P4S533 motherboard connection for 2nd chassis fan

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The Ruzicka Family

I'm really hoping someone can help me here....
A while back, I had the motherboard upgraded in my system to a P4S533. I
had the tech who installed it use the same case/chassis from my original
system. This case included 2 separate chassis fans.
I recently noticed that one, or both, of my chassis fans were getting a bit
weak, so I went out and bought some new ones. When I removed the old fans,
I made sure to see where the connections to the motherboard went (or at
least I THOUGHT I did!); these are the 3-pin fans for monitoring the fan
speed.
Anyway, somehow I seem to have messed-up, and can no longer find where the
tech had my second fan connected. In the P4S533 manual, I can only find a
reference to one single chassis fan connector (and one PS fan connector and
one CPU fan connector). I know that prior to my goof, BOTH fans were indeed
running, although PROBE may have only been monitoring the speed of one of
them.
So how can I get power to the second fan?
HELP!

P. Ruzicka
Aurora, CO, USA
 
Thanks for the reply!
I guess that that's one of those "duh" questions, in hindsight. Yeah, I
suppose I could do that. I was just trying to find out though how the tech
who originally installed the motherboard for me did it. She didn't use an
adapter, but had the 3-pin connector connected to the motherboard. I can't
figure it out!
As an aside though to your suggestion, it there anyway to use some kind of
adapter to connect both chassis fans together so that I might be able to
monitor both of them?
Thanks again!
 
The Ruzicka Family said:
I'm really hoping someone can help me here....
A while back, I had the motherboard upgraded in my system to a P4S533. I
had the tech who installed it use the same case/chassis from my original
system. This case included 2 separate chassis fans.
I recently noticed that one, or both, of my chassis fans were getting a bit
weak, so I went out and bought some new ones. When I removed the old fans,
I made sure to see where the connections to the motherboard went (or at
least I THOUGHT I did!); these are the 3-pin fans for monitoring the fan
speed.
Anyway, somehow I seem to have messed-up, and can no longer find where the
tech had my second fan connected. In the P4S533 manual, I can only find a
reference to one single chassis fan connector (and one PS fan connector and
one CPU fan connector). I know that prior to my goof, BOTH fans were indeed
running, although PROBE may have only been monitoring the speed of one of
them.
Click to expand...





There is one chassis fan header on the top edge area near the center and
another on the right-hand side about 1/3 of the way up from the bottom.

There is also a cpu fan connector on the left side near the cpu but I have
found it will not source enough current to drive even a 3W fan at full speed
so I drive it from the harness.

These connectors are all shown in the layout drawing in the manual.
 
Again, thanks for responding.
As I mentioned though in my original post, I have already gone through the
manual and found the connectors for Chassis, CPU and PS fans. What I am
trying to do is figure out how a SECOND 3-pin chassis fan was connected to
the motherboard, in order to receive power.
 
Yes, thank you, I am aware of these two fan connectors, as well as the one
for the PS fan; I have located them through visual inspection of the MB, as
well as reading the manual. I already have my CPU, PS, and one chassis fan
connected. I am trying to figure out how a second 3-pin chassis fan was
once connected.
 
first you need a fan with the 3 pin connector, it can only go on one way
without forcing it.
just connect it and it should spin up. look at how the cpu fan is connected,
it will connect the same way. that is about all I can tell you.

If it doesn't spin up then the fan is bad or the connector is bad.
what I do is use the power supply for cooling fans. I have had a board that
the mother board fan connector quit working but not on an asus board.
 
Thanks. But again, I don't think you're quite understanding what I am
asking.
I already know how to connect the 3-pin connectors. That's no problem.
I've also already made sure that my power supply fan is working, my CPU fan
is working, and one of the chassis fans is also connected and working
properly. What has left me puzzled is how and where the computer tech
connected my other 3-pin connector chassis fan onto my P4S533 motherboard.
The old second fan was indeed running off of the motherboard. It might not
have been monitored like the other chassis fan, but it was indeed working,
with the 3-pin connector plugged in somewhere else on the motherboard. All
four fans (2 chassis fans, 1 power supply fan, 1 CPU fan), with 3-pin
connectors, were connected to the motherboard and running.
 
The Ruzicka Family said:
Yes, thank you, I am aware of these two fan connectors, as well as the one
for the PS fan; I have located them through visual inspection of the MB, as
well as reading the manual. I already have my CPU, PS, and one chassis fan
connected. I am trying to figure out how a second 3-pin chassis fan was
once connected.<
Click to expand...

The easy way would be to use a three to four pin molex adapter and connect
the four pin end to the harness. The tachometric feedback line would open
or missing.
 
Thanks for the help. Yeah, I figure that that's what I'll have to do. The
thing that's bugging me though is that when the P4S533 was first installed
in my system, the tech who did it was able to connect the second 3-pin
chassis fan directly to the motherboard WITHOUT any adapters!
Thanks again!
 
The said:
Thanks. But again, I don't think you're quite understanding what I am
asking.
I already know how to connect the 3-pin connectors. That's no problem.
I've also already made sure that my power supply fan is working, my CPU fan
is working, and one of the chassis fans is also connected and working
properly. What has left me puzzled is how and where the computer tech
connected my other 3-pin connector chassis fan onto my P4S533 motherboard.
The old second fan was indeed running off of the motherboard. It might not
have been monitored like the other chassis fan, but it was indeed working,
with the 3-pin connector plugged in somewhere else on the motherboard. All
four fans (2 chassis fans, 1 power supply fan, 1 CPU fan), with 3-pin
connectors, were connected to the motherboard and running.
Click to expand...

You must be mistaken. The P4S533 has three 3-pin fan headers, period.

If the 4th fan was indeed powered from the motherboard, it must have had
a 4-pin molex connector plugged into the AUX 12V1 socket - which is a
bad idea as AUX 12V1 is intended as an additional power input from the
power supply.
 
the last sender is correct the board is only setup to use 3 fans from the
board.
Like I said in one of my other posts, get and adapter and connect the fan to
the power supply.
 
Fine. I understand that the board is only set up to use 3 3-pin fans. I
also know that, prior to my mis-noting how each was connected, I had 2 3-pin
chassis fans running, along with the CPU and PS fans, from the board. There
were NO adapters of any kind. This I am 100% certain of. All 4 fans were
running and Probe was indeed monitoring 3 separate fan inputs. You can tell
me all you want that this is not possible, but if that is the case, then the
tech who set up the board performed a miracle and did the impossible.
I realize that since this can not be figured out, that I will need to use an
adapter. However, it would indeed appear to be the case that it can also be
done another way, as it actually WAS done another way without an adapter.
This thread is going nowhere though. I do indeed appreciate the help and
advice of all how have given it. It would appear though that there are some
weird things about the P4S533 that many, including myself, do not fully
understand.
 
The said:
Fine. I understand that the board is only set up to use 3 3-pin fans. I
also know that, prior to my mis-noting how each was connected, I had 2 3-pin
chassis fans running, along with the CPU and PS fans, from the board. There
were NO adapters of any kind. This I am 100% certain of. All 4 fans were
running and Probe was indeed monitoring 3 separate fan inputs. You can tell
me all you want that this is not possible, but if that is the case, then the
tech who set up the board performed a miracle and did the impossible.
I realize that since this can not be figured out, that I will need to use an
adapter. However, it would indeed appear to be the case that it can also be
done another way, as it actually WAS done another way without an adapter.
This thread is going nowhere though. I do indeed appreciate the help and
advice of all how have given it. It would appear though that there are some
weird things about the P4S533 that many, including myself, do not fully
understand.
Click to expand...

I'd really like to meet your miracle tech - the ability to plug 4 fans
into 3 connectors without using an adapter, and have them work, is a
neat trick I'd love to learn :-)
 
I never said that 4 fans were plugged into 3 connectors. If I am mistaken
in this, please provide the quote from me. All I said was that all 4 fans
were connected to the motherboard SOMEHOW. 3 of them were definitely
connected via the 3 3-pin connectors. Where the 4th one (the second chassis
fan) was connected, I have no idea. That is precisely why I cam here in the
first place! Maybe the tech jury-rigged something into the board! I do not
know! I have looked for any odd or out-of-place adapters, connectors, etc,
with no success.
You tell me then...given that all 4 fans were running...and there are no
adapters visible...how was that 4th fan (with a 3-pin connector) getting any
power if it was not somehow hooked up?
I do not need any snide comments here. I can here in an honest attempt to
gain some help and insight. I have accurately presented the facts. If you
do not know how it was done, then all you have to do is say so, or say
nothing. Sarcasm is not called for here.
 
The said:
I never said that 4 fans were plugged into 3 connectors. If I am mistaken
in this, please provide the quote from me. All I said was that all 4 fans
were connected to the motherboard SOMEHOW. 3 of them were definitely
connected via the 3 3-pin connectors. Where the 4th one (the second chassis
fan) was connected, I have no idea. That is precisely why I cam here in the
first place! Maybe the tech jury-rigged something into the board! I do not
know! I have looked for any odd or out-of-place adapters, connectors, etc,
with no success.
You tell me then...given that all 4 fans were running...and there are no
adapters visible...how was that 4th fan (with a 3-pin connector) getting any
power if it was not somehow hooked up?
I do not need any snide comments here. I can here in an honest attempt to
gain some help and insight. I have accurately presented the facts. If you
do not know how it was done, then all you have to do is say so, or say
nothing. Sarcasm is not called for here.
Click to expand...

You stated that you were "100% certain of" several facts:

- 4 fans, all with 3 pin connectors
- All powered from the motherboard, and working
- No adapters

In my first post to this thread (to which you did not reply, or if you
did my news service did not receive it), I suggested you must be
mistaken - since there are only three 3 pin connectors present on the
board - and the most likely scenario is that the 4th fan was connected
to the AUX 12V1 socket, given that it is the *only* other source of +12V
DC available on the board. My post was researched, using the manual and
physical examination of a P4S533 motherboard, and was intended as a
constructive contribution.

From my point of view, you ignored the plausible explanation I offered
and continued to insist on the validity of your implausible "facts".

Is she cute too, or just a plain miracle tech? :-)
 
Triffid said:
You stated that you were "100% certain of" several facts:

- 4 fans, all with 3 pin connectors
- All powered from the motherboard, and working
- No adapters
Click to expand...

And all of these facts are true
In my first post to this thread (to which you did not reply, or if you
did my news service did not receive it), I suggested you must be
mistaken - since there are only three 3 pin connectors present on the
board - and the most likely scenario is that the 4th fan was connected
to the AUX 12V1 socket, given that it is the *only* other source of +12V
DC available on the board. My post was researched, using the manual and
physical examination of a P4S533 motherboard, and was intended as a
constructive contribution.

From my point of view, you ignored the plausible explanation I offered
and continued to insist on the validity of your implausible "facts".

Is she cute too, or just a plain miracle tech? :-)
Click to expand...

And you seem to be an ignorant wise-ass as well. I am glad that you
researched things so well. Unfortunately, your explanation of the facts
fails miserably. In your previous post, your stated that the 4th fan must
have a "4-pin molex connector" in order to plug it into the AUX 12V1 socket.
Again, all four fans have 3-pin plugs. Again, there are no adapters
present. None. Zip. Nada. Zero. Can you understand this well enough?
Whatever the tech did, she obviously was able to do it with more knowledge
than you.

I have not "ignored the plausible explanation" you offered because, given
the facts, it is NOT plausible. What I see when I look inside my PC, at the
board, at the connectors inside, all of that shows your explanation to be
wrong. Period.

Just because YOU can not come up with any other rational explanations does
not in any way prove that your one explanation you have is true. If you
want to believe otherwise, then by all means do so. However, believing that
you know all that there is no know about this matter (unless, of course,
you're the original designer of this board) is the high of arrogance.

So again I thank you for your initial stab at this, but if you have no more
of value to add, then kindly drop it and butt out. I am looking for help
here, no snide comments from know-it-alls who actually don't. If no one
else here can come up with any other possibilities, then so be it.
 
The said:
And all of these facts are true




And you seem to be an ignorant wise-ass as well. I am glad that you
researched things so well. Unfortunately, your explanation of the facts
fails miserably. In your previous post, your stated that the 4th fan must
have a "4-pin molex connector" in order to plug it into the AUX 12V1 socket.
Click to expand...

No other will fit.
Again, all four fans have 3-pin plugs. Again, there are no adapters
present. None. Zip. Nada. Zero. Can you understand this well enough?
Whatever the tech did, she obviously was able to do it with more knowledge
than you.
Click to expand...

I understand the "facts" perfectly. I'm only here hoping to learn how
the miracle was achieved.
I have not "ignored the plausible explanation" you offered because, given
the facts, it is NOT plausible.
Click to expand...

You did not reply, therefore you ignored it.
What I see when I look inside my PC, at the
board, at the connectors inside, all of that shows your explanation to be
wrong. Period.
Click to expand...

Perhaps it does, but I'm not able to look inside your PC, and you
haven't explained why what you see is incompatible with my suggestion.
Just because YOU can not come up with any other rational explanations does
not in any way prove that your one explanation you have is true. If you
want to believe otherwise, then by all means do so. However, believing that
you know all that there is no know about this matter (unless, of course,
you're the original designer of this board) is the high of arrogance.
Click to expand...

My best attempt at a logical explanation was to look for sources of +12v
DC on the motherboard, other than the 3 fan headers, which could be used
to power a fan. The AUX 12V1 connector is the only possibility I can
see, perhaps the original designer will point out another :-)

I suppose it's possible the tech connected the 4th fan to a 5v supply
somewhere on the board - there are normally unused headers with 5v and
ground available. That might explain why the fan was "weak" in the first
place.
 
Triffid said:
socket.

No other will fit.
Click to expand...

And I never implied that I thought anything else would fit. Of course, I
also never said it was plugged into the AUX 12V1 socket in the first place.
I understand the "facts" perfectly. I'm only here hoping to learn how
the miracle was achieved.
Click to expand...

You're the only one who has suggested a "miracle."
You did not reply, therefore you ignored it.
Click to expand...

I have replied to all of your comments, snide or otherwise, and therefore
never ignored anything you said. You, on the other hand, chose to ignore
the facts as I gave them to you. As you said, you can not see inside my PC.
I can. I am an engineer by trade (although not electrical) and can do a
decent job of examination. When I say that there is no adapter present,
there is NO adapter present.
Perhaps it does, but I'm not able to look inside your PC, and you
haven't explained why what you see is incompatible with my suggestion.
Click to expand...

Exactly! You can not see inside my PC. Bingo! And I have told you why
your suggestion is indeed incompatible: in order to plug the fan into th AUX
12V1 socket, an adapter would be needed, just like you said. But there is
NO adapter present. Therefore, this could NOT be how it was done.
My best attempt at a logical explanation was to look for sources of +12v
DC on the motherboard, other than the 3 fan headers, which could be used
to power a fan. The AUX 12V1 connector is the only possibility I can
see, perhaps the original designer will point out another :-)

I suppose it's possible the tech connected the 4th fan to a 5v supply
somewhere on the board - there are normally unused headers with 5v and
ground available. That might explain why the fan was "weak" in the first
place.
Click to expand...

Maybe THAT would be an explanation! I can not say for sure. All I do know
is that there is absolutely NO evidence of an adapter to plug into the AUX
12V1 socket. Where and what would I look for with these 5v headers? This
is the first I've heard mention of this.
 
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