i feel so stupid asking this

cloud17 · 12-06-2007, 07:10 PM

sorry if this question is very dumb but you know the antec 900 case it has 4 fans, well... i really dont think that many fans will go into my mobo so what are they powerd by?

donkey42 · 12-06-2007, 07:34 PM

they are most likely powered by the PSU and using a molex connector but that is not a bad thing as there will probaly be another molex connector provided by the fan

BTW: it looks like this

although the colour of the connector may vary

Off Topic:

don't feel stupid, everyone has to learn, i've being here @ HWF for over a year & i forget more than i remember

cloud17 · 12-06-2007, 09:12 PM

thx a bunch so i will not have to upgrade my mobo

will definatly be usin this forum again

Addis · 13-06-2007, 12:02 AM

The advantage of using your motherboard power connector is that you can get fan speed readings, but you usually only get 1 or 2 connectors plus a CPU connector.

cloud17 · 13-06-2007, 03:06 PM

yea i suppose but i think that the antec 900 fans have 3 speed options anyway.

Kastang · 13-06-2007, 04:22 PM

Its not really bad if your mobo doesnt have enough fan plugins.. Get the connectors and get a fan controller, you can get one for as cheap as 20 dollars. It will allow you to still have a quiet computer and be able to monitor and adjust your speed as you see fit.

henry222 · 26-06-2007, 02:53 PM

Spot-on advice...I've never bought a controller (I think they take up a 5.25" bay, unless built-in) -
Do you set the temperature and the fan takes care? Or is it purely monitoring the processor temp (via some Mbd monitor routine?) ...and you have to set the fan speed. In other words - do I have to keep checking, or will it automaticaly speed up as necessary?

Fan technophobes:
I bought a 12v 120mm Dia fan and it works ok, taking about 1/3rd the current they claim....but what's the third (yellow) wire for?
The supply is red+, black- (or strictly 0v) and I powered it from a 12v battery, just to check the current consumption.
...It's a Nildec and searching their website has revealed these fans will operate over a minimum 2:1 voltage ratio (so a linear regulator should be OK for dropping fan-speed, well I was going to PWM)...and this third wire is a tachometer output - presumably to monitor that the fan is still going!
...By counting the pulses it would be possible to determine the fan-speed, although this is not important - only the sound/noise is really at issue....v. heat reduction of course.
I've noticed some other fans with this third-wire, so maybe some field-testing is needed!
I note that some new 600w PSU's have a fan over-run feature (when you power down with the mains still present!), the idea being that this reduces processor temperature (and other bits like HDD's) by giving them a further blast....doesn't say how long, but I guess 5mins would be a great help for increasing MTBF/reliability. Cars continue to cool the rad after stopping, so why not PC's?

kazgirl · 27-06-2007, 11:28 PM

HIya,
From waht I understand the 3rd yellow wire is there to be connected to the mobo fan sensor, normally it has the ususal 3 pin fan connector plug connected to it to plug it in to the mobo fan connector, though the yellow wire is the only one that connects to the mobo, with the power for the fan then being provided via a molex connector. and it works by counting the revolutions of the magnets used to drive the fan, at least this is my very limited and basic understanding of it.....I'm something of a novice and am on a pretty steep learning curve at the moment, so if anyone can give a more detailed explanation, this owuld really help.....

geek9pm · 28-06-2007, 01:13 AM

It was a very good question. Having extra fans is a good idea. Heat damage is much worse than dust and dirt. You can clean out the dust, but you can not undo heat damage.

12-06-2007, 07:10 PM	#1 (permalink) Top
cloud17 Geek Join Date: Jun 2007 Age: 16 Male Posts: 54 My Mood: Cheerful Status: Offline My Computer	i feel so stupid asking this sorry if this question is very dumb but you know the antec 900 case it has 4 fans, well... i really dont think that many fans will go into my mobo so what are they powerd by? Last edited by cloud17; 20-07-2007 at 11:30 PM.

12-06-2007, 07:34 PM	#2 (permalink) Top
donkey42 Paranoid Geeky Geek Join Date: Mar 2006 Age: 34 Male Posts: 5,816 Times Helpful: 309 My Mood: Paranoid Status: Offline My Computer	they are most likely powered by the PSU and using a molex connector but that is not a bad thing as there will probaly be another molex connector provided by the fan BTW: it looks like this although the colour of the connector may vary Off Topic: don't feel stupid, everyone has to learn, i've being here @ HWF for over a year & i forget more than i remember __________________ GRUB manual \| Google Linux \| Distrowatch \| Linux Chix \| Kubuntu \| My Mini City Last edited by donkey42; 12-06-2007 at 07:49 PM. Reason: add

13-06-2007, 12:02 AM	#4 (permalink) Top
Addis The King Join Date: Jan 2004 Age: 18 Male Posts: 5,255 Times Helpful: 403 My Mood: Drunk Status: Offline My Computer	The advantage of using your motherboard power connector is that you can get fan speed readings, but you usually only get 1 or 2 connectors plus a CPU connector. __________________ Never trust a program you don't have the source code for. My website \| Powerful Desktop Linux \| Linux for human beings \| Linux for power users \| Linux for ricers

13-06-2007, 03:06 PM	#5 (permalink) Top
cloud17 Geek Join Date: Jun 2007 Age: 16 Male Posts: 54 My Mood: Cheerful Status: Offline My Computer	yea i suppose but i think that the antec 900 fans have 3 speed options anyway. __________________ Pentium D 945 3.4ghz 4CoreDual-VSTA 2GB DDR2 667 RAM ATI Saphire X1950 pro Pci-E Antec 900 NeoPower 650W Blue

26-06-2007, 02:53 PM	#7 (permalink) Top
henry222 Geek Trainee Join Date: Jun 2007 Gender: Male Posts: 43 Times Helpful: 5 Status: Offline	Spot-on advice...I've never bought a controller (I think they take up a 5.25" bay, unless built-in) - Do you set the temperature and the fan takes care? Or is it purely monitoring the processor temp (via some Mbd monitor routine?) ...and you have to set the fan speed. In other words - do I have to keep checking, or will it automaticaly speed up as necessary? Fan technophobes: I bought a 12v 120mm Dia fan and it works ok, taking about 1/3rd the current they claim....but what's the third (yellow) wire for? The supply is red+, black- (or strictly 0v) and I powered it from a 12v battery, just to check the current consumption. ...It's a Nildec and searching their website has revealed these fans will operate over a minimum 2:1 voltage ratio (so a linear regulator should be OK for dropping fan-speed, well I was going to PWM)...and this third wire is a tachometer output - presumably to monitor that the fan is still going! ...By counting the pulses it would be possible to determine the fan-speed, although this is not important - only the sound/noise is really at issue....v. heat reduction of course. I've noticed some other fans with this third-wire, so maybe some field-testing is needed! I note that some new 600w PSU's have a fan over-run feature (when you power down with the mains still present!), the idea being that this reduces processor temperature (and other bits like HDD's) by giving them a further blast....doesn't say how long, but I guess 5mins would be a great help for increasing MTBF/reliability. Cars continue to cool the rad after stopping, so why not PC's? Last edited by henry222; 26-06-2007 at 03:01 PM. Reason: tech addition

12-06-2007, 09:12 PM	#3 (permalink) Top
cloud17 Geek Join Date: Jun 2007 Age: 16 Male Posts: 54 My Mood: Cheerful Status: Offline My Computer	thx a bunch so i will not have to upgrade my mobo will definatly be usin this forum again

13-06-2007, 04:22 PM	#6 (permalink) Top
Kastang Geek Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 54 Status: Offline	Its not really bad if your mobo doesnt have enough fan plugins.. Get the connectors and get a fan controller, you can get one for as cheap as 20 dollars. It will allow you to still have a quiet computer and be able to monitor and adjust your speed as you see fit.

27-06-2007, 11:28 PM	#8 (permalink) Top
kazgirl Geek Join Date: Jun 2007 Gender: Female Posts: 61 Times Helpful: 3 My Mood: Bitchy Status: Offline My Computer	HIya, From waht I understand the 3rd yellow wire is there to be connected to the mobo fan sensor, normally it has the ususal 3 pin fan connector plug connected to it to plug it in to the mobo fan connector, though the yellow wire is the only one that connects to the mobo, with the power for the fan then being provided via a molex connector. and it works by counting the revolutions of the magnets used to drive the fan, at least this is my very limited and basic understanding of it.....I'm something of a novice and am on a pretty steep learning curve at the moment, so if anyone can give a more detailed explanation, this owuld really help..... __________________

28-06-2007, 01:13 AM	#9 (permalink) Top
geek9pm Geek Trainee Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 49 Times Helpful: 3 My Mood: Asleep Status: Offline	It was a very good question. Having extra fans is a good idea. Heat damage is much worse than dust and dirt. You can clean out the dust, but you can not undo heat damage.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
I know I'm stupid...	minymarshall	Power Supplies and UPS's	5	01-11-2006 11:11 AM
Feel Free: Opera Eliminates Ad Banner and Licensing Fee	syngod	News and Article Comments	3	20-09-2005 10:01 PM
feel really stupid about security settings	phoenixm	Networking and Computer Security	4	27-08-2005 06:11 PM
Michael Jackson in I never copped a feel	Nic	General Chat	10	13-03-2005 04:31 PM
When you feel stupid..	ProcalX	General Chat	2	19-02-2005 04:15 AM