Is a fan controller needed?

[Pbirmingham1988]

I can transform this 3 pin molex into a psu through that adapter... Where does it connect?

Could I buy this at a hardware store or does it have to be from a computer place?

[Capper]

you can connect those fans to the motherboard......
you would need to pick up the molex adapter at a tech store.....Fry's Best Buy, maybe radio Shack.

if you look at the pics in this review

eVGA NVidia 680i SLI Motherboard Review - The Layout...continued

you'll see the 3 pin fan headers (4 pin for the CPU fan)...you can use those. As to using that CPU header, line up the grooved section of the 3 pin connector with the part of the fan header that has the backing....that fourth pin is simply for the stock INTEL cooler and its sensor.

[Pbirmingham1988]

Ok well its not just for the geminII. I want 1 in the front and 1 in the rear. So 2 for the geminii and 2 for the case. So will I need 2 of these for the case fans or would I need more for the fans on top of the geminii as well? Newegg.com - Link Depot POW-ADT-3P4 Power 4 pin adapter to 3 pin fan adapter - Retail

[Capper]

In this instance, I would recommend a fan controller.

Let me see what I have around here....I might have a couple of those for you, or even possibly a couple Zalman Fan-Mate fan controllers.....if not, check this out
Newegg.com - VANTEC NXP-205-BK Black Fan Controller Panel - Retail

[Pbirmingham1988]

That black vantec one looks nice w/ blue led, but now this thread has come to the conclusion that I really do need a fan controller? LOL Will a fan controller have connections for 3 pin molexs or will i need the adapters to go with it?

[Capper]

No, that fan controller has the 3 pin connectors already attached.


You don't "have to" get a fan controller, but considering you would have 4 fans running off the motherboard, I'd definitely do it

[Beetle Bailey]

This is also a very good a reasonably priced controller, Sunbeam Rheobus Review. I will be using this in my next build. Bailey.

[gvblake22]

Agreed, I prefer to connect my fans directly to the power supply or through a fan controller (which is powered directly by the PSU).
When you say 3 molex connectors, I'm assuming you mean each fan has a single 3-pin fan connector?

Like Capper mentioned, your best bet is to get some 3-pin to 4-pin molex adapters and attach them directly to your power supply. Or if you get a fan controller, you should be able to use the native 3-pin fan connectors on the fan controller and power the controller (and fans) with a 4-pin molex from the power supply.

EDIT:
didn't realize this thread split up on different pages!

Holesaws work great for cutting nice clean holes

[Quakindude]

If you mod your case, make sure you pull the guts out or encase your electronics very well. About two days after I had cut a 80mm blow hole for my Antec Lanboy case, my buddy decided he HAD to have one too. I told him to remove the mobo and PSU before doing it, but he chose not to. So he cuts the blow hole, mounts the fan and then turns it on. The friggin thing caught fire. Pieces of metal from the hole cutting had gotten behind the mobo and into the PSU. He had metal fused to the back of his mobo and the PSU caught fire.

[Hitman]

Originally Posted by Quakindude

If you mod your case, make sure you pull the guts out or encase your electronics very well. About two days after I had cut a 80mm blow hole for my Antec Lanboy case, my buddy decided he HAD to have one too. I told him to remove the mobo and PSU before doing it, but he chose not to. So he cuts the blow hole, mounts the fan and then turns it on. The friggin thing caught fire. Pieces of metal from the hole cutting had gotten behind the mobo and into the PSU. He had metal fused to the back of his mobo and the PSU caught fire.

It's good that you brought that up Tom. People need to realize that taking shortcuts can often lead to disaster. It's important to do things properly. Metal flakes floating around inside of a computer case is not a good thing at all.

Originally Posted by Pbirmingham1988

I can transform this 3 pin molex into a psu through that adapter... Where does it connect?

Could I buy this at a hardware store or does it have to be from a computer place?

This is the connector Rich is talking about. It connects to the PSU, then you plug the fan into it. Most fans come with these. I have a drawer full of them.