I have a B550M K motherboard with only one available case-fan header—the other header is being used by the CPU cooler. I currently have three intake fans and one rear exhaust fan, and I'd like to add two more exhaust fans at the top of the case. That would give me six case fans total. I've heard that fan headers have an amperage limit, so can all six fans be connected to the same header safely, or do I need another solution?
3 Answers
Six fans may work if each one has a very low current rating, especially if they aren’t all running at full speed, but I wouldn’t rely on guessing. A powered hub or controller is inexpensive and avoids worrying about overloading the header.
Use a SATA-powered fan hub with multiple ports. It takes power directly from the PSU instead of pulling all the current through the motherboard header, while the header can still provide the PWM control signal for fan speed. Just make sure the hub supports the type of fans you have.
You can also use a Molex-powered adapter, but a SATA-powered hub is generally neater and gives you better fan control. Don’t connect several fans directly to one header without checking their combined amperage first.
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