Unknown connectors found in casing ?

[ahmadka]

Hi guys .. I'm building a new PC, and there are a few leads which I don't know where to connect on the motherboard. Please see the pictures below. There are three connectors for the connector type shown in the first three pictures below, and just one that looks like the one in the last picture. At first I thought the first type are the fan power cables, but they're not. I've already connected the casing fans to power points on the motherboard. The second connector type looks like a SATA power connector, but there are no SATA ports on the casing .. So I'm confused. Can someone help ?

EDIT: The casing in question is the Corsair 330R Titanium Edition. The casing doesn't come with any installation instructions at all, and offers no explanation for the above.

 

[Valantar]

Looks like your case has a built in fan controller. The bottom picture is a SATA power connector (connects to the SATA power from your PSU) for powering case fans. The other three are fan connectors, into which you connect your fans (if you would like to use the case's fan controller rather than controlling them from the motherboard), connected through the controller to the SATA power cable for power. Nothing of this goes anywhere near the motherboard

 

[ahmadka]

Don't really know what you mean by fan controller in this context. Fans typically only need power, and the two built-in fans the case has have already been connected to the motherboard to provide them with power. So I can't understand how these cables can also be related to the built-in fans. Also, the case has two built-in fans, not three. But are the three connectors of the first connector type.

Regarding the SATA power connector, why would the casing need that ? What does the case need power for ?

 

[BlueWeasel]

Yep, that's connections for the fan controller. The Corsair 330R TE has one (just checked). The connections on my Fractal R5 case look identical.

A fan controller allows you to change the voltage supplied to fans connected to it. If you lower the voltage, the fan spin slower and produce less noise. Since it's the source of voltage for the fans, obviously, it will need its own power source, which is why the SATA power connector is needed.

 

[Valantar]

As BlueWeasel said, and me before: they are for a fan controller, for controlling fan speeds if you want to control fan speeds manually rather than automatically (through the motherboard). The SATA connector is a power connector to give power to the fans if you choose to use this controller rather than power them through the motherboard.

The reason for this is that motherboards often don't control fans very well - they might run too slow (making the PC too hot) for one's liking, or too fast (too loud), all depending on the fans, the rest of the PC, and one's personal preferences. Also, your case has more fan openings than the two with preinstalled fans, right? I've yet to see a case that doesn't, at least. Hence the third fan connector, if you want to improve airflow in your build.

If you're happy with letting the motherboard control the fans, then leave these cables (preferrably tucked away somewhere out of the way). No need to bother with them.

 

[Stuka87]

Looks like you have a corsair case. They use that setup for their cases that have built in fan controllers. My 380T has the exact same ones.

EDIT: I see that you added that it is a corsair.

 

[Corsair Joseph]

EDIT: The casing in question is the Corsair 330R Titanium Edition. The casing doesn't come with any installation instructions at all, and offers no explanation for the above.

Sorry about that, I didn't know that the manual did not include any information regarding the fan controller. I'll be sure to bring that up to our case product manager.

But yes, the SATA connector needs to be plugged in to your SATA port from the PSU to power the 3-speed fan controller that can accommodate up to 3 fans.

 

[Corsair Joseph]

@ahmadka - I have a copy of the manual that is meant for the 330R TE. If you send me a PM, I can send it to you directly probably via email. And perhaps you could confirm if the manual that you received in that 330R box is different from the correct/updasted one. Thanks in advance.

 

[HalfCrazy]

I found a manual URL for the 330R Titanium Edition. I found it within 10 seconds by searching Corsair's website.

http://www.corsair.com/~/media/Corsair/download-files/manuals/cases/330R_Titanium_InstallGuide.pdf

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Just an epilogue to this, not wanting to test someone's patience.

Corsair Joseph would probably agree with me that case-makers with their case-designs provide a big collection of options to potential buyers, but one doesn't need to use all the options available from any of the parts you use to build your system. You choose your options as part of a strategy. Don't think that you're "not getting all of your value" if you choose not to use some feature.

It's nice to have a built-in fan-controller with a case -- that's a nice option. But I would choose to use it in the context of your motherboard fan-control. Which options provide for thermal control of fans? Use thermal fan control as a priority. Does the motherboard provide enough ports and power for all fans in the case? If not, consider using the case fan controller.

 

[Corsair Joseph]

I found a manual URL for the 330R Titanium Edition. I found it within 10 seconds by searching Corsair's website.

http://www.corsair.com/~/media/Corsair/download-files/manuals/cases/330R_Titanium_InstallGuide.pdf

Nice thank you

I still want to get a confirmation from ahmadka if his 330R TE box included the correct manual or not.

Just an epilogue to this, not wanting to test someone's patience.

Corsair Joseph would probably agree with me that case-makers with their case-designs provide a big collection of options to potential buyers, but one doesn't need to use all the options available from any of the parts you use to build your system. You choose your options as part of a strategy. Don't think that you're "not getting all of your value" if you choose not to use some feature.

It's nice to have a built-in fan-controller with a case -- that's a nice option. But I would choose to use it in the context of your motherboard fan-control. Which options provide for thermal control of fans? Use thermal fan control as a priority. Does the motherboard provide enough ports and power for all fans in the case? If not, consider using the case fan controller.

I'm with you on this one. Extra features like a fan-controller is always an option for the user to utilize or not. Some people prefers to have an easy access to change their system fan speed on the fly, and that's where built in fan controller will come in handy. Others like to have their fans to be controlled based on temperature, then your board should have that feature... In the end, it's a matter of preference and how you'd like to approach your build.

 

[philipma1957]

Nice thank you

I still want to get a confirmation from ahmadka if his 330R TE box included the correct manual or not.



I'm with you on this one. Extra features like a fan-controller is always an option for the user to utilize or not. Some people prefers to have an easy access to change their system fan speed on the fly, and that's where built in fan controller will come in handy. Others like to have their fans to be controlled based on temperature, then your board should have that feature... In the end, it's a matter of preference and how you'd like to approach your build.

true preference means a lot.

I go with oversized cases and fans and heat sinks. why cool and quiet plus I can have a full size case in almost every room in my house if I choose to do that.
I like flat fan rates from 7 or 8 inch fans over size the heat sink and all is cool.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Nice thank you

I still want to get a confirmation from ahmadka if his 330R TE box included the correct manual or not.



I'm with you on this one. Extra features like a fan-controller is always an option for the user to utilize or not. Some people prefers to have an easy access to change their system fan speed on the fly, and that's where built in fan controller will come in handy. Others like to have their fans to be controlled based on temperature, then your board should have that feature... In the end, it's a matter of preference and how you'd like to approach your build.

Heh. Yeah . . . I knew this guy who loved those "rheobus" controllers with the aluminum knobs. He had something like eight or ten fans in the system. For that -- last thing I want to do is manage a bunch of fans that way.

I'll have to look at the Corsair case hardware, and I'd also seen something of a bundled controller with an NZXT case. NZXT was additionally selling a separate unit .. . wait-a-minute . . . yeah . . . "GRID":

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...=-1&isNodeId=1

The USB connection gives it away -- or raises "hope." It might still offer thermal control, or even integration with the motherboard capability.

 

[Z15CAM]

I believe the OP needs to do a little research in regards to what most Case Builder's provide for External Fan Controllers.

 

[CoffeeJunkie]

Same issue here. The manual speaks of a "case fan header" here: http://www.corsair.com/~/media/Cors...s/cases/Graphite-Series-380T-InstallGuide.pdf (7.2). I do not find them. All I have in my hands are 3 4-pin male connectors. Please help me.

edit: Alright, what I needed to find was the 3 pin female connector from the front fan. It hid itself well that sneaky bastard. Connected it to one of the 4 pin males and everything's good.