Molex splitter to add a fan - dangerous?

[vikramk]

Hi,

I have an old PC (P4 1.7, 845GL MB, 1GB RAM, 2 optical drives and 2 hard drives). The PC is about 4-5 years old, and I bought it assembled, so I really don't know the power supply wattage (i'm assuming 200-250 W) nor can I see any rating on the power supply without disassembling the PC.

While installing the second hard drive, I ran out of molex connectors and had to disconnect the case fan to connect it. While the PC seems to be running OK for the moment, I would like to re-attach the case fan. Would it be dangerous to attach a splitter to one of the existing molex connectors to run the case fan? If not, should I attach it to a optical drive connector or to a hard drive connector?

Vikram

[Lucky_star]

you are having 2 optical drives and 2 hard drives. And as per your saying the power is 250W. Then its better not to connect any more things to it as its already overloaded. If its a 350-400W, then no problem would be there...

[spitfire]

Originally Posted by vikramk

Hi,

I have an old PC (P4 1.7, 845GL MB, 1GB RAM, 2 optical drives and 2 hard drives). The PC is about 4-5 years old, and I bought it assembled, so I really don't know the power supply wattage (i'm assuming 200-250 W) nor can I see any rating on the power supply without disassembling the PC.

While installing the second hard drive, I ran out of molex connectors and had to disconnect the case fan to connect it. While the PC seems to be running OK for the moment, I would like to re-attach the case fan. Would it be dangerous to attach a splitter to one of the existing molex connectors to run the case fan? If not, should I attach it to a optical drive connector or to a hard drive connector?

Vikram

Your computer is abt 4 years old..so It should have at least 300 watts power supply as every cabinet came with at least 300 watts power supply then (If you are not that unlucky )
And those case fans hardly consumes abt 5 watts of power so you can surely add that with the help of a splitter. But dont piggy back it a hdd..rather use it with a Optical drive moles connection.

I dont think you will face any problem !

[vikramk]

Thanks lucky star and spitfire.

Since opinions were divided, I decided to take out the power supply and check (and clean the years of accumulated muck as well). I found out that the power supply was a VIP 150W!!! (Guess the assembler really stiffed me five years back). In any case, decided not to hook up one optical drive (was kind of erratic anyway) and hook up the case fan instead.

The funny thing is that I have been running it like this for the last six months without any problem including doing stuff like video conversions and editing. It's only because I have got a new PC and am going to give this away to my niece that I decided to hook up the fan. I guess it's lucky I'm not a gamer and didn't decide to try a graphics card.

Thanks once again

[sidewinder]

Originally Posted by vikramk

Thanks lucky star and spitfire.

Since opinions were divided, I decided to take out the power supply and check (and clean the years of accumulated muck as well). I found out that the power supply was a VIP 150W!!! (Guess the assembler really stiffed me five years back). In any case, decided not to hook up one optical drive (was kind of erratic anyway) and hook up the case fan instead.

The funny thing is that I have been running it like this for the last six months without any problem including doing stuff like video conversions and editing. It's only because I have got a new PC and am going to give this away to my niece that I decided to hook up the fan. I guess it's lucky I'm not a gamer and didn't decide to try a graphics card.

Thanks once again

P4 on a 150 watts PSU..that too with two ODD ?????????????????????????????????????????????????? ?????????????????????????????????????????????????

Man you are very veru lucky........your assembler really duped you I think...
If it was a 250 watts PSU..I wouldnt mind...but 150 watts!!!!! you are very lucky in deed !