what adapters do I need?

Apr 18, 2018
16
0
10
I recently purchased a Corsair H60 as well as 5 af120 case fans, and when they got here I forgot to look into getting adapters so I can power them. I have an MSI H110M pro-VD plus MOBO as well as a corsair RM 1000i PSU. What adapters do I need to get in order to power my fans?

Here is a picture of my System Parts List

the model of my MOBO is MS-7A15

any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

Paperdoc

Polypheme
Ambassador
You have quoted two different mobo models. I'm assuming the first one, the H110M PRO-VD. It has one CPU_FAN header and one SYS_FAN header. The manual indicates by pinout labels that both probably are true 4-pin headers using PWM Mode to control their fans, but that is not explicitly stated. This is important for using a Hub to power and control all the case fans from a single SYS_FAN header as below, because such a HUB MUST be on a header that uses PWM Mode.

There are two "wrinkles" in how to do this with your hardware. The first concerns how to hook up the Corsair H60 AIO system. Normally it would require using TWO fan headers associated with CPU cooling, and you have only one available. So we'll adapt. To start, you will need a SPLITTER with two output arms, like this

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812423160R&cm_re=coboc_fan_splitter-_-12-423-160R-_-Product

NOTE that, of its two male (with pins) output connectors, only one of them has all four pins. Plug the Splitter into the mobo CPU_FAN header. From the H60 Pump unit, plug its power cable into a SATA power output connector from the PSU. Plug its fan signal cable that ends in a female (with holes) 3-pin connector into the Splitter output that HAS all 4 pins in it. This will ensure that the speed signal shown on the CPU_FAN header readings will be the PUMP speed. The CPU_FAN header gives special attention to monitoring the speed of the CPU cooling system, so it is important that the PUMP speed be what it can check. The H60 system does NOT actually allow for control of the speed of the pump - it runs full speed all the time. Now, the 4-pin female fan connector from the FAN on the Radiator of the H60 system should be plugged into the other Splitter output. This will allow the CPU_FAN header's PWM signal and control system to manipulate the speed of the radiator fan according to the internal temperature inside the CPU chip, thus automatically governing its temperature by varying the fan speed. BUT, although this automatic control system will work, you will not be able to "see" the actual speed of that fan anywhere. Only the PUMP speed of the H60 system will be displayed for you. This has one other implication. Since the mobo can monitor only the speed of the Pump, and not of the fan of the H60 system, from time to time YOU will have to check to ensure that the fan is still working.

Now to the case fans. Those AF120 fans are of the 3-pin design, which means there is only one way to control their speeds from a single 4-pin PWM SYS_FAN header and a Hub. You must buy the Phanteks PWM Hub for this.

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA4RE5032993&cm_re=Phanteks_PWM_Hub-_-11-984-004-_-Product

It has one cable that connects to a 2-pin SATA 12V port on the Hub and to a SATA power output connector from the PSU to provide power to all the Hub's fans. It has one cable to connect the 4-pin port on the other end of the Hub to the mobo SYS_FAN header. NOTE that, although the port label says to use the CPU_FAN header and so do the instructions, I recommend do it differently. Their instructions are designed to ensure that the Hub does get a PWM signal from its mobo port because that is NECESSARY. But as long as the mobo header used does actually provide that PWM signal (and your mobo manual indicates that it does), your case ventilation fans are better controlled using the SYS_FAN header. You see, the CPU_FAN header governs its fans by the temperature inside the CPU chip, whereas the SYS_FAN header is guided instead by the temperature sensor on the mobo, which is better for case ventilation. When plugging in your case fans, ensure that one of them is plugged into the white Port #1. This is the only port that can send a fan speed signal back to the mobo header, and the header could issue warnings of failure if it never got a fan speed from Port #1.

I recommended that specific Hub for one critical reason. Most 4-pin fan Hubs merely share the PWM signal to all their fans, and depend on the 4-pin fan design to achieve control. This does NOT work when you use 3-pin fans like yours. BUT the Phnateks Hub does it differently. It uses the PWM signal internally to create its own group of six 3-pin fan ports that all use the older Voltage Control Mode (aka DC Mode) to control its fans, and this is the ONLY way to control the speed of 3-pin fans. So, using this Hub allows you to do this with the fan type you have purchased.
 
Apr 18, 2018
16
0
10
I really appreciate the input Paperdoc! when you stated that I quoted two different motherboards, I imagine you're referring to the "H110M pro-vd plus" and the "MS-7A15" reading it from Speccy it says "MSK H110M PRO-VD PLUS (MS-7A15) (U3E1)" I apologize if that caused any confusion