NEW PC, fans not working.

[semaj_619-]

So a couple of days ago I bought a new computer online, I picked out the parts and they put it together for me for an extra $50. Everything is fine with it other then that the fans that come with the case are not working, here is the case- http:// (Corsair Carbide 100R Silent Edition)

I tried following the cords that lead to and from the fans to see if they're plugged in properly (or at all) but they all go out of sight, what can i do to fix these fans?

 

[Rabmac]

If you paid to have your PC built then I would take it back and tell them that they have not wired up the fans and get them to do it as you have paid them to carry out the work.

 

[semaj_619-]

If you paid to have your PC built then I would take it back and tell them that they have not wired up the fans and get them to do it as you have paid them to carry out the work.

Problem with that is I ordered it online and they're located in Sydney which is far away from I live so the shipping cost would be really expensive, + I'd have to go around 2 weeks without it then..

It sucks but if possible I'd like to fix this myself.

 

[Gallarian]

Ok, case fans are plugged into one of three places:

1) Straight to the power supply unit (PSU), usually by way of Molex connectors (chunky 1-inch wide plastic headers with 4 pins or holes on the end of wires).

2) To the motherboard via 3 or 4 pin connectors onto fan headers.

3) To a fan controller via 3 or 4 pin connectors, which is then connected to the PSU (or in some cases the motherboard).

The only reason case fans wouldn't start is if theyre broken, or are not receiving power from the PSU either directly or through the motherboard. The chances of all of them being defective is pretty slim, so I think were looking at a power issue, which is usually just a case of the connectors just not being plugged in properly.

Try again to follow where the wires go from the fans. If you really can't follow them to their connection point, look at the motherboard and see if you can see any 3/4pin connectors plugged into the fan headers.

 

[semaj_619-]

Ok, case fans are plugged into one of three places:

1) Straight to the power supply unit (PSU), usually by way of Molex connectors (chunky 1-inch wide plastic headers with 4 pins or holes on the end of wires).

2) To the motherboard via 3 or 4 pin connectors onto fan headers.

3) To a fan controller via 3 or 4 pin connectors, which is then connected to the PSU (or in some cases the motherboard).

The only reason case fans wouldn't start is if theyre broken, or are not receiving power from the PSU either directly or through the motherboard. The chances of all of them being defective is pretty slim, so I think were looking at a power issue, which is usually just a case of the connectors just not being plugged in properly.

Try again to follow where the wires go from the fans. If you really can't follow them to their connection point, look at the motherboard and see if you can see any 3/4pin connectors plugged into the fan headers.

I found a cord that I think is coming from the fan, I took some pictures of it;

does anybody know where this goes?

 

[Gallarian]

That my friend, is a 3 pin fan header than should have been connected to your motherboard or fan controller (if your case has one built in).

What motherboard do you have?

 

[semaj_619-]

That my friend, is a 3 pin fan header than should have been connected to your motherboard or fan controller (if your case has one built in).

What motherboard do you have?

ASRock B150M PRO4

 

[Gallarian]

Ok, your motherboard has 2 case fan headers on it. One is located on the lower right (just above the SATA ports) and the other is in the middle left of the board just above the PCI-E (graphics card) slot. They are marked on the board as 'CHA_FAN1' and 'CHA_FAN2'.

Here's the spanner though, on most boards, the headers are MALE (as in, they have pins sticking up off the board). Some have FEMALE ones though (as in there are holes for the pins of fan cable to go in).

Because of this, most fans come with an adapter fitted that you can remove if you have female headers, or keep on if you have male.

It seems to me like your headers are male, and youre fans are too - which is obviously a problem if you dont have the adapters.

Bare with me, part 2 of this answer coming up in a minute!

 

[Gallarian]

Ok, got some good news. Your case comes with a 3 speed Fan controller.

What I need to know is, how confident and skilled are you with PC internals, because this is gunna start requiring you to get hands on..

 

[semaj_619-]

Ok, got some good news. Your case comes with a 3 speed Fan controller.

What I need to know is, how confident and skilled are you with PC internals, because this is gunna start requiring you to get hands on..

Not very but I'll give it a go!

 

[Gallarian]

Love it!

Right, on the back of your case (top right) you'll see a little switch that you can slide side-to-side (with 3 positions - left, middle and right). Thats your fan controller. Coming from inside that (inside your case and probably sticking out the back behind your motherboard tray) will be:

- 3x Fan connector cables
- 1x SATA power connector cable

What you need to do is:

1) Locate the fan controller cables
2) Connect your 2 case fan cables to any 2 of the fan controllers cables
3) Connect one SATA power cable from your power supply to the SATA power connector from the fan controller.

So what you end up with your fans connected to the fan controller via their small 3pin cables, and your fan controller connected to your PSU via a SATA power cable.

Got it?

Some extra details in case you didnt know:

- A SATA power cable looks like a thin L shape, and is about 1 inch wide. It is the same cable that will be plugged into any Hard Drive or SSD you have (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6a/SATA_Power_Plug.jpg)

- Your fan controller's fan connectors will probably have their male adapters on, so just pull them off before trying to connect them to your fan cables.

 

[semaj_619-]

Love it!

Right, on the back of your case (top right) you'll see a little switch that you can slide side-to-side (with 3 positions - left, middle and right). Thats your fan controller. Coming from inside that (inside your case and probably sticking out the back behind your motherboard tray) will be:

- 3x Fan connector cables
- 1x SATA power connector cable

What you need to do is:

1) Locate the fan controller cables
2) Connect your 2 case fan cables to any 2 of the fan controllers cables
3) Connect one SATA power cable from your power supply to the SATA power connector from the fan controller.

So what you end up with your fans connected to the fan controller via their small 3pin cables, and your fan controller connected to your PSU via a SATA power cable.

Got it?

Some extra details in case you didnt know:

- A SATA power cable looks like a thin L shape, and is about 1 inch wide. It is the same cable that will be plugged into any Hard Drive or SSD you have (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6a/SATA_Power_Plug.jpg)

- Your fan controller's fan connectors will probably have their male adapters on, so just pull them off before trying to connect them to your fan cables.

All fixed! The fans are now working perfectly!

I can't thank you enough for taking the time to help me, I really really really do appreciate it!

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

 

[Gallarian]

Absolutely no problem, its why Im a member here - these forums helped me when I first started with PCs, so I'm just putting back in!

Enjoy your new (and now much cooler) system!

- Joe