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Area 51 R2 MB Fan Headers support PWM?
Hi,
I want to upgrade Area 51 R2 Fans with 4 pin PWM fans. Does the motherboard use PWM or Voltage Control for the case fans?
I ask because I want to use an Adapter like this that splits and powers fans off Molex. And forwards PWM RPM info from Motherboard, so you can use multiple PWM fans off a single fan header. Is this possible?
Thx for any info!!!
Cass-Ole
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August 31st, 2017 14:00
The case fan headers are PWM types. When I visit eBay, search term = 4pin PWM splitter (price = low to high), I get hits for a basic two-fan cable, is that more in line with what u need?
The 38mm Delta/Nidec case fans tend to be 1.4amp / 1.5amp - about the limit of amps u want to draw off of one header - therefore, a y-splitter as seen above, u would want a pair of .75amp fans max (as opposed to running a pair of Deltas @1.5amps each = 3amps). Swapping case fans, and running a pair off of one header generally entails buying slimmer 25mm wide fans rated @.75amps or less each (that way, total draw doesn't exceed 1.5amps)
Otherwise, the Amazon-type u linked to should work, but u would still need a Molex splitter (like I showed u yesterday) to patch in that type of molex/fan splitter cable into your case's Molex cable from the power supply. If the fans were allowed to draw power off of the Molex PSU cable, then yes, u could run two Deltas @3amps since you aren't pulling power off of the fan header itself, understand?
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edit: a friend's done a custom-build w/AMD Threadripper 1950x + three fan radiator, posted a pic today; note the triple y-splitter fan adapter = 3 fans off of one mthrbrd fan header. For 51-R2, we'd want triple fans rated at 0.5amps each max (or dual-fans at 0.75 max) so that total amps off of one header doesn't exceed 1.5amps (like the original Delta/Nidec)
jk4dell
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August 31st, 2017 22:00
Cass-Ole, Thanks for all your insight. My plan is to plug this adapter into the existing PSU Molex Cable (Was powering ODD, but I've unplugged it). That way I can power 3x Corsair ML120 PRO's via PSU, while PWM controlling via Motherboard.
Best Regards
Tesla1856
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September 1st, 2017 11:00
Nice.
I've seen "brushless" fans with lame sleeved bearings (not even ball-bearing). This sounds very cool ... I notice no diagram. I guess that would give away the secret and our friends over-seas would be cloning it in days.
jk4dell
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September 9th, 2017 08:00
Cass-Ole, The fans I'll use are rated: 0.299 A. Do you think it's safer to power 3x of these fans off the MB header, rather than power them with a Molex Adapter? The only reason I'm considering the Molex Adapter, instead of 3-Splitter Adapter, is to relieve some power load off the motherboard, since I already have so much powered off it. But then, I wonder how safe the Molex Adapter is. Considering it's a custom cable, and unknown brand, maybe it's not worth the risk of any voltage/power leak back from the PSU Molex to MB header.
Cass-Ole
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September 9th, 2017 14:00
'not worth the risk of any voltage/power leak back from the PSU Molex to MB header' > I don't follow. Custom unknown brand cable you linked to - so far as the basic design is concerned - seems like a typical PC modding part; I'm not picturing the 'catastrophe scenario' you wish to avoid there, but the part itself seems logical, safe, & designed to do what it needs to do. Give it a try if you wish
However, you have two mthrd case fan headers that work, & have CmndCntr speed control of both; the bottom case fan could plug into mthrbrd, while you get a dual-splitter for the top/mid fan > whether they run off mthrbrd fan header w/basic splitter or run off a molex adapter, both choices are logical, call them safe, & really just a toss-up call based off of a want to drop power loss through mthrbrd by .6 - .9amps, which u can do using molex adapter in question; if you read somewhere about voltage/power leak back, then link to it here so I can have someone's opinion that might make me change my own about that adapter-type. Otherwise, I'm not getting an 'untrustworthy' vibe from it:
jk4dell
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September 10th, 2017 11:00
Thank you again for all the help! Would you recommend putting 3 of those 0.299 Amp fans on 1 header? Or should I spread them out like your said above?
Cass-Ole
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September 10th, 2017 13:00
For simplicity I'd plug new bottom fan into mthrbrd bottom header, buy a dual-splitter & plug it into top fan header to power the top/mid fans, using the Rosewill RCFC-16002 = 4in / 10Cm ...
If you don't own max overclocked 6950x + dual-Vega 64s + 64Gb DDR4, I wouldn't worry about power draw through the mthrbrd over .9amp worth of fans. Not sure why it reminds me of Bane, but I can hear that voice: 'You fight like a young-a man ... with nothing held back ... it's admirable, but ... mistaken' ... ... ...