Is your computer running hot? Maybe it’s time to add some extra fans. Because I know that It can be tough to keep your computer running cool, especially during the hot summer months.
And even though your computer’s fans are constantly working hard to keep things cool, sometimes they need a little help.
And we all know that there is no better way than connecting an extra fan to your motherboard, so you can help your computer stay cool and run smoothly.
Moreover, if by any chance you want to overclock your machine, adding a couple of fans to your ventilation system might not be a bad idea after all.
Nonetheless, Whatever the reason, it’s not difficult to do if you have the right tools. Now you would be wondering, How should I do that? How to connect extra Fans to the motherboard?
In this article, we’ll show you how to connect extra fans to your motherboard using a 4-pin Molex connector. Let’s get started!
A Couple Of Things You Need To Consider
Here are some important things you should take into account
The type of fan you need.
The number of fans you need.
Making Room for those Fans
How to arrange the fans for optimum airflow.
Whether or not you need adapters to connect the fans to your motherboard.
1. Choosing The Type Of Fan
There are two types of fans mainly for ventilation purposes in a PC, the most popular type of fan is the axial fan. It consists of a rotor that forces air to flow in a particular direction, perpendicular to the shaft on which it spins.
The second type of fan is called a blower or squirrel cage fan. It also has a spinning rotor, but the blades are placed in such a way that they force air to flow parallel to the shaft.
2. Determining The Number Of Fans
Next, you’ll need to depend on how hot your computer gets and how much airflow you need to keep it cool, this is an important factor for those who like to overclock their rig quite often,
Although, If you’re just looking to add a little extra cooling, one or two additional fans should suffice. But if your computer is overheating, you may need three or four fans.
3. Deciding Where To Install These Fans
You’ll also want to make sure that your computer case has enough room for additional fans. If not, you may need to purchase a new case or mod your existing one to accommodate the new hardware.
Assuming you have enough room in your computer case and have decided on the type and number of fans you need, the next step is to determine their airflow.
4. Optimum Airflow
Lastly, you also need to take into account how you’ll arrange the fans for optimum airflow. Typically, you’ll want to place one fan in front of the case to draw air in and another fan in the back to exhaust hot air out.
But if your computer has a top-mounted power supply, you may want to put a fan on top to exhaust hot air out of the case.
Steps On How To Connect Extra Fans To Motherboard
- Most fans these days are 4-pin connectors. That’s the standard for both 3-pin and 4-pin fans. If you’re not sure which type of fan you have, check the label on the fan itself or the packaging it came in.
- The 4-pin connector has two ground wires (black), a positive wire (red), and a sense wire (yellow). The sense wire is used by the computer to detect how fast the fan is spinning and adjust accordingly.
- If you have a 3-pin fan, it will only have two ground wires and a positive wire. The sense wire is optional on 3-pin fans and is not used by most computers.
- To connect the fan to the motherboard, you will need to find an unused 4-pin header on the board. It will likely be labeled “CPU_FAN” or something similar. Once you’ve found the correct header, simply plug in the fan connector and you’re done.
- If your motherboard doesn’t have a 4-pin header, you can use a 3-pin to 4-pin adapter. These are readily available online and at most computer stores. Simply connect the adapter to a 3-pin header on the motherboard and then plug the fan into the adapter.
- Make sure not to over-tighten the screws after you are done with the fans as this can damage them.
Closing Thoughts
And that’s all there is to it! Now you know how to connect fans to your motherboard to help keep things cool. Just remember to keep an eye on things and make sure your fans are running smoothly, as too much airflow can be just as bad as not enough.
Happy cooling!
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