Do i need a fan controller?

[cornholio864]

This is my first build and im not sure if i need a fan controller or if my motherboard can support this many fans. TBH i dont even know what im saying but here i go. Im getting a NZXT s340 which comes with two fans and adding 2 corsair AF140s. my MOBO is an Asrock B250 pro 4. Is there already a fan controller do I need one? Can my mobo support all those fans? I read the specs and got confused where they talk about fans.

 

[MidwestG37x]

That motherboard only has 3 fan headers in addition to the CPU fan header. So if you are running 4 fans plus the fan on your CPU cooler, you will be short one fan header. You don't need a fan controller though, you can get a 3 or 4 pin fan splitter to connect two fans to a single fan header.

From the ASRock site
- 1 x CPU Fan Connector (4-pin)*
- 2 x Chassis Fan Connectors (4-pin) (Smart Fan Speed Control)
- 1 x Chassis Optional/Water Pump Fan Connector (4-pin) (Smart Fan Speed Control)**

 

[Isokolon]

Get a simple splitter. 2 fans on one header is no problem (unless you're using industrial fans)
Costs you 2$ or so.

But please pick better fans than Corsair's AF unless you get them for 7$.
Cougars, Phanteks, Noctuas, Silent Wings all out perform them by a mile in all departments (flow, pressure, noise) and are usually around the same price

 

[Aeacus]

Your MoBo has 3x case fan headers on it. Since your case can support up to 4x fans, you can connect 2x fans into MoBo's single fan header by using Y-spiltter,
amazon: https://www.amazon.com/PWM-Y-Splitter-Cable-Adapter/dp/B002OFP6QW

For example, you can connect your fans as follows:
SYS_FAN1 - 2x 140mm front intake by using Y-splitter
SYS_FAN2 - 1x 120mm top exhaust
SYS_FAN3 - 1x 120mm rear exhaust

This way, your MoBo controls all your case fans by the temp. You can also set custom fan profile from BIOS if you like.

Fan controller, in the other hand, usually occupies one 5.25" external bay and enables you to control each connected fan manually.
Here's a fan controller that i'm planning to get for my Skylake build,
link: http://www.thermaltake.com/products-model.aspx?id=C_00002777

Since your case doesn't have any 5.25" external bays, you can't use external fan controller.

But what you can use, besides Y-splitter, is a fan hub.
Fan hub is an internal device that is powered by PSU and enables you to have way more fans that your MoBo supports while you still have control over it via BIOS or software.
Here's one such fan hub that supports 6 fans,
link: http://www.phanteks.com/PH-PWHUB.html