[SOLVED] Corsair sp120 question
- Thread starter icept
- Start date
ElectrO_90
Splendid
- Apr 17, 2007
- 5,109
- 451
- 27,140
If you have 3 pins, it's all good - the 3 and 4 pins fit on the motherboard fine - there is a slot it goes in
The answer is not that simple, but probably you can make it work easily. When you plug a 3-pin fan into a 4-pin header that actually is using the newer PWM Mode to control its fans, those fans will always run full speed. You get good cooling, but no speed control and more noise than you need. However, these days on mobos that have only 4-pin fan headers (almost all), most have an option in the configuration of those headers in BIOS Setup to allow them to switch to using the older Voltage Control Mode (aka DC Mode) which CAN control those 3-pin fans properly. If you need any detailed help with that, OP, post back here the maker and exact model number of your mobo, and we can look up its manual and offer precise advice.
Yes, this will be easy. Your mobo has three SYS_FAN headers for case ventilation fans. Unless you have more, simply plug each of your SP120 RGG fans' MOTOR cables into one of those mobo headers. If you have more than 3, post back here for hints on using a Splitter. Then see p. 22 of your mobo manual where it says to access BIOS Setup, you should press (I say, hold down) the "Del" key as the system first starts to boot up, until you see the opening screen of Setup (p. 23). From the top menu choose "Smart Fan" at bottom right and see p. 26-27. For EACH of the mobo SYS_FAN headers you are using, select that header and set as follows:
Fan Speed Control "Normal"
Fan Use Temperature Input "Motherboard" (not CPU)
Fan Control Mode "Voltage"
Fan Fail Warning "Enabled"
When all headers are configured, use "Esc" to get back to the main screen, and then F10 to reach the Exit menu on p.38. There choose the "Save & Exit Setup" option to save your new settings and reboot. This will put all your SP120 RGB case ventilation fans under automatic speed control based on actual temperature measured on the motherboard.
Now, each of your fans has TWO cables from it. One ends in a female standard fan connector with three holes, and with two ridges running down one side. That is what you plug into the mobo fan headers. The other cable ends in a different connector for power and control of the RGB lighting units mounted in each fan's frame. If you bought a 3-pack of fans, it came also with a fan Hub to which all those fans connect (using only the first three ports of that Hub) AND a small control box with three buttons. This box also plugs into the Hub. Further, the Hub has a cable that plugs into a SATA power output from the PSU to get power for all the RGB lights. Using that box with 3 buttons you can change the colours, patterns and speed of changes of the lights manually. You MAY also have another option for RGB lighting control. Your mobo has a header at bottom rear of the board labelled LED_C (RGB) with five pins. This can be used to power and control RGB lighting units of either the common 4-pin plain RGB type which is what you fans have in them, or the related 5-pin RGBW system. Check with Corsair to see if you can get an adapter cable that allows you to connect from the first 4 pins of that mobo header directly to the Corsair RGB Hub without using the manual control button box. When making that connection, note that the female connector will have one hole identified for the +12 VDC line, and so does the mobo header, so match those up. If you can get such a cable, then you can install and use the free Gigabyte utility called RGB Fusion to do all the lighting control with software and not bother with the manual button box..
Fan Speed Control "Normal"
Fan Use Temperature Input "Motherboard" (not CPU)
Fan Control Mode "Voltage"
Fan Fail Warning "Enabled"
When all headers are configured, use "Esc" to get back to the main screen, and then F10 to reach the Exit menu on p.38. There choose the "Save & Exit Setup" option to save your new settings and reboot. This will put all your SP120 RGB case ventilation fans under automatic speed control based on actual temperature measured on the motherboard.
Now, each of your fans has TWO cables from it. One ends in a female standard fan connector with three holes, and with two ridges running down one side. That is what you plug into the mobo fan headers. The other cable ends in a different connector for power and control of the RGB lighting units mounted in each fan's frame. If you bought a 3-pack of fans, it came also with a fan Hub to which all those fans connect (using only the first three ports of that Hub) AND a small control box with three buttons. This box also plugs into the Hub. Further, the Hub has a cable that plugs into a SATA power output from the PSU to get power for all the RGB lights. Using that box with 3 buttons you can change the colours, patterns and speed of changes of the lights manually. You MAY also have another option for RGB lighting control. Your mobo has a header at bottom rear of the board labelled LED_C (RGB) with five pins. This can be used to power and control RGB lighting units of either the common 4-pin plain RGB type which is what you fans have in them, or the related 5-pin RGBW system. Check with Corsair to see if you can get an adapter cable that allows you to connect from the first 4 pins of that mobo header directly to the Corsair RGB Hub without using the manual control button box. When making that connection, note that the female connector will have one hole identified for the +12 VDC line, and so does the mobo header, so match those up. If you can get such a cable, then you can install and use the free Gigabyte utility called RGB Fusion to do all the lighting control with software and not bother with the manual button box..
Last edited:
TRENDING THREADS
-
-
-
Question Minimum System Requirements for Windows 11 install ?
- Started by Artisanico
- Replies: 5
-
-
Question ARRGGGH!!!! Looking for help finding a replacement screw.
- Started by Franknj229
- Replies: 6
-
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram