Where do I plug in these fan cables?

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christ0pher

Junior Member
Mar 30, 2014
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Unfortunately my case and motherboard (Fractal Design Define R4, ASRock B85 Pro4) didn't come with any instructions so I'm wondering where to plug these in. This is my first time building a PC.

Here is a pic of a few cables coming from the front of the case. The left connection looks like it matches up with something from the PSU. The 2 smaller right ones look like fans can plug into them. What is each of these doing? (There is an additional shorter cable that looks like the smaller one for fans that is behind the back panel.)
http://s1141.photobucket.com/user/decembertopher/media/2014-03-30152818.jpg.html

Here is a pic of the back fan. My computer has an identical fan in the front of the case. Would these both plug into the two ports from the previous picture?
http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n587/decembertopher/2014-03-30153040.jpg

Here is a pic of the motherboard section for fans. Considering there's only one 3 pin connection and I have 2 fans, I would think I should plug the fans into the 2 ports from the first pic.
http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n587/decembertopher/2014-03-30153850.jpg

I have a fan speed controller on the front of the case. Which cable is controlling this? I think I know where all the other cables from my case are plugging into the motherboard (USB 3.0, USB 2.0, power button, reset button, led, HD audio).
 
lehtv

lehtv

Elite Member
Dec 8, 2010
11,897
74
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The first picture shows the integrated fan controller's power connector and two of the three included fan inputs. The power connector takes power directly from your PSU.

Would these both plug into the two ports from the previous picture?
Click to expand...

Yes. You can then control them from the case's front panel.

Here is a pic of the motherboard section for fans.
Click to expand...

You won't need to install fans on any of the motherboard headers, using the case's integrated controller is better.

If your motherboard didn't come with a manual, you can find it online: ftp://66.226.78.21/manual/B85 Pro4.pdf
 
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christ0pher

Junior Member
Mar 30, 2014
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Thank you!! I am still waiting on my graphics card and heat sink to arrive tomorrow, but I've started putting some components together and getting to know where to plug in everything once I get the parts tomorrow.
 
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mfenn

Elite Member
Jan 17, 2010
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www.mfenn.com
Lehtv's advice is sound as always. I want to add that you should plug the heatsink fan into the CPU_FAN1 header. The motherboard can adjust that fan's speed based on CPU temperature.
 
lehtv

lehtv

Elite Member
Dec 8, 2010
11,897
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Good point. Case fans which are not PWM are better controlled by the fan controller. The case's integrated controller is not physically compatible with PWM fans, although if you mutilate the fan input headers you can still get power to a PWM fan and control it via voltage adjustment instead. Not recommended, use your motherboard for PWM fans.

FYI it's also possible to have PWM case fans. I have the Define R4 as well, and decided to spice it up a bit with four 140mm PWM fans plugged into the motherboard CPU fan header via a PWM splitter cable that supplies power to the fans directly from the PSU, and gets the PWM control signal from the motherboard. It's working very nicely, the motherboard simply treats all the case fans as though they were just one CPU fan. This enables automatic temperature based speed control of all case fans at once.
 
SolMiester

SolMiester

Diamond Member
Dec 19, 2004
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Funny enough, I used this case and another ASRock mobo the other day in a build, but the fan controller was just a knob on the expansion bracket, and once the power molex connected and the 3 fans etc, I didnt get any spin on the fans...cant work it out really...so I have had to use the motherboard headers instead!
 
M

mfenn

Elite Member
Jan 17, 2010
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SolMiester said:
Funny enough, I used this case and another ASRock mobo the other day in a build, but the fan controller was just a knob on the expansion bracket, and once the power molex connected and the 3 fans etc, I didnt get any spin on the fans...cant work it out really...so I have had to use the motherboard headers instead!
Click to expand...

Did you turn the knob fully in both directions?
 
lehtv

lehtv

Elite Member
Dec 8, 2010
11,897
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SolMiester said:
Funny enough, I used this case and another ASRock mobo the other day in a build, but the fan controller was just a knob on the expansion bracket, and once the power molex connected and the 3 fans etc, I didnt get any spin on the fans...cant work it out really...so I have had to use the motherboard headers instead!
Click to expand...

That's probably the Define R3, not Define R4. The stock fans should start up at the lowest setting, but some fans require a starting voltage of 7V
 
M

mfenn

Elite Member
Jan 17, 2010
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It could have been legitimately defective. The fan controller is a pretty simple device, if it had power, it "should" work.
 
birthdaymonkey

birthdaymonkey

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Oct 4, 2010
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Zeldak

Member
Nov 6, 2005
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A lot of people used to think it was better not to "burden" the poor motherboard with such simple things as fans. They used to just plug them directly into the power supply with one or the other spare connectors. Obviously, fans always ran fast and loud.
 
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