Connecting fans to PSU

[antihero]

Hi everyone,
I just watched the review on the Noctua NF-F12 in combination with the H80 and the individual in the video suggests not connecting the fans to the motherboard but actually to the PSU. The fans have a 4-pin PWM connector according to the manufacturer. Will I be able to connect them directly to my PSU without using some sort of adapter? And if not, do such adapters normally come with the PSU? I wouldn't want to blow ~40€ on a couple of these fans and then not be able to use them properly.

 

[Drakkonen]

No and no. You will need 3 pin to molex adapters and they do not usually come with PSU's. The fans will also end up being voltage controlled rather than PWM controlled and in some cases that can lead to noise problems. If you don't have PWM headers on your motherboard, your best bet might be to got with some standard 3 pin fans.

 

[antihero]

Then what's so bad about connecting them to the motherboard if it's explicitly not advised in the review? Also can you post a picture of what these adapters look like? I'm having a hard time telling them apart.

 

[Devo234]

the only problem with connecting them to the motherboard is that the mobo itself decides what speed to run the fans which can generate more noise than is necessary.
what will you be using the fans for?

 

[vorticalbox]

the only problem with connecting them to the motherboard is that the mobo itself decides what speed to run the fans which can generate more noise than is necessary.
what will you be using the fans for?

most BIOS allow out set the speed, my MSI board allows you to set as a %, 100%, 80% 50% and so on.

 

[Devo234]

will you be using them as cpu fans? and do you have to have noctuas or would you be willing top use other fans?

 

[antihero]

They're to be used with a Corsair H80 to cool an Intel Core i7 3770k on an ASUS Sabertooth Z77 motherboard. I'm hoping to o/c the 3770k so I do want to make sure everything is being properly cooled. And yes I've come to the conclusion the fans have to be Noctua after some bit of research. (stock fans as well as others being too noisy etc.)

 

[Devo234]

is it a h80i or a regular h80?
personally mate i wouldnt bother with the noctuas mainly because of the price. myself and alot of other people would recommend the corsair sp120 quiet edition fans which are specifically designed for use with heatsinks and radiators. they have a very high static pressure and are very very quiet. all while being quite abit cheaper than noctua

 

[antihero]

Regular H80.

I just checked out the SP120s you recommended and they seem to be very good fans. I've got a decent budget so money is not the issue but obviously Noctua can't beat the price of ~25€ for a pair. Plus they would go very well with my black case whereas the Noctua ones would rather obscure it. I think I'll end up getting these, they seem to be a perfect match for what I need.

Would you recommend getting the H80 or the H80i?

 

[Devo234]

glad i could help mate.
with regard to h80 or h80i im not too sure tbh. as far as i know the only real difference is that the h80i is digital and can be connected to other corsair digital products ie. ax 760i.
but tbh the prices between them are so similar you might as well just go for the h80i anyway