headers are usually capable of providing 1A, that Corsair AF120 uses 0.40A, so you'd be limited to 2 of those on one header.

That AF120 you've linked is not RGB btw, that's a static blue LED. Corsair's LL120 or ML120 are what you should be looking at for RGB Corsair fans. Like I said before though, those will need Corsair's proprietary controller.

I was hoping I could get away without buying a fan controller. The reason being, and I should have explained this before, is that I already have 3 CoolerMaster RGB fans that are all connected to a controller. Said controller only supports 3 fans. So basically, I was looking for an easy way to connect another fan. That's why I choose the solid LED one that has only a PWM connection and won't require a controller, but simply use a splitter.

I know LED probably is a worse option as far as lighting goes.

(That being said, I guess what I should do is buy a 120mm CoolerMaster RGB fan (or other brand) and upgrade to a controller that supports at least 4 fans.)

But anyways thanks for helping me out 21! You're the go to guy for PC advice on this site, as usual


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I think most RGB fans use a PWM/fan cable and then have an extra cable for the RGB control anyway. Not 100% sure though. So even if you did use a splitter for an RGB fan, like the Corsair LL120, you'd have no control over the RGB colour for that reason. So yeah, you just kinda need to use proprietary controllers for most, if not all RGB fans, unfortunately.

LED fans are fine, I suppose. Just that the AF120 is not RGB, just has blue LEDs. If you're getting an illuminated fan that doesn't have RGB LEDs, I'd probably go with white LEDs if possible. Honestly though, I'd just buy a good quality non LED fan.
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Yes from what I've found online, and in the 3 RGB fans I own, most RGB fans have a fan cable and an additional RGB cable.

I think I will buy another RGB fan, and then upgrade to a RGB fan controller that can support at least 4 fans.

Who knew I'd get so caught up in aesthetics?
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SOLUTION:

https://i.imgur.com/Xh7l53C.jpg

I used PWM fan splitter! Thanks 21!
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