is it bad to plug only the case fans into the psu's molexes?

Rswitz · 07-07-2009, 02:20 PM

i just got my new case (antec 1200), and i have an old dell power supply laying around. i wanted to see the blue led case fans light up so i plugged in the psu and the molex connectors to the fans and pushed the case power button, and nothing happened. is this bad?
ps: the old dell psu has no on/off switch, but it has a jumper setting which i never touched, and i believe the psu is around 250 watts, and i plugged it into 5 120mm blue led case fans.

HD_Monkey · 07-07-2009, 02:36 PM

Ok, we're talking just the case and the psu right?

No motherboard means no connection from psu to case power button among other things. You have to put the thing together before you get to see the fans light up.

Rswitz · 07-08-2009, 08:36 AM

yes, were only talking about the psu and case. i understand why the leds did not light up, but my question is do you think plugging in the psu to the fans via molex damaged the fans in any way? i dont care about the psu, i'm getting a new one. thanks for your help.

Rswitz · 07-08-2009, 08:44 AM

i also have one other question about psu's. does it matter which molex connectors i use for stuff? like fans, hard drives, dvd drives and such? are the Molex's labeled? or are they all universal?

**wrench97** · 07-08-2009, 04:13 PM

4 pin Molex's are universal.
Since the PSU didn't start you would not have damaged the fans.

07-07-2009, 02:20 PM	#1 (permalink)
Rswitz Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 15 OS: mac osx	is it bad to plug only the case fans into the psu's molexes? i just got my new case (antec 1200), and i have an old dell power supply laying around. i wanted to see the blue led case fans light up so i plugged in the psu and the molex connectors to the fans and pushed the case power button, and nothing happened. is this bad? ps: the old dell psu has no on/off switch, but it has a jumper setting which i never touched, and i believe the psu is around 250 watts, and i plugged it into 5 120mm blue led case fans.

07-07-2009, 02:36 PM	#2 (permalink)
HD_Monkey Tech Hardware Team Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 367 OS: XP x64 SP2 My System	Re: is it bad to plug only the case fans into the psu's molexes? Ok, we're talking just the case and the psu right? No motherboard means no connection from psu to case power button among other things. You have to put the thing together before you get to see the fans light up. __________________

07-08-2009, 08:36 AM	#3 (permalink)
Rswitz Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 15 OS: mac osx	Re: is it bad to plug only the case fans into the psu's molexes? yes, were only talking about the psu and case. i understand why the leds did not light up, but my question is do you think plugging in the psu to the fans via molex damaged the fans in any way? i dont care about the psu, i'm getting a new one. thanks for your help.

07-08-2009, 08:44 AM	#4 (permalink)
Rswitz Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 15 OS: mac osx	Re: is it bad to plug only the case fans into the psu's molexes? i also have one other question about psu's. does it matter which molex connectors i use for stuff? like fans, hard drives, dvd drives and such? are the Molex's labeled? or are they all universal?

07-08-2009, 04:13 PM	#5 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,550 OS: Win7	Re: is it bad to plug only the case fans into the psu's molexes? 4 pin Molex's are universal. Since the PSU didn't start you would not have damaged the fans. __________________ Power Supply and Selection