Question about fan hook-up

[bovinda]

So I'm putting together my Antec P182 case, and I notice the instructions specifically say not to attach the tricool fans that come with the case to the "Fan only" power connector on Antech power supplies if you're going to set them at low or medium speed.

Since I am going to set them to low or medium speed, and I'm using a Corsair 620HX, should I connect them to a regular 4-pin power connector, and not the fan only one? Does it really matter? Any advantage/disadvantage one way or the other?

 

[MustISO]

I think the problem is that the fan only connection doesn't deliver enough start up power for the fans. You can certainly try it and if they don't start, use regular 4 wire molex.

 

[bovinda]

Oh...well, is there any disadvantage to using regular 4-wire molex? Why not just use that anyway, then?

 

[Rike]

Fan only connectors typically control the voltage delivered to the connector based on the temp of the PSU. The H/M/L switch on the Antec tricool fan provides the same function (reduced voltage) through the switch instead of through PSU control. I suspect that if you use both the fan only connector and the switch, you will reduce the voltage so much that the fan will not turn.

 

[bovinda]

Got it. Well...is it really unsafe to just use the manual controls and not leave it up to the PSU? Will the PSU do a good job of regulating? Is it okay to have 2 fans connected together to one end of the fan-only connector, and a third fan to the other fan-only connector (since there are only two included with the Corsair HX620)?

 

[Zepper]

It doesn't make sense to control other fans in the case by the temp of the PSU. However, if you do use the "Fan Only" connector, be sure to have any attached fans set to their HIGH speed if they have their own controls. Don't want to have dueling fan controllers goin' on.

.bh.

 

[bovinda]

Originally posted by: Zepper
It doesn't make sense to control other fans in the case by the temp of the PSU. However, if you do use the "Fan Only" connector, be sure to have any attached fans set to their HIGH speed if they have their own controls. Don't want to have dueling fan controllers goin' on.

.bh.

Yeah, you convinced me (that was easy). I'll connect them directly to the power and modulate the settings directly. I guess I'll start on high, then lower the speeds to medium and then low and see how the temp does when it's running Prime 95 or something? Is that what you would do?

 

[Rike]

Originally posted by: bovinda

Originally posted by: Zepper
It doesn't make sense to control other fans in the case by the temp of the PSU. However, if you do use the "Fan Only" connector, be sure to have any attached fans set to their HIGH speed if they have their own controls. Don't want to have dueling fan controllers goin' on.

.bh.

Yeah, you convinced me (that was easy). I'll connect them directly to the power and modulate the settings directly. I guess I'll start on high, then lower the speeds to medium and then low and see how the temp does when it's running Prime 95 or something? Is that what you would do?

Yup. Although I find the high setting on those fans to be too loud for me, but I'm a bit of a sound freak.

 

[bovinda]

Yeah, they are a little on the louder side (though still quieter than my other system). I'll try to lower them tomorrow and see how it affects the temps.