Question Server Fan for normal pc

[austiny20]

I understand that server fans draw extreme amounts of power and are extremely loud, and are completely unnecessary for something like my build.
However, I still would like to have one in my system just for the funnies. I'm most likely going with a delta fan that draws 12VDC with PWM support, so 4 terminating leads. How would I hook this fan up?

 

[Lutfij]

I understand that server fans draw extreme amounts of power and are extremely loud, and are completely unnecessary for something like my build. However, I still would like to have one in my system just for the funnies.
Simple answer = Bad idea.

Make and model of your motherboard and the fan in question? If your motherboard is unable to deliver 2A worth of power off one fan header, then you can study PWM fan splitters that rely on supplemental power from a SATA/molex connection. Meaning you provide power from the PSU's side(instead of the motherboard) and you derive PWM signaling from the fan header off of your motherboard.

 

[Paperdoc]

OP asked, "How would I hook this fan up?" First thing to understand is that the newer design of PWM fans for computer cases is a particular version of fans that require particular things from their power supply. The normal SYS_FAN or CHA_FAN header on any modern mobo will do exactly that, so THAT is how how you "hook them up".

Most computer case fans need power at up to 12 VDC, and consume current at 0.10 to 0.25 A max. Higher-power fans from computers may use closer to 1 A max. Now, any mobo header for fans can deliver power to a fan at up to 1.0 A max current (a few can do 2.0 A - check the specs in your mobo manual), so normally you can hook up ONE fan to a header with no issue. If you are trying to connect MORE than one fan to a header, or IF you have a fan with REALLY high max current, then this requires a fan HUB that gets its power directly from another source, the PSU, as Lutfij says above.

 

[austiny20]

I understand that server fans draw extreme amounts of power and are extremely loud, and are completely unnecessary for something like my build. However, I still would like to have one in my system just for the funnies.
Simple answer = Bad idea.

Make and model of your motherboard and the fan in question? If your motherboard is unable to deliver 2A worth of power off one fan header, then you can study PWM fan splitters that rely on supplemental power from a SATA/molex connection. Meaning you provide power from the PSU's side(instead of the motherboard) and you derive PWM signaling from the fan header off of your motherboard.

Ah i forgot to provide specs, sorry.
I have the MSI B650 Pro Wifi, and the fans I'm looking at draws 7 amps..

 

[USAFRet]

A "server fan" doesn't provide any magical benefits over regular PC case fans.
Detriment - louder.

All fans are there for is to move air through the case.

 

[Gururu]

I put two of these Small server fans behind the screen in the photo. Smallest I could find for the location (3.5" drive bays). They are loud but don't bother me since I keep my computer on the floor.

 

[bill001g]

Do you really mean 7 amps or .7 amps. Are you talking about those 40mm fans that run at high rpm and noise. Although you likely could power most from a motherboard header a lot of these are designed to only run at full speed. You are better off just getting some kind of power adapter and running them off the power supply directly. You don't see molex connections on power supplies as much but there were a lot of fan adapters that came with molex connections.

I find the pitch of these type of fans extremely irritating.

If you really have a 7 amp fan your only option is to power it off the power supply. Not sure how you would control the speed even if the fan supports it. Most fan controller can not pass that much power.

 

[Paperdoc]

Yeah, I have never seen ANY computer cooling fan that draws 7 A. Not even server fans. Check again. ALSO check the Voltage rating and the SIZE. Computer fans are square and the SIZE is the width of one side of that square. What Air Flow rating does the fan you are considering have? Most common 120 mm computer case fans are rated about 50 to 60 CFM. Noctua's highest-flow IndustrialPPC line has one at 108 CFM and consumes 0.30 A at 12 VDC for full speed. So why do you need vastly more than that?

 

[austiny20]

A "server fan" doesn't provide any magical benefits over regular PC case fans.
Detriment - louder.

All fans are there for is to move air through the case.

Yes, I understand, it's purely just to have a high power fan.

 

[USAFRet]

Yes, I understand, it's purely just to have a high power fan.

And the 'purpose' to have a high power fan is.....?
Better cooling?
Unlikely.

 

[austiny20]

Yeah, I have never seen ANY computer cooling fan that draws 7 A. Not even server fans. Check again. ALSO check the Voltage rating and the SIZE. Computer fans are square and the SIZE is the width of one side of that square. What Air Flow rating does the fan you are considering have? Most common 120 mm computer case fans are rated about 50 to 60 CFM. Noctua's highest-flow IndustrialPPC line has one at 108 CFM and consumes 0.30 A at 12 VDC for full speed. So why do you need vastly more than that?

I don't really need it, I just want it to have it. Also, I have changed my mind and decided to go with this listing:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1639491906...Nn5j95Imob3m2Lrl5XXSP/e0/g==|tkp:BFBMtOG-ipJl

 

[Paperdoc]

I see that fan does deliver high air flow for an 80mm size fan, and needs 3.3 A max current (not 7, but MUCH more than 1). It is not clear from the photos, but its wires MAY have a standard 4-pin female connector on the end. The fan specs indicate normal wire functions and colour coding to a 4-pin PWM fan. So your original query is the main point: how to connect. And the answer, as Lutfij said, is a fan HUB. Sellers mix up use if the labels Hub and Splitter so beware. A HUB has THREE types of connections. It has one cable going to the mobo host fan header; it has several output connectors for fans to plug in; and it has one cable that must go directly to a SATA or 4-pin Molex power output connector from your PSU. The hub gets the PWM speed control signal from Pin #4 of the host header and returns to that header the fan's speed signal on Pin #3, but it takes NO power from the header. It gets power direct from the PSU. That latter connection can supply up to 4.5 A current if it is by SATA power output, or more if by Molex. That is certainly enough for your one new fan. An example of a Hub

https://www.amazon.com/2-Pack-Pin-Molex-Splitter-Cable/dp/B07F354TP3/ref=sr_1_111?crid=3NBGXE9ZYJKAS&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.grRaN8WezfXyhBWb-TEQSp8xLMQn0ztD2Sma43HvAagOVn2Y9vsl2nAH3uJbAUvHtyRTn0ILf4boXGchUVaXqzXJd8yD7g45e4t3j7KxEGSZwu21QttEzJTsGavS0d3hwCrMBK2GMxz-GWKvJuFJ4h0IAZjPZMmZc6yxJkVs1YR_WPAFEHfqSRKTILILJ56x3uP_6l7vtmc7gUrsowQj3-wrZrPYBAm9KdoVTT29kfs.ciQ-2JknanFAImaAv4l6mL1tVJyLXNygnnr34GSWbVM&dib_tag=se&keywords=fan+splitter+4+pin&qid=1737612392&sprefix=fan+splitter%2Caps%2C122&sr=8-111&xpid=sFE_cAGZP6hy-

That's a 2-pack of Hubs hat look like just collected cables with outputs on the end of wires. NOTE you should connect your fan ONLY to the output with all FOUR pins in it. Only that output can return the fan's speed signal to the host header.

https://www.amazon.com/Fancasee-Splitter-Internal-Motherboard-Extension/dp/B089KC3S5P/ref=sr_1_51?crid=3NBGXE9ZYJKAS&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.GVGlRpVSV1dKz7CaSQo8X9Tn7an_GjCew0eAtcfzyqGCkpGdIpH_kAFJvfi_ZbbvJhv56zRfVeiOY6DQqOYAuWOYEFJaJsBJFPwqf__DBNitnbgvf6GXf3uhJjsL0LkoRMGlD9d3na3seFmtWbACI65-OrlmtkVW80xGRHji13VylwqNYqlZdnzXhwVOWS2NkXR4J77SoDgi-j70ZitYZC_-C5VUgIj99PVG9jcLAw0.7zsETivp_skNb4ziAa6D5Fs_qLEfkfuvRDtIN0qbSD8&dib_tag=se&keywords=fan+splitter+4+pin&qid=1737612778&sprefix=fan+splitter%2Caps%2C122&sr=8-51&xpid=sFE_cAGZP6hy-

That one looks like a circuit board you need to fasten down. Power input is by an edge connector on one end for 4-pin Molex, but others similar may have a SATA edge connector. On this type, you must plug you fan into the only output socket that is marked (in this case, red) and able to return the speed signal to the mobo.

 

[bill001g]

I don't really need it, I just want it to have it.

You are almost as bad as the guys over at linux tech tips. They at least try to make money buying stupid stuff by recovering it though youtube views. They have number of videos where they put large fans on computers...yours does not even come close to what they have done.

I suspect once you get it you will change your mind. Those 80mm fans are extremely loud and you don't use them unless nothing else will fit....like in a server rack case.

 

[austiny20]

I see that fan does deliver high air flow for an 80mm size fan, and needs 3.3 A max current (not 7, but MUCH more than 1). It is not clear from the photos, but its wires MAY have a standard 4-pin female connector on the end. The fan specs indicate normal wire functions and colour coding to a 4-pin PWM fan. So your original query is the main point: how to connect. And the answer, as Lutfij said, is a fan HUB. Sellers mix up use if the labels Hub and Splitter so beware. A HUB has THREE types of connections. It has one cable going to the mobo host fan header; it has several output connectors for fans to plug in; and it has one cable that must go directly to a SATA or 4-pin Molex power output connector from your PSU. The hub gets the PWM speed control signal from Pin #4 of the host header and returns to that header the fan's speed signal on Pin #3, but it takes NO power from the header. It gets power direct from the PSU. That latter connection can supply up to 4.5 A current if it is by SATA power output, or more if by Molex. That is certainly enough for your one new fan. An example of a Hub

https://www.amazon.com/2-Pack-Pin-Molex-Splitter-Cable/dp/B07F354TP3/ref=sr_1_111?crid=3NBGXE9ZYJKAS&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.grRaN8WezfXyhBWb-TEQSp8xLMQn0ztD2Sma43HvAagOVn2Y9vsl2nAH3uJbAUvHtyRTn0ILf4boXGchUVaXqzXJd8yD7g45e4t3j7KxEGSZwu21QttEzJTsGavS0d3hwCrMBK2GMxz-GWKvJuFJ4h0IAZjPZMmZc6yxJkVs1YR_WPAFEHfqSRKTILILJ56x3uP_6l7vtmc7gUrsowQj3-wrZrPYBAm9KdoVTT29kfs.ciQ-2JknanFAImaAv4l6mL1tVJyLXNygnnr34GSWbVM&dib_tag=se&keywords=fan+splitter+4+pin&qid=1737612392&sprefix=fan+splitter%2Caps%2C122&sr=8-111&xpid=sFE_cAGZP6hy-

That's a 2-pack of Hubs hat look like just collected cables with outputs on the end of wires. NOTE you should connect your fan ONLY to the output with all FOUR pins in it. Only that output can return the fan's speed signal to the host header.

https://www.amazon.com/Fancasee-Splitter-Internal-Motherboard-Extension/dp/B089KC3S5P/ref=sr_1_51?crid=3NBGXE9ZYJKAS&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.GVGlRpVSV1dKz7CaSQo8X9Tn7an_GjCew0eAtcfzyqGCkpGdIpH_kAFJvfi_ZbbvJhv56zRfVeiOY6DQqOYAuWOYEFJaJsBJFPwqf__DBNitnbgvf6GXf3uhJjsL0LkoRMGlD9d3na3seFmtWbACI65-OrlmtkVW80xGRHji13VylwqNYqlZdnzXhwVOWS2NkXR4J77SoDgi-j70ZitYZC_-C5VUgIj99PVG9jcLAw0.7zsETivp_skNb4ziAa6D5Fs_qLEfkfuvRDtIN0qbSD8&dib_tag=se&keywords=fan+splitter+4+pin&qid=1737612778&sprefix=fan+splitter%2Caps%2C122&sr=8-51&xpid=sFE_cAGZP6hy-

That one looks like a circuit board you need to fasten down. Power input is by an edge connector on one end for 4-pin Molex, but others similar may have a SATA edge connector. On this type, you must plug you fan into the only output socket that is marked (in this case, red) and able to return the speed signal to the mobo.

Thank you so much!

 

[faalin]

If you want noise with airflow get some of these Scythe Ultra Kaze. I ran 20 of them in a push pull watercooled case, sounded like a jet plane taking off when the computer booted up.

 

[austiny20]

If you want noise with airflow get some of these Scythe Ultra Kaze. I ran 20 of them in a push pull watercooled case, sounded like a jet plane taking off when the computer booted up.

Gotchu, thanks!