True or False? It's bad to plug a fan into the mobo.

Achilles97

Senior member
May 10, 2000
401
14
81
I heard that it's bad to plug any fans into the mobo, that it's better to get an adapter and plug it into the PSU's 4 pin connectors.

Is it true?

Why?



By the way, my mobo is an nForce2 and the fan in question is a 60mm.
 

mechBgon

Super Moderator<br>Elite Member
Oct 31, 1999
30,699
1
0
Some fans draw enough amperage to burn out the mobo header. Thermaltake Smart Fan 2 is a prime example. It draws over 8 amps, about double the approved limit of the highest-rated headers I've ever seen (~4W for A7N8X/Deluxe). That's also that much greater strain on the motherboard's connection to the power supply.

Fans rated for 1W-2W are not such a big deal IMHO.
 

everman

Lifer
Nov 5, 2002
11,288
1
0
Although be aware that most modern mobos will not boot if you do not have a fan plugged into the connector for the cpu fan.
 

LED

Diamond Member
Oct 12, 1999
6,127
0
0
By the way, my mobo is an nForce2 and the fan in question is a 60mm


Nothing to add here except it's not the size and if takes .3A's and up I wouldn't no matter what ...If you have 1 of them High Powered 60mm Fans (ala Globalwin Delta's) forget about it.
 

BZeto

Platinum Member
Apr 28, 2002
2,428
0
76
I had one of those 80x32mm Delta screamers (5400 rpm) plugged into a 3 pin header on my Asus A7V133 for a year, no problems at all. The only reason I got rid of it was b/c of the noise. Sure I could have been lucky... But it goes to show you that fan headers aren't THAT sensitive.
 

mechBgon

Super Moderator<br>Elite Member
Oct 31, 1999
30,699
1
0
Well, I've blown headers on a Tyan Tiger100, and recently was trying to help a guy who ended up frying a header using a TT SF2 here. Draw your own conclusions :D
 

LED

Diamond Member
Oct 12, 1999
6,127
0
0
Originally posted by: BZeto
I had one of those 80x32mm Delta screamers (5400 rpm) plugged into a 3 pin header on my Asus A7V133 for a year, no problems at all. The only reason I got rid of it was b/c of the noise. Sure I could have been lucky... But it goes to show you that fan headers aren't THAT sensitive.

You weren't lucky other then the MoBo you hooked it to as ASUS and Abit Fan headers can handle over .5A's most others and it would have went
 

yhelothar

Lifer
Dec 11, 2002
18,407
39
91
i blew my mobo header with the delta...
never stop a delta with your fingers.. it will blow out the header...
 

Shagga

Diamond Member
Nov 9, 1999
4,421
0
76
I never knew this, well I mean I never gave it a thought. Perhaps I have just been lucky but I have always plugged Fans into the Mobo and never had a problem AFAIK. :)
 

bgeh

Platinum Member
Nov 16, 2001
2,946
0
0
Originally posted by: BZeto
I had one of those 80x32mm Delta screamers (5400 rpm) plugged into a 3 pin header on my Asus A7V133 for a year, no problems at all. The only reason I got rid of it was b/c of the noise. Sure I could have been lucky... But it goes to show you that fan headers aren't THAT sensitive.

i agree. i had the infamous Delta 60mm screamer and man, it was loud. my mobo fan header didn't burn though, luckily.
 

Biggs

Diamond Member
Dec 18, 2000
3,010
0
0
Originally posted by: Achilles97
I heard that it's bad to plug any fans into the mobo, that it's better to get an adapter and plug it into the PSU's 4 pin connectors.

Is it true?

Why?



By the way, my mobo is an nForce2 and the fan in question is a 60mm.
Just use an adapter (which are relatively cheap) and save yourself from some sleepless nights. :)

 

arcenite

Lifer
Dec 9, 2001
10,660
7
81
Originally posted by: everman
Although be aware that most modern mobos will not boot if you do not have a fan plugged into the connector for the cpu fan.

Unless you turn off hardware monitoring for that pin

Bill
 

LED

Diamond Member
Oct 12, 1999
6,127
0
0
Originally posted by: Biggs
Originally posted by: Achilles97
I heard that it's bad to plug any fans into the mobo, that it's better to get an adapter and plug it into the PSU's 4 pin connectors.

Is it true?

Why?



By the way, my mobo is an nForce2 and the fan in question is a 60mm.
Just use an adapter (which are relatively cheap) and save yourself from some sleepless nights. :)


True but then you lose the RPM Monitoring ;)...Edit=Damn there was allota space inbetween ;)
 

mechBgon

Super Moderator<br>Elite Member
Oct 31, 1999
30,699
1
0
4.55W power draw would be beyond the recommended max for the headers on any consumer motherboard I've seen so far. Might be smart to plug it into the PSU.
 

chizow

Diamond Member
Jun 26, 2001
9,537
2
0
Some fans (TT DumbFan 2) have the ability to plug into a molex via adapter, but also provide a pseudo 3 pin header that only provides fan monitoring. Very elegant implementation. If they just fix the speed pot, I'd highly recommend it (works great with a rheobus though :D)

Chiz