I'm looking for a case that contains a lot of fans
- Thread starter Mixu79
- Start date
Solution
Lehan123456789
Respectable
- Sep 10, 2016
- 465
- 0
- 1,960
dudio
Illustrious
- Apr 26, 2015
- 2,557
- 69
- 37,240
Something like this?
I think it's custom :
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/d8/05/c2/d805c21c5e80d3dc5e156c1d005d27d7.jpg
I think it's custom :
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/d8/05/c2/d805c21c5e80d3dc5e156c1d005d27d7.jpg
- Feb 22, 2015
- 4,102
- 103
- 39,040
Here are some cases that contain a lot of fans (I just listed what I could find, there might be some other cases out there with more):
mATX Mini Tower/Cube:
Thermaltake Core V21 (1 fan included/pre-installed; can fit up to a total of 10 fans)
http://www.thermaltake.com/products-model_Specification.aspx?id=C_00002559
https://pcpartpicker.com/product/QMp323/thermaltake-case-ca1d500s1wn00
mATX Mid Tower/Cube:
Raidmax Hyperion (2 fans included/pre-installed; can fit up to a total of 9 fans)
http://www.raidmax.com/chassis_hyperion.html
https://pcpartpicker.com/product/3YJkcf/raidmax-case-matx102wbu
Mid Tower:
Rosewill BlackHawk (5 fans included/pre-installed; can fit up to a total of 8 fans)
http://www.rosewill.com/rosewill-blackhawk-gaming-atx-mid-tower-computer-case-blue-edition-5-fans-included-side-window-panel-top-hdd-dock.html#product_tabs_Overview
https://pcpartpicker.com/product/R73RsY/rosewill-case-blackhawk
Full Tower:
Rosewill Thor V2 (4 fans included/pre-installed; can fit up to a total of 9 fans)
http://www.rosewill.com/rosewill-thor-v2-gaming-atx-full-tower-computer-case-supports-up-to-e-atx-xl-atx-4-preinstalled-fans.html#product_tabs_Overview
https://pcpartpicker.com/product/vxBv6h/rosewill-case-thorv2
Super Tower:
Corsair Obsidian 900D (4 fans included/pre-installed; can fit up to a total of 17 fans)
http://www.corsair.com/en-us/obsidian-series-900d-super-tower-case
https://pcpartpicker.com/product/8Y3RsY/corsair-case-cc9011022ww
Before you count fans, check very carefully what your mobo's fan headers can do to control them. (I'm assuming you might want to have the mobo do its automatic control functions.) Almost all fan headers these days seem to have 4 pins, BUT that does not guarantee whether they use PWM Mode to control their fans, or use Voltage Control Mode. IF you have 4-pin fans, using PWM Mode is preferred, but Voltage Control Mode will work. BUT if you have 3-pin fans (and MOST fans "Included free" in cases are 3-pin only! (because they are marginally cheaper)), they can ONLY be controlled by a mobo that uses Voltage Control Mode, aka DC Mode. It can take some careful reading of a mobo manual to determine what the mobo can do on its fan headers. Some do only one way or the other, but some allow you to set the control method in BIOS Setup.
So, check that detail before deciding how many fans, AND of which design, you need. If you need help deciphering the manual on this, post back here exactly what maker and model number for your mobo.
So, check that detail before deciding how many fans, AND of which design, you need. If you need help deciphering the manual on this, post back here exactly what maker and model number for your mobo.
The manual for your mobo does not make any really clear statements about this, but I can make several suggestions.
1. It has two headers for a CPU cooler. The one at the top is CPU_FAN1 and has 4 pins. Usually that means it is designed to work only with 4-pin fans, although that is not certain. There is also a CPU_FAN2 header near the middle of the mobo with only 3 pins. Most certainly this can work with 3-pin fans and that is what you need IF your CPU cooler fan is 3-pin. If your CPU cooler is 4-pin (as most are today), use the CPU_FAN1 header.
2. The mobo has a PWR_FAN header at the top to the right of center. For most purposes do NOT use this because it can NOT offer any control of fan speed.
3. The mobo has a CHA_FAN1 header near its middle with 4 pins. This MIGHT be a true 4-pin header that uses only PWM Mode to control its fan, but it may not be. The manual does not tell us. So this header can control any 4-pin fan. If used with a 3-pin fan, it MIGHT make it run at full speed all the time, or it MIGHT control that fan just fine.
4. There also is a 3-pin CHA_FAN2 header at the bottom right corner. This CAN control the speed of both 3-pin and 4-pin fans.
5. As a general rule, IF you are using only "normal" case ventilation fans (with no LED's in them that require extra power), you can connect three or maybe 4 of them to EACH CHA_FAN header using Splitters. These are simple devices that simply connect all their fans in parallel to the header. The limit is that each header can only supply up to 1.0 amps current in total to all its fans. To be sure, you need to check the maximum amps spec. for each fan you are using.
6. To connect more fans to a single header you need a different type of device called a 4-pin Hub. This device has an extra arm that must plug into a power output from the PSU to supply the fans' power, and it does not use header power for the fans connected to it. BUT this type of device can only be used with a mobo header that really is using PWM Mode to control its fans. Unfortunately, your mobo's manual does not make clear whether that is what its CHA_FAN1 header does. Maybe Tech Support at ASRock can tell you for sure. HOWEVER, it's quite likely that the 4-pin CPU_FAN1 header does use PWM Mode, so it is possible to use a 4-pin Hub to power and control many fans if that Hub is connected to the CPU_FAN1 header.
7. IF you choose to use a 4-pin Hub to connect and control many fans, as a general rule that can only work IF you use only 4-pin fans. BUT there is one Hub that can work for 3-pin fans. So, IF you end up choosing 3-pin fans for case ventilation and plan to use a 4-pin Hub, post back here for more details.
8. The manual mentions that the default setting in BIOS Setup for some or all of its fan header is "Full On", meaning that all the fans will run full speed all the time. If you intend to have the mobo execute automatic control of fan speeds according to actual cooling needs, you will need to change that setting to "Automatic Mode" (see p. 56).
1. It has two headers for a CPU cooler. The one at the top is CPU_FAN1 and has 4 pins. Usually that means it is designed to work only with 4-pin fans, although that is not certain. There is also a CPU_FAN2 header near the middle of the mobo with only 3 pins. Most certainly this can work with 3-pin fans and that is what you need IF your CPU cooler fan is 3-pin. If your CPU cooler is 4-pin (as most are today), use the CPU_FAN1 header.
2. The mobo has a PWR_FAN header at the top to the right of center. For most purposes do NOT use this because it can NOT offer any control of fan speed.
3. The mobo has a CHA_FAN1 header near its middle with 4 pins. This MIGHT be a true 4-pin header that uses only PWM Mode to control its fan, but it may not be. The manual does not tell us. So this header can control any 4-pin fan. If used with a 3-pin fan, it MIGHT make it run at full speed all the time, or it MIGHT control that fan just fine.
4. There also is a 3-pin CHA_FAN2 header at the bottom right corner. This CAN control the speed of both 3-pin and 4-pin fans.
5. As a general rule, IF you are using only "normal" case ventilation fans (with no LED's in them that require extra power), you can connect three or maybe 4 of them to EACH CHA_FAN header using Splitters. These are simple devices that simply connect all their fans in parallel to the header. The limit is that each header can only supply up to 1.0 amps current in total to all its fans. To be sure, you need to check the maximum amps spec. for each fan you are using.
6. To connect more fans to a single header you need a different type of device called a 4-pin Hub. This device has an extra arm that must plug into a power output from the PSU to supply the fans' power, and it does not use header power for the fans connected to it. BUT this type of device can only be used with a mobo header that really is using PWM Mode to control its fans. Unfortunately, your mobo's manual does not make clear whether that is what its CHA_FAN1 header does. Maybe Tech Support at ASRock can tell you for sure. HOWEVER, it's quite likely that the 4-pin CPU_FAN1 header does use PWM Mode, so it is possible to use a 4-pin Hub to power and control many fans if that Hub is connected to the CPU_FAN1 header.
7. IF you choose to use a 4-pin Hub to connect and control many fans, as a general rule that can only work IF you use only 4-pin fans. BUT there is one Hub that can work for 3-pin fans. So, IF you end up choosing 3-pin fans for case ventilation and plan to use a 4-pin Hub, post back here for more details.
8. The manual mentions that the default setting in BIOS Setup for some or all of its fan header is "Full On", meaning that all the fans will run full speed all the time. If you intend to have the mobo execute automatic control of fan speeds according to actual cooling needs, you will need to change that setting to "Automatic Mode" (see p. 56).
Sorry about that. There's a lot of stuff there to understand. And unfortunately, some of what I wrote is very broad and general because you have not made any final decisions to be able to give some details.
As a rough general rule, the newer 4-pin fans CAN be controlled by either type of mobo header system. Using the older Voltage Control system on 4-pin fans is not ideal, but it does work OK. The speeds of 3-pin fans can ONLY be controlled by that older system, and cannot be controlled if a mobo 4-pin header is using true 4-pin mode, better named PWM Mode.
On your mobo, the CPU_FAN1 header has 4 pins and likely uses that PWM Mode. These days almost all CPU_FAN headers do that. For the two CHA_FAN headers (one 4-pin, one 3-pin) the manual does not say, but it is likely that they both use the older Voltage Control Mode.
If you buy a case with some fans included, MOST such cases include only 3-pin fans. That is not a problem, because your mobo likely can handle that. It only becomes a problem if you have a LOT of fans. That is because that fan type normally can be powered and controlled by mobo CHA_FAN headers using Voltage Control Mode, and thus you can NOT use a 4-pin PWM-type Fan Hub for that. You can use only Splitters. That means that each mobo fan header limits you to at most 1.0 amps current in total for all the fans connected by Splitters to that one header. That is why the number of fans can become an issue.
Can you tell us why you want lots of fans? As part of that, break down for us into two classes. First group: how many fans involved in the CPU chip cooling? A simple air cooler for the CPU might have one or two fans on it. But if you opt for a liquid cooler it involves a pump plus one or more fans, so give us details of what you would like to buy. Second group: the case ventilation fans, which ideally will be powered and controlled from your CHA_FAN headers. How many of those do you plan? Give us specific make and model numbers and how many of each, OR which case you are considering. Then we can look up their specs and advise much more specifically how to connect all them to your mobo. That will be easier to understand that some general guidelines.
As a rough general rule, the newer 4-pin fans CAN be controlled by either type of mobo header system. Using the older Voltage Control system on 4-pin fans is not ideal, but it does work OK. The speeds of 3-pin fans can ONLY be controlled by that older system, and cannot be controlled if a mobo 4-pin header is using true 4-pin mode, better named PWM Mode.
On your mobo, the CPU_FAN1 header has 4 pins and likely uses that PWM Mode. These days almost all CPU_FAN headers do that. For the two CHA_FAN headers (one 4-pin, one 3-pin) the manual does not say, but it is likely that they both use the older Voltage Control Mode.
If you buy a case with some fans included, MOST such cases include only 3-pin fans. That is not a problem, because your mobo likely can handle that. It only becomes a problem if you have a LOT of fans. That is because that fan type normally can be powered and controlled by mobo CHA_FAN headers using Voltage Control Mode, and thus you can NOT use a 4-pin PWM-type Fan Hub for that. You can use only Splitters. That means that each mobo fan header limits you to at most 1.0 amps current in total for all the fans connected by Splitters to that one header. That is why the number of fans can become an issue.
Can you tell us why you want lots of fans? As part of that, break down for us into two classes. First group: how many fans involved in the CPU chip cooling? A simple air cooler for the CPU might have one or two fans on it. But if you opt for a liquid cooler it involves a pump plus one or more fans, so give us details of what you would like to buy. Second group: the case ventilation fans, which ideally will be powered and controlled from your CHA_FAN headers. How many of those do you plan? Give us specific make and model numbers and how many of each, OR which case you are considering. Then we can look up their specs and advise much more specifically how to connect all them to your mobo. That will be easier to understand that some general guidelines.
Can't get complete info on that case, but it does say it comes with three fans, each including LED's. Most fans' I've seen with LED's included consume about twice as much power as a "plain" fan. So, given no further information, I would suggest that you connect no more than TWO of those to any one mobo fan header, using simple Splitters. Again assuming that both of the SYS_FAN headers on your mobo use Voltage Control Mode, that can work for both 3-pin and 4-pin fans. With two such headers, and a simple Splitter for each, you could power and control up to 4 fans, and the case only comes with three. That should be enough fan connections.
That still leaves the mobo CPU_FAN1 header free for use with your CPU chip cooler, so no problem there.
Just a couple of small notes. Splitters are very simple devices. Each has a single input connector (female, just like on the end of a fan cable) that plugs into a mobo fan header. Then it has two or three male output connectors into which you can plug your fans. A HUB, on the other hand, is always a 4-pin system and has an extra arm on it. That extra arm must plug into a output connector from the PSU to get power for all its fans. (Hubs MAY be just a connection of wires in several "arms", or they may look like boxes with several cables.) For what you are doing, OP, do not get a Hub. Get a couple of Splitters.
These days, Splitters for 3-pin systems are becoming rare, and most are for 4-pin systems. HOWEVER, that does not matter; any 4-pin Splitter works equally well with 3-pin fans, particularly when the signals from the mobo fan header are using the older Voltage Control Mode.
That still leaves the mobo CPU_FAN1 header free for use with your CPU chip cooler, so no problem there.
Just a couple of small notes. Splitters are very simple devices. Each has a single input connector (female, just like on the end of a fan cable) that plugs into a mobo fan header. Then it has two or three male output connectors into which you can plug your fans. A HUB, on the other hand, is always a 4-pin system and has an extra arm on it. That extra arm must plug into a output connector from the PSU to get power for all its fans. (Hubs MAY be just a connection of wires in several "arms", or they may look like boxes with several cables.) For what you are doing, OP, do not get a Hub. Get a couple of Splitters.
These days, Splitters for 3-pin systems are becoming rare, and most are for 4-pin systems. HOWEVER, that does not matter; any 4-pin Splitter works equally well with 3-pin fans, particularly when the signals from the mobo fan header are using the older Voltage Control Mode.
Weight: approx. 6 kg, Colour: Black, form factor: ATX, Micro ATX, Mini-ITX, fan total possible: 2x 120 mm (front), 2 x 120 mm (lid), 1 x 120 mm (back)
Including: 1 x 120 mm (back, Red LED), 2x 120 mm (front, red LED), radiators mountings: 1x max. 240 mm (lid), 1 x 120 mm (back), 1x max. 240 mm (front)
Drive Bays: 1x 5.25 inch (External), 2x 3.5 inch Max. (internal); 2 x 2.5 inches Max. (internal), Power supply: 1x Standard ATX (optional)
Expansion Slots: 7, I/O panel: 2x USB 3.0, 1x USB 2.0, 1x Audio In/Out, 1x card reader TF, SD), 1x fan controller (3 Pin, 4 connections)
Maximum graphics card length: 390 mm; maximum CPU Cooler Height: 170 mm, maximum PSU Length: 240 mm
More info About Kolink punisher
Including: 1 x 120 mm (back, Red LED), 2x 120 mm (front, red LED), radiators mountings: 1x max. 240 mm (lid), 1 x 120 mm (back), 1x max. 240 mm (front)
Drive Bays: 1x 5.25 inch (External), 2x 3.5 inch Max. (internal); 2 x 2.5 inches Max. (internal), Power supply: 1x Standard ATX (optional)
Expansion Slots: 7, I/O panel: 2x USB 3.0, 1x USB 2.0, 1x Audio In/Out, 1x card reader TF, SD), 1x fan controller (3 Pin, 4 connections)
Maximum graphics card length: 390 mm; maximum CPU Cooler Height: 170 mm, maximum PSU Length: 240 mm
More info About Kolink punisher
If you have a SPLITTER for 4-pin fans that has three output arms, yes, you can connect all three of your 3-pin fans to the 3-pin SYS_FAN2 header with that. It MAY also work and give full speed control of those fans if used with the 4-pin SYS_FAN1 header, but that's not guaranteed.
Just a caution. Some Splitters and some 4-pin Hubs are sold under the wrong names. You cannot use a Hub with 3-pin fans. A SPLITTER (which is what you need for 3-pin fans) has one input arm that plugs into a mobo fan header, two (or three) male output arms for plugging in your fans, and NO other arms. A Splitter has NO arm to plug into an output from the PSU.
A further caution. There is no identification of the fans included with that case, but they all have LED's in them. That increases their current consumption, but with no fan identification we can not tell you whether the total current for three of those fans will exceed the 1.0 amp limit of the capacity of one mobo fan header. To be really safe, use the Splitter to connect only two fans to one SYS_FAN header, and then connect the third fan to the other.
Just a caution. Some Splitters and some 4-pin Hubs are sold under the wrong names. You cannot use a Hub with 3-pin fans. A SPLITTER (which is what you need for 3-pin fans) has one input arm that plugs into a mobo fan header, two (or three) male output arms for plugging in your fans, and NO other arms. A Splitter has NO arm to plug into an output from the PSU.
A further caution. There is no identification of the fans included with that case, but they all have LED's in them. That increases their current consumption, but with no fan identification we can not tell you whether the total current for three of those fans will exceed the 1.0 amp limit of the capacity of one mobo fan header. To be really safe, use the Splitter to connect only two fans to one SYS_FAN header, and then connect the third fan to the other.
MasterChief86
Honorable
- Dec 13, 2016
- 133
- 1
- 10,765
Paperdoc's responses should pretty much clear it up for you. With that said, something along the lines of the old Sigma Windstorm should do it for you... or ACL The Obsidian Series 900D with 3 AF120L 120mm fans. google them up.
- Dec 26, 2012
- 30,759
- 4,553
- 142,790
With that Z68, cpu_fan1 is pwm only. Cpu_aux/cpu_fan2, or another label is a 12v dedicated header, it's not controllable, even by bios.
You need to be careful when using splitters on headers. Each header is not alone, some share buss addresses, easily identified in SpeedFan. Most headers are rated at 1Amp,but usage can vary, usually 0.8A is the max safe line, so when using a splitter, it's important to note exactly what fans are using it. Do not put 2x Jetflo fans on the same splitter, for instance, as they'll pull over 0.5A each. Usually 2x fans is recommended at most, although that can be stretched as high as 4 fans, IF the fan amperage is low enough, usually it's not, even Noctua fans pull 0.2A, but will pull slightly more at startup loads.
More than 4-5 case airflow fans shows almost no returns for the amount of cfm, so honestly, having 10 fans in a pc is wasteful, at the expense of buying the fans, splitters and hubs and the resultant noise output.
Better to have a well designed, well apportioned airflow, than just stuffing a case full of fans
You need to be careful when using splitters on headers. Each header is not alone, some share buss addresses, easily identified in SpeedFan. Most headers are rated at 1Amp,but usage can vary, usually 0.8A is the max safe line, so when using a splitter, it's important to note exactly what fans are using it. Do not put 2x Jetflo fans on the same splitter, for instance, as they'll pull over 0.5A each. Usually 2x fans is recommended at most, although that can be stretched as high as 4 fans, IF the fan amperage is low enough, usually it's not, even Noctua fans pull 0.2A, but will pull slightly more at startup loads.
More than 4-5 case airflow fans shows almost no returns for the amount of cfm, so honestly, having 10 fans in a pc is wasteful, at the expense of buying the fans, splitters and hubs and the resultant noise output.
Better to have a well designed, well apportioned airflow, than just stuffing a case full of fans
- Dec 26, 2012
- 30,759
- 4,553
- 142,790
Cha_fan is another name for sys_fan, as in chassis fan rather than system fan. Usually. Cha might also be short for changeable, with pwr_fan being power fan, and probably not controllable.
Yes, you'll see some motherboards that'll have cpu_fan, cpu_aux, cpu_pump, and then sys_fan 1-6. Most mATX boards will have between 1-3 sys headers, usually depending on how expensive the board is, whether it's B or H or Z rated etc. Most ATX boards have at least 4, one by each side.
Yes, you'll see some motherboards that'll have cpu_fan, cpu_aux, cpu_pump, and then sys_fan 1-6. Most mATX boards will have between 1-3 sys headers, usually depending on how expensive the board is, whether it's B or H or Z rated etc. Most ATX boards have at least 4, one by each side.
TRENDING THREADS
-
Question Trying to which by Gigabyte GTX 1650 to AMD Sapphire PULSE RX 580 8GB OC
- Started by Martin_135
- Replies: 4
-
-
Question GA-X79-UD5 stays on POST splash... any advice?- Started by VoodooTank
- Replies: 4
-
-
-
Question Help needed with connecting an external monitor to my laptop ?
- Started by ciotime
- Replies: 13
Latest posts
-
Question PC crashes & driver timeouts since installing an RX 9070 XT ?
- Latest: Rattenfaenger
-
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram