fan controll with Y splitter
fan controll with Y splitter
I'm planning to install full water cooling and overclock my PC, CPU, and two GPUs. My motherboard currently has three fan connections, but I'll have six fans. Can I use a Y splitter for the fans so I can manage them through the BIOS, or do I need a fan controller instead?
a splitter will work fine, but the two fans will act like one (whatever you set will be replicated on the other) so whatever you set in BIOS will happen on both fans, and you also run a very slight chance of under powering the fans they MAY not hit their full RPMs when split, but it should not be an issue.
If you power the fans from the PSU directly without a fan controller they will run full speed all the time.
If you use a fan controller you get dedicated power to each fan (no splitting power) and have control too.
You may use splitters as long as the fans do not demand more power than the board can supply. Generally, most boards support around 1 amp. It’s wise to confirm with the manufacturer.
Keep in mind that 3 pin headers don’t manage 4 pin fans identically (though they often work due to voltage control), and 4 pin PWM headers might struggle to control 3 pin fans—check the BIOS for voltage options.
Some boards even provide 4 pin headers that are purely voltage-controlled, skipping PWM advantages.
Also remember that only one fan per header will report speed, but all compatible units can be controlled via speed.
I own a 3 pin splitter for my media center CPU and front fan, plus another for the top and side fan in another system. It has worked perfectly without any problems. I removed the extra speed wire on one of them since the header wouldn’t detect speeds from two fans anyway.
a splitter will work fine, but the two fans will act like one (whatever you set will be replicated on the other) so whatever you set in BIOS will happen on both fans, and you also run a very slight chance of under powering the fans they MAY not hit their full RPMs when split, but it should not be an issue.
If you power the fans from the PSU directly without a fan controller they will run full speed all the time.
If you use a fan controller you get dedicated power to each fan (no splitting power) and have control too.
This old discussion needs attention to your manual.
Certain boards manage system fans using voltage even through 4-pin connectors. These setups will regulate every fan at the same voltage, though speed can differ between individual fans. If the board employs a genuine PWM signal, the 3-pin fan will operate at maximum capacity continuously.
i can't find anything about that in the manual , my Mobo is ASUS Z170I PRO GAMING , here's the manual
http://dlcdnet.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/LGA1...UM_WEB.pdf
CHA_FAN1 and CHA_FAN2 operate without sending a pwm signal; instead, they deliver 5 volts to activate PWM fans at full speed, then adjust speed via voltage control. The headers employ voltage-based regulation, allowing them to manage either fan type effectively—assuming all PWM fans respond similarly to voltage changes. Employing different fans will lead to varied speed profiles (not every fan maintains the same speed at a fixed voltage), but functionality should remain intact as long as power demands stay within reasonable limits. Most boards are suitable for approximately 1 amp (12 watts) of fans.