What are these 2-pin connectors for?

[kc0716]

Hello guys.

It's been ages since I built a computer.

Right now, everything up and running, including the case fans I am about to ask.

I have 3 left over cables that are running from the case itself.
It has 2 pins in each of them.

I think it has something to do with fans but my fans are running fine without them connected.

Where do I insert these connectors? What are these for?

 

[giantbucket]

since those are MALE (pins), they're the power for other fans (fans come with female connectors). leave them alone, no need to use them.

 

[kc0716]

since those are MALE (pins), they're the power for other fans (fans come with female connectors). leave them alone, no need to use them.

Thanks for the quick reply! Do you mean that..those are there to power other fans when I run out of motherboard fan headers to use?

 

[giantbucket]

most likely, though it would be interesting to trace them back and find out where they are coming from.

 

[Dan414]

What case?

 

[kc0716]

What case?

Define R5

 

[Dan414]

Looks like that case has an included fan controller (http://www.fractal-design.com/home/product/cases/define-series/define-r5-black) so those would likely be for that. Is there a fan switch on the front or somewhere? Something with a High/medium/low setting.

 

[kc0716]

Looks like that case has an included fan controller (http://www.fractal-design.com/home/product/cases/define-series/define-r5-black) so those would likely be for that. Is there a fan switch on the front or somewhere? Something with a High/medium/low setting.

OHHHHHHHHHH Yes there is. I was wondering why those switches didn't really work.

So, instead of plugging the fans into the motherboard, I should plug them into these male pins from the case?

 

[Dan414]

Well.... maybe. If you want to manually control them, yes. What's your motherboard? I believe the 3-pin headers on the motherboard have positive/negative for power, and the third post is for a sensor that tells the motherboard what speed your fans are spinning. Your motherboard may be able change the speed on those by lowering the voltage. For 4 post headers, the extra is for PWM, pulse width modulation, another way to control fan speed. So.... your motherboard won't have any way of knowing if fans are installed, or controlling them, if you use the case controller. Personally, I have all of mine on a fan controller except for the CPU fan, which is connected to the CPU fan controller.