Do I have to turn the power off before connecting a fan to the motherboard?

raz · Post by **raz** » Fri Sep 20, 2002 12:52 pm

I have a bunch of 80mm fans and want to find the quietest. Can I just plug them into one of the m/b headers one at a time without powering off?

blade · Post by **blade** » Fri Sep 20, 2002 12:57 pm

No, do power off. If you try it with the power on your system will probably lock up and can possibly cause some damage. Safest way is to just power off, more trouble yes, but safer.

Executioner · Post by **Executioner** » Fri Sep 20, 2002 1:03 pm

If you don't believe Blade, ask EvilHorace. I think he had mobo problems after attemping this.

raz · Post by **raz** » Fri Sep 20, 2002 1:25 pm

Ok. Thanks guys.

fearfox · Post by **fearfox** » Fri Sep 20, 2002 1:54 pm

oh yes do power off. I myself have been shocked twice once by stupidity and second time it was the power surge at work.

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Fri Sep 20, 2002 2:24 pm

NEVER swap plugs in a computer while it's running. It's "fairly" safe to swap a fan connected to a hard drive plug, but I wouldn't even do that. As you've noticed molex pins can wiggle a lot and it's possible you could briefly short out a pair of wires while plugging the connector in.

wvjohn · Post by **wvjohn** » Fri Sep 20, 2002 2:34 pm

wow, you guys aren't any fun at all - where's the challenge if you're not hot swapping components?
what's really fun is when you try and switch ram when you've forgotten to completely power off unplug etc. - that just smells terrible!

slow and careful is the softer easier way

TruckStuff · Post by **TruckStuff** » Fri Sep 20, 2002 10:42 pm

I swap fans with the system on all the time and haven't had a problem yet. I wouldn't swap any other power sources, but to each his own, I suppose.

matt719 · Post by **matt719** » Fri Sep 20, 2002 10:49 pm

ya same here, i have 2 fans that are on the side panel and to take the side panel off you need to unplug them but i'm using 3 to 4 pin connectors so it's not going right into the motherboard. I haven't had a problem.

PreDatoR · Post by **PreDatoR** » Fri Sep 20, 2002 10:59 pm

I've swapped fans and such with it running both on the motherboard and 4 pin molex's and never had a problem... I did get shocked once when i was hooking up a 300 Watt car amp to my PSU lol u wanna talk about a sub have a 12" Kicker solobarik in a bandpass box sitting under your desk... hehe

Hipnotic_Tranz · Post by **Hipnotic_Tranz** » Sat Sep 21, 2002 3:39 pm

I've never worried about fans personally. But anything else I power down.

Schwartz · Post by **Schwartz** » Sun Sep 22, 2002 12:16 pm

I remeber the time I plugged 2 delta black labels into a Y connector and then plugged it into my mobo CPU fan header when it was on, the smoke was thick... Just kidding

But I do not power down to plug in or unplug a fan. Not that I do that thing often. My fans generally work fine after I place them and I have no need to mess around with them.