Corsair Commander Pro.

[FireFox]

Hello everyone.

To make this short, last week i ordered a Corsair Obsidian 1000D which come with an integrated Corsair Commander Pro to which i can plug 6 fans, the case is pretty big and i can installed up to 13 fans i was thinking to use 6 fan splitters with the Commander Pro so i can plug 12 fans to it, now my question is: is it safe to plug 12 fans to a Commander Pro and is there the risk that maybe it could melt?

 

[oxrufiioxo]

I think you can as long as you don't use any of the other headers RGB or USB 2.0.

Either way I doubt it would melt unless you're using some crazy high amperage fans worst case I would imagine is that they just run at lower speeds

It can handle 1 amp per fan header if you need an exact rating but a max of 4.5a so .37 per fan if using 12.

 

[FireFox]

I think you can as long as you don't use any of the other headers RGB or USB 2.0.

Either way I doubt it would melt unless you're using some crazy high amperage fans worst case I would imagine is that they just run at lower speeds

It can handle 1 amp per fan header if you need an exact rating.

I need to connect 2 x Lighting Node to the USB ports, the fans i have are rated 0.3A so i assume that connecting 2 fans to one fan header will use just 0.6A?

 

[oxrufiioxo]

I think as long as you stay under 4.5A total for the fan headers you'll be fine. .3 is only 3.6A for 12 fans.

I've connected 10 ML 120mm to one without issues but they only use about .225A per fan..... I remember looking this up a couple years ago and multiple people got 12 fans working no problem as long as you stay under 4.5A

 

[FireFox]

I think as long as you stay under 4.5A total for the fan headers you'll be fine. .3 is only 3.6A for 12 fans.

I've connected 10 ML 120mm to one without issues but they only use about .225A per fan..... I remember looking this up a couple years ago and multiple people got 12 fans working no problem as long as you stay under 4.5A

It makes sense to me.

Considering that the Lightning Node has it's own power source no voltage/amperage should be added when connecting it to the Commander Pro.

 

[Bill_Bright]

Just because your system supports 12 fans, that does not mean it needs 12 fans or that you should use 12 fans.

I don't like fan noise. Even the quietest fans from the best makers make noise. And even the smoothest bearings in the best motors create some vibration and bearing noise. And metal "cavernous" boxes are great at taking those noises and vibrations and reverberating and amplifying that noise throughout the box to make the noise even more pronounced.

Multiply that by 12 and you have a little jet engine "droning" and drowning out your desired music or video/movie/game soundtracks. Yes, I hate fan noise.

You absolutely want to ensure adequate cooling with a nice flow of cool air flowing through the case. As long as you do that, adding more fans does NOT improve performance, does NOT improve system stability, and does NOT increase the lifespan of the components. That is, a CPU running at 25°C vs 50°C gives you nothing but bragging rights.

According to the specs of that case, it supports 3 x 140mm case fans configured to pull in just a little more in front than exhausting out the back to create a very small bit of positive or over pressure. I would start with that and then monitor my temps. If that setup could not keep the components within comfortably within their normal operating temperature range, then I would slowly add more fans until they do - keeping that slight positive pressure.

Do remember, even the best bearings and lubricant in the best fan motors are still subject to friction and thus do generate some heat. And of course, fans require power to turn so the more fans you have, the more your PSU has to work and thus, the more heat the PSU generates too. That could cause the PSU's fan to ramp up in speed and create even more fan noise. And I really hate fan noise.

Yes, having 8 RGB fans in front all lit up with pretty lights looks neat and fancy, but does fancy lighting improve gaming performance? Nope. Do you sit and gaze in wonder at your case all day, or do you tend to pay attention to what's happening on your monitor(s)?

I do understand the desire of some to have fancy and flash cases. Aesthetics are important too. But so is practicality and function. And the function of a case is to protect and cool the innards and then to sit discreetly and discretely off to the side and not become a distraction. Once the newness and novelty wears off, a case is just a case with an important practical job to do.

Now for sure, my comments about fancy lighting is purely based on my own biased opinions and we are all entitled to our own in that regards. But my comments about noise, friction, heat, and power consumption are based on facts. And we are not entitled to our own set of facts. All else being equal, more fans means more fan noise. Did I mention I can't stand fan noise?

 

[FireFox]

You absolutely want to ensure adequate cooling with a nice flow of cool air flowing through the case. As long as you do that, adding more fans does NOT improve performance, does NOT improve system stability, and does NOT increase the lifespan of the components.

I am pretty aware of those points you mentioned.

According to the specs of that case, it supports 3 x 140mm case fans configured to pull in just a little more in front than exhausting out the back to create a very small bit of positive or over pressure. I would start with that and then monitor my temps.

The fans that i already have are 12mm, btw i am installing 3 top fans to the 360 Aio then one or 2 are rear and in the front i was planning to install 6 instead 8, i am just trying to have neutral airflow, maybe i am doing all wrong but if so i will correct it.

As you can see in the pic it wouldn't makes sense to install the last 2

 

[Bill_Bright]

i am just trying to have neutral airflow, maybe i am doing all wrong but if so i will correct it.

No, you don't want neutral - you want slight positive or over pressure. That is, you want slightly more incoming air than outgoing. This forces the incoming air through your [hopefully] "filtered" intakes.

With neutral, and especially with negative or under pressure, you end up with a vacuum inside the case. That is bad because the vacuum will naturally try to fill or balance itself out and it will do that by sucking in outside air (and all the dust and crud floating in that air) through every crack, crevice and unused connector/port.

Now I keep saying "slight" because if too much pressure, it will hinder the desired "flow" and the heated air will compress inside the case and get even hotter.

Even if you don't have filters on your case, you still don't want dusty air being pulled in through all your data ports. So "slight" positive pressure is what you need to shoot for.

 

[FireFox]

No, you don't want neutral - you want slight positive or over pressure. That is, you want slightly more incoming air than outgoing. This forces the incoming air through your [hopefully] "filtered" intakes.

With neutral, and especially with negative or under pressure, you end up with a vacuum inside the case. That is bad because the vacuum will naturally try to fill or balance itself out and it will do that by sucking in outside air (and all the dust and crud floating in that air) through every crack, crevice and unused connector/port.

Now I keep saying "slight" because if too much pressure, it will hinder the desired "flow" and the heated air will compress inside the case and get even hotter.

Even if you don't have filters on your case, you still don't want dusty air being pulled in through all your data ports. So "slight" positive pressure is what you need to shoot for.

Then, because as i said before i have 12mm fans how many fans and where/how should i install them?
P.s the case has dust filters

 

[Bill_Bright]

because as i said before i have 12mm fans how many fans and where/how should i install them?

12cm (120mm) fans need to follow the same intake/exhaust rules to create a slight over pressure as larger (140mm or larger fans). Typically you go for front intake and rear exhaust. This is because PSU fans are already blowing out the back. If using bottom fans, they typically are intake. Top fans are exhaust however if the top fans are used with radiators, the are often intakes.

If your case supports 140mm fan, I recommend you replace your 120s with them. This is because 120mm fans typically have to spin faster to move the same amount of air as 140mm fans. And the faster fans spin, the more noise they make. Pretty sure I mentioned I hate fan noise.

While these are general rules, they are not fixed in stone. They are a starting place. If have your tops running as intakes over your radiators, and you think your CPU should be running cooler, turn the fans over and see what happens. If temps improve, great. If they get worse, turn them back over. It can often take several days of experimenting with fan placement and orientation to get the best cooling. For that reason, I would not worry too much about cable management with your fans until you have decided on a final configuration.

I cannot really tell you how many because there are too many variables. The only wrong number is that which does not provide enough cool air flowing through the case.

 

[FireFox]

I don't like fan noise. Even the quietest fans from the best makers make noise.

I can assure you that it is quite silent to a point that sometimes i check if the fans are spinning i'am not used to having such a quiet Build

 

[oxrufiioxo]

I can assure you that it is quite silent to a point that sometimes i check if the fans are spinning i'am not used to having such a quiet Build

View attachment 180236

I do the same thing.... and then I look over and remember they are off I love my comander pro.

 

[Aquinus]

Hello everyone.

To make this short, last week i ordered a Corsair Obsidian 1000D which come with an integrated Corsair Commander Pro to which i can plug 6 fans, the case is pretty big and i can installed up to 13 fans i was thinking to use 6 fan splitters with the Commander Pro so i can plug 12 fans to it, now my question is: is it safe to plug 12 fans to a Commander Pro and is there the risk that maybe it could melt?

That's not going to work if the fans are Corsair 4-pin PWM fans. Honestly, if I needed to control another 6 fans and I didn't have the motherboard headers, I'd just get a second Commander Pro. The thing with the Commander Pro is that's the best way to add more ML series fans, which are (in my opinion,) pretty good.

So, bottom line: No, I would not split them even if the draw is under 1A @ 5v. Don't half-ass the job and you'll be glad that you didn't.

 

[FireFox]

I'd just get a second Commander Pro

That's what i did, installed it yesterday, better safe than sorry.

 

[Aquinus]

That's what i did, installed it yesterday, better safe than sorry.

I know that you'll be glad that you did. Splitters can introduce all kinds of weird behavior issues with fans. It's best just to go with something that can discreetly control 4-pin fans.