To anyone using the Zalman Fanmate 2 thing...

[Ichigo]

Do we HAVE to connect it to the motherboard as well as the fan? I have 3 of those 3pin headers on the mobo, but one's blocked by a capacitator or something. That leaves two. Considering I have 2 case fans, a CPU, and a GPU *going to end up with 4 fanmates considering the zalman CPU/GPU heatsinks I'm getting each come with one*, I'm obviously not going to be able to do that.

So, first, is it mandatory that I connect it to the motherboard? If yes, I remember their was a way to link the fans so that the fanmate 2 could control two fans at once, with the disadvantage of both fans being at the same speed always. It's bearable, but I'd like to have independant control. So can anyone answer my first question?

 

[unmerited]

I don't believe so since I've connected them to a regular molex. You will need an adapter, though.


unmerited

 

[openwheelformula1]

I only connect the fanmate to psu's molex. Adaptor needed.

 

[Ichigo]

I need a 3pin to molex adaptor? What if the fan does have the 3pin cable and I just don't need it to be connected to the motherboard? Do I still need an adaptor?

P.S. How do you use it to control the PSU fan? o_o

 

[unmerited]

You will since one end of the Fanmate will need power from the molex.
Controlling the PSU fan will most likely require opening up the PSU in order to make the connection.
CAUTION: This can be dangerous.


unmerited

 

[996GT2]

The fanmate 2 works with any fan with a 3-pin connector, such as the kind you would plug into a mobo. You need an adaptor if the fan uses a 4-pin molex connector such as the kind that comes from the PSU. One unit can control 1 3-pin fan or a 4-pin with adaptor

Using it to control PSU will require the opening of the PSU and if you are not careful you could overheat parts inside the PSU.

 

[Ichigo]

So the only thing that I lose by not connecting the other end of the fanmate to the motherboard is the RPM display right? It'll still work fine?

 

[996GT2]

Yes, but you will need to get an adaptor to plug the other end of the Fanmate into a 4-pin PSU molex connector. Without RPM sensing you can still tune by sound or feel.

 

[Navid]

A fanmate is just a variable resistor on the positive wire with the ground and sense wires going right through.

You may be better off getting a fan controller. You can then control 4 fans with the case closed. You won't need to open the case to reach the fanmate. You can also adjust the fan speeds depending on what you are doing. For example, you can increase the speed when you play a game and then decrease it after you are done all without having to open the case.

 

[Ichigo]

The fanmate can be mounted outside of the case, so I hear. The CPU and GPU heatsinks that I am looking at both come with a fanmate 2, so it would only be two other fans. A $40CDN fan controller doesn't sound like a great deal anymore.

 

[RKS]

I would be really uncomfortable controlling the cpu or gpu fans with a fanmate, especially one that is easilly accessable or accidently changed.

 

[Ichigo]

I do have two accessible 3pin headers on the motherboard remember? I can set the minimum RPM levels for the CPU and GPU fan. So it'll never be a problem.

 

[Operandi]

Originally posted by: Ichigo
I do have two accessible 3pin headers on the motherboard remember? I can set the minimum RPM levels for the CPU and GPU fan. So it'll never be a problem.

Maybe you should look at SpeedFan; no manual fan controlers needed.

 

[Ichigo]

I am using speedfan with my current CPU heatsink. I don't really like it though. The interface just feels clumsy to me.

In any case, my question has been answered. Now it's just a matter of finding a store with the adaptors.

 

[Ichigo]

Oh shoot, another question. What about those fans without 3pin headers? I have an Antec tricool fan that has its own controller and a molex connector. Am I out of luck with that one?

 

[unmerited]

You could get something like this.


unmerited

 

[frank84]

so, is it OK to not to use fanmate with zalman cnps7000b???

i already have a fan controller, and i would like to hook up zalman to it.. rather than hooking it up to fanmate.

-frank

 

[RallyMaster]

http://www.xoxide.com/sunbeam-multi-fan-power-port.html that to connect a lot of fans to just one molex. use a 3 pin to molex adapter.

 

[JEDIYoda]

or you could also get the ZALMAN ZM-MFC1 Fan Controller Panel

Thats what I use on both my riggs. Besides the practicailty of one they also look very nice!


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813999251

You could probably get them cheaper if you look around...
possibly zipzoomfly...or jab-tec or e-wiz....

 

[frank84]

after doing a summer day clean up i just removed the fanmate and connected it to the front panel fan controller that i already had.

works great.

now i dont have to crawl down my desk to change the fan speed

-frank