Are you planning to build a gaming PC or upgrade your existing one? One of the most important components you need to consider is the motherboard. It’s the backbone of your computer and determines the performance, compatibility, and expandability of your system. One popular choice among gamers and enthusiasts is the MSI B450 Tomahawk Max.
It’s a mid-range ATX motherboard that offers a balance of features and price. But how many fan slots does it have? Let’s find out.
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Firstly, let’s define what fan slots are. They are the physical connectors on the motherboard that allow you to plug in case fans or other cooling devices.
The more fan slots you have, the more flexibility you have in configuring your cooling setup. You can either use them to increase airflow, decrease noise, or both.
Now, let’s get back to the B450 Tomahawk Max. This motherboard has a total of six fan connectors spread across different locations on the board. Here’s a breakdown of each slot:
1. CPU Fan Header – This slot is located near the top-left corner of the board and is intended for connecting a CPU cooler fan. It supports both 3-pin DC and 4-pin PWM fans.
2. Pump Fan Header – This slot is also located near the top-left corner but below the CPU Fan header.
It’s designed for high-current pumps that require more power than standard fans. You can also use it for regular fans if needed.
3-4 System Fan Headers – These two slots are located near the bottom-right corner of the board and are meant for connecting case fans or other system-level cooling devices such as VRM heatsinks or chipset coolers. They support both 3-pin DC and 4-pin PWM fans.
5-6 Optional Fan Headers – These two slots are located near the middle-right section of the board and are labeled as JRGB1/JRAINBOW1 and JRGB2/JRAINBOW2. They are optional and can be used for connecting additional case fans or RGB LED strips. However, they only support 4-pin PWM fans and not 3-pin DC fans.
In addition to the fan slots, the B450 Tomahawk Max also has several other features related to cooling. It has a large heatsink on the VRM area that helps dissipate heat generated by the CPU power delivery circuit. It also has a dedicated water pump header for liquid cooling setups, as well as an extended heatsink design that covers the M.2 slot to prevent overheating of NVMe SSDs.
Overall, the B450 Tomahawk Max offers a good number of fan slots for most gaming and enthusiast builds. You can easily connect up to six fans or cooling devices without needing any additional splitters or adapters. Furthermore, the board’s BIOS and software utilities allow you to control and monitor each fan’s speed and temperature individually, giving you full control over your system’s cooling performance.
In conclusion, if you’re looking for a reliable and feature-rich motherboard with ample fan slots, the MSI B450 Tomahawk Max is definitely worth considering. Its six fan connectors, along with its other cooling-related features, make it a solid choice for building a high-performance gaming PC or workstation.
