[SOLVED] Fan splitter for mobo

[LuisHTS]

Hi guys,

I hope not being duplicating this problem but I could not find the answer I'm looking for until now.

I have an Asus Z170A mobo (https://www.asus.com/us/Motherboards/Z170-A/HelpDesk_Manual/) that comes with below fan connectors:

• CPU_FAN
• CPU_OPT
• CHA_FAN1
• CHA_FAN2
• CHA_FAN3
• CHA_FAN4
• W_PUMP
• EXT_FAN

Today I have below fans connected to this mobo:

1 - Corsair AF140 red led (0.3A) at the front
1 - Corsair AF120 red led (0.3A) at the top
1 - Corsair 120mm (included in the case with no leds) at the back

My case is a Corsair Spec 2 (https://www.corsair.com/eu/en/Categ...Red-LED-Mid-Tower-Gaming-Case/p/CC-9011051-WW) that allows to install a total of 6 fans.

After 4 years using above fans config I decided to buy more 3 red fans to complete the empty slots in the case and you may have noticed the problem I got. There are only 4 fan headers in my mobo.

In the manual I found that CPU_FAN connector supports the maximum of 1A (12W) but I couldn't find maximum amp for CHA_FAN.

The three new fans consumes 0.3A each (https://www.corsair.com/eu/en/Categories/Products/Fans/AF-LED-Low-Noise-Cooling-Fan/p/CO-9050080-WW).

I do not want to use an extensor so I was thinking of buying 2 cable splitter 'y'.

Lets suppose that they CHA_FAN headers also supports 1A max. In theory it should be ok to plug 2 fans of 0.3A in a single fan header because the total would be 0.6A that is less than 1A.

What Im afraid of is that I read in some posts that during some period of startup fans could consume 2-3 times more amp than usual. Doing some math this would lead into 1.2 to 1.8 amp max.

For me this info is really strange and makes no sense. Why corsair publishes that their fan consumes 0.3A but in the real world it can consume 2-3 times more ?

I dont want to burn my mobo and I want to play safe. Do you think I'll have problems using a cable splitter for two fans of 0.3A each ?

If yes, which options do I have ? Is CPU_OPT one option ? I read that CPU_OPT may be linked to the CPU fan control but for me the fan speed it is not a problem. Maybe I could use this header for the fan in the back of the case.

I also read that W_PUMP could work but I wouldnt be able to control the fan speed and fan could run at max speed and I dont want this.

I`m not an expert in fans/mobo and hardware in general but I can understand the problem I got here so let me know if someone have any suggestions to share.

 

[CountMike]

Hi guys,

I hope not being duplicating this problem but I could not find the answer I'm looking for until now.

I have an Asus Z170A mobo (https://www.asus.com/us/Motherboards/Z170-A/HelpDesk_Manual/) that comes with below fan connectors:

• CPU_FAN
• CPU_OPT
• CHA_FAN1
• CHA_FAN2
• CHA_FAN3
• CHA_FAN4
• W_PUMP
• EXT_FAN

Today I have below fans connected to this mobo:

1 - Corsair AF140 red led (0.3A) at the front
1 - Corsair AF120 red led (0.3A) at the top
1 - Corsair 120mm (included in the case with no leds) at the back

My case is a Corsair Spec 2 (https://www.corsair.com/eu/en/Categories/Products/Cases/Carbide-Series™-SPEC-02-Red-LED-Mid-Tower-Gaming-Case/p/CC-9011051-WW) that allows to install a total of 6 fans.

After 4 years using above fans config I decided to buy more 3 red fans to complete the empty slots in the case and you may have noticed the problem I got. There are only 4 fan headers in my mobo.

In the manual I found that CPU_FAN connector supports the maximum of 1A (12W) but I couldn't find maximum amp for CHA_FAN.

The three new fans consumes 0.3A each (https://www.corsair.com/eu/en/Categories/Products/Fans/AF-LED-Low-Noise-Cooling-Fan/p/CO-9050080-WW).

I do not want to use an extensor so I was thinking of buying 2 cable splitter 'y'.

Lets suppose that they CHA_FAN headers also supports 1A max. In theory it should be ok to plug 2 fans of 0.3A in a single fan header because the total would be 0.6A that is less than 1A.

What Im afraid of is that I read in some posts that during some period of startup fans could consume 2-3 times more amp than usual. Doing some math this would lead into 1.2 to 1.8 amp max.

For me this info is really strange and makes no sense. Why corsair publishes that their fan consumes 0.3A but in the real world it can consume 2-3 times more ?

I dont want to burn my mobo and I want to play safe. Do you think I'll have problems using a cable splitter for two fans of 0.3A each ?

If yes, which options do I have ? Is CPU_OPT one option ? I read that CPU_OPT may be linked to the CPU fan control but for me the fan speed it is not a problem. Maybe I could use this header for the fan in the back of the case.

I also read that W_PUMP could work but I wouldnt be able to control the fan speed and fan could run at max speed and I dont want this.

I`m not an expert in fans/mobo and hardware in general but I can understand the problem I got here so let me know if someone have any suggestions to share.

You are good for at least 2x 120/140mm fans at each header. Just make sure there are 2 identical fans at each spčitter.

 

[LuisHTS]

You are good for at least 2x 120/140mm fans at each header. Just make sure there are 2 identical fans at each spčitter.

The fans at the top are exactly the same so I may give it a try then.

For the fans ar the front both are Corsair AF140 (same size) but the model are a little bit different because one of them is located in front the hds (more static pressure) and the other is more like an air flow.

https://www.corsair.com/us/en/Categories/Products/Fans/AF-LED-Low-Noise-Cooling-Fan/p/CO-9050086-WW

https://www.corsair.com/us/en/Categories/Products/Fans/AIR-SERIES-LED-CONFIG/p/CO-9050017-RLED

The tech specs are similar but not the same. Is it better to use different headers in this case?

 

[CountMike]

The fans at the top are exactly the same so I may give it a try then.

For the fans ar the front both are Corsair AF140 (same size) but the model are a little bit different because one of them is located in front the hds (more static pressure) and the other is more like an air flow.

https://www.corsair.com/us/en/Categories/Products/Fans/AF-LED-Low-Noise-Cooling-Fan/p/CO-9050086-WW

https://www.corsair.com/us/en/Categories/Products/Fans/AIR-SERIES-LED-CONFIG/p/CO-9050017-RLED

The tech specs are similar but not the same. Is it better to use different headers in this case?

If they are both 3pin or 4pin they should be fine together.

 

[LuisHTS]

If they are both 3pin or 4pin they should be fine together.

First of all thanks for your prompt responses.

One last question, would it be ok to use CPU_OPT for the fan the back ? For my understanding it would like a slave for the CPU fan so the speed would be controlled and not 100% like connecting it directly to the PSU.

 

[CountMike]

First of all thanks for your prompt responses.

One last question, would it be ok to use CPU_OPT for the fan the back ? For my understanding it would like a slave for the CPU fan so the speed would be controlled and not 100% like connecting it directly to the PSU.

CPU_OPT can be two ways, either it's controlled together with CPU_FAN or with independent control, Unless your MB has sensor remapping option for it, it will also be controlled by CPU temperature.