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Running GPU fans from MB fan header

10K views 12 replies 5 participants last post by  doyll 
#1 ·
I recently acquired GPU with a dead fan header.
It has a couple of case fans cable tied to it. One is powered by a molex plug, the other by a MB fan header.

It works, but...
It's loud, and it's ugly!

Is there a cable available with (forgive me if i use the wrong terms) a "standard" 4 pin female connector on one end and a mini GPU male on the other end, which would allow me to run the original fans off a MB fan header?

While this might not allow me to set fan speeds according to GPU temp at least it will give me some control over fan speeds, and noise.

I've found plenty of cables that work the opposite way - powering case (radiator) fans from the GPU fan header, but I haven't been able to find one that does what I need.

Thanks in advance.
 
#2 ·
MOD DIY sell a cable which will allow you to connect two GPU Fans to a single PWM header on a motherboard or fan controller. I bought one a while ago for an R9 380X and it worked flawlessly. Just disable the GPU fan warnings lol
 
#3 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Spork13 View Post

I recently acquired GPU with a dead fan header.
It has a couple of case fans cable tied to it. One is powered by a molex plug, the other by a MB fan header.

It works, but...
It's loud, and it's ugly!

Is there a cable available with (forgive me if i use the wrong terms) a "standard" 4 pin female connector on one end and a mini GPU male on the other end, which would allow me to run the original fans off a MB fan header?

While this might not allow me to set fan speeds according to GPU temp at least it will give me some control over fan speeds, and noise.

I've found plenty of cables that work the opposite way - powering case (radiator) fans from the GPU fan header, but I haven't been able to find one that does what I need.

Thanks in advance.
You can easily control fan speed according to GPU temperature with Speedfan. It's how I've been running my graphics cards with custom cooling for the past three years or so.

Also this - pwm splitters on Amazon
 
#4 ·
If you're handy with a soldering iron and heatshrink (or have a few minutes to learn, it's pretty easy) you could DIY one pretty quickly. Just make sure the ground matches ground and the other line for power matches 12v on the 4-pin cable and just use a spare 4-pin or 3-pin from an old fan if you have one laying around.

Otherwise you could continue using case fans with 3 or 4 pins strapped on the card and control them via a software like Speedfan based on GPU temperature or see if you can do something to control it through the BIOS. I've been able to make use of a few cheap "dead" cards with bad fans this way in mining rigs. Some are zip tied on riser cables with case fans strapped to them but they run nice and cool and are reasonably quiet.
 
#5 ·
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#6 ·
Thanks folks. Seems the modDIY connector is what I'm after.

Loladinas - I will have a closer look @ Speedfan.
Have only used it to monitor stuff before, not to control anything.
If I can regulate fans connected to the MB according to GPU temp with it, that's awesome!
 
#7 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Spork13 View Post

I recently acquired GPU with a dead fan header.
It has a couple of case fans cable tied to it. One is powered by a molex plug, the other by a MB fan header.

It works, but...
It's loud, and it's ugly!

Is there a cable available with (forgive me if i use the wrong terms) a "standard" 4 pin female connector on one end and a mini GPU male on the other end, which would allow me to run the original fans off a MB fan header?

While this might not allow me to set fan speeds according to GPU temp at least it will give me some control over fan speeds, and noise.

I've found plenty of cables that work the opposite way - powering case (radiator) fans from the GPU fan header, but I haven't been able to find one that does what I need.

Thanks in advance.
What GPU is it? I've often used Arctic F9 TC or F12 TC fans on GPUs. Remove stock shroud and fans from GPU and attach the Arctic fans on with zipties. The TC has it's own temperature controlled system with sensor. I just put the sensor on GPU between finpack and PCB in a hot area and fans speed up as GPU gets hotter.
wink.gif
 
#8 ·
It's a R9 390x - PowerColor brand.
Came as part of a package deal for son's GF new computer.
We've since sourced a 970 for her instead - but son's GPU has died so will use this one if I can get it looking decent.
(ie: original shroud and fans).
The cable I ordered should work, otherwise I'll keep the F9 TC's in mind.
(It seems the fans that come with it are 80mm so not sure I could make the F9's fit neatly).
 
#9 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Spork13 View Post

It's a R9 390x - PowerColor brand.
Came as part of a package deal for son's GF new computer.
We've since sourced a 970 for her instead - but son's GPU has died so will use this one if I can get it looking decent.
(ie: original shroud and fans).
The cable I ordered should work, otherwise I'll keep the F9 TC's in mind.
(It seems the fans that come with it are 80mm so not sure I could make the F9's fit neatly).
Most GPU fans are 80-90mm. I've used F9 90mm and F12 120mm instead with no problems. The only potential problem is they are about twice as thick so need additional empty PCIe slot to get good airflow. Here is example of one.
 
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#10 ·
MB is a R III E, and it will be used as a single card - so no shortage of PCIe space there.
It's fitting them into the shroud neatly which would present challenges.
Will cross that bridge if / when I get to it.
Nice to know there are other options though, cheers mate.
 
#11 ·
The shroud in image I posted is home-made out of modeling stock. I've done several with no shroud, just use zipties to tie fans together and then to finpack. Here is image of 120mm fans on GPU that originally had 80-0mm fans. The fan motor support frame keeps fans flat on finpack.


Obviously do whatever is easiest. Just don't think it's complicated to ziptie a couple of fans to a GPU finpack. Of course you would probably have to remove cooler from GPU to remove it's shroud and fans, but after a couple years of use it's a good idea to clean and replace TIM anyway.
 
#12 ·
Fans are already zip-tied on. (I rec'd it like that). It's more an aesthetics issue, although nicer looking (not one orange and one red!) fans and more careful job of zipties would certainly improve that too.
I'll get a photo (maybe for the Ghetto-mods thread).
 
#13 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Spork13 View Post

Fans are already zip-tied on. (I rec'd it like that). It's more an aesthetics issue, although nicer looking (not one orange and one red!) fans and more careful job of zipties would certainly improve that too.
I'll get a photo (maybe for the Ghetto-mods thread).
Look forward to seeing it. I have use both the Arctic TCs and PWMs fans on GPUs .. and several others too.

The Arctic TCs are the lazy man's (or woman's) way. First time I did it was on a friend's new build when we didn't have fans he wanted to use by had a couple of F12 TC s setting on the shelf so we put them on and planned to order PWM replacements. They works so well we didn't bother.

I still prefer PWM because it's easier to adjust temp to rpm curve with software then having to open up case and move sensors. But once sensor are placed where needed to heat source they work very well.
wink.gif
 
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