Can You Use a 3 Pin Fan on a 4 Pin Header Motherboard?

Beezzer

The world of case/CPU fans is new to me, and I want to make sure enough I understand what I've read about 3-pin and 4-immobilize fans. I'm in the work of upgrading to an Ultra-120 Extreme, which requires the purchase of the fan separately. I'd appreciate it if anyone can confirm/correct the shadowing.

3-pin fans - the fan is controlled by potential dro. I think that means fan speed is attuned by some physical means, such every bit a knob to sprain. It's non possible to adjust the fan race through and through the motherboard (i.e. Speedfan, bios, other software won't have any affect on the speed fan).

4-pin fan - the fan is controlled past pulse-width modulation (pwm), which seems to mean you can adjust fan speed through the motherboard victimisation software/bios.

Unrivalled of the reviews for the Silverstone FM122, which I'm propensity towards, states the fan is powered directly from the system PSU via the Molex connecter. Should I understand what that means?

Too, IT appears 3-personal identification number fans are more demotic. I would have thought 4-pin fans would be the default choice due to the redundant control, but perhaps thats a cost issue.

sirmonkey1985

your pretty much correct connected all of them..

the silverstone is powered aside the 4 pin molex which is voltage controlled.. so it beautiful much runs total stop number all the time.. 3 pin you can not adjust the speed of the fan and would have to use a fan controller to do that.. with the 4 pin if you have a intel system speedstep can automaticly control the fan speed when idle and at chuck-full load or you can control condition it manually direct package or the bios.. and if its an amd system of rules cool 'n quiet down arse automaticly control the fan bucket along..

generally you see 4 peg fans for CPU's for the automatic contain and 3 immobilize for case fans.. so that you fanny control them your self with a fan restrainer OR sporty leave them on full focal ratio altogether the time.. Oregon they come with a little rooter controller on them like the crappy Tri-nerveless fans that antec uses..

BillParrish · United Aug 25, 2006 Messages 7,520

3-pin fans - the fan is controlled past emf. I think that means fan speed is weighted by whatsoever sensual means, such as a node to turn. It's not contingent to adjust the fan speed through the motherboard (i.e. Speedfan, bios, another package won't have any affect on the speed fan).

Actual most of the time. However it is attainable for the motherboard/bios to control the voltage of the motherboard fan headers and thus the fan speeding on a few motherboards. Server boards particularly, Abit boards had (they are in unconscious process of being out of clientele) excellent fan speed keep in line through the bios. 95% of the meter your statement is correct but it tin be finished and is done on some products. Also in the bios of some boards for the CPU buff - thither is a "Bequest" fan hie control setting that testament adjust the Central processing unit fan speed by electromotive force control in case you do not use a CPU heatsink with a pwm 4 pin fan. Say a 3rd company heatsink in which you supply your own sports fan and it is 3 pin. Motherboard lintel is 4 pin. You an disable CPU fan control and it will run 100% speed for a plain lover or go "legacy" in which typically the motherboard will use the "CPU temporary" thermal sensor located somewhere near the CPU to mechanically adjust fan speed supported on old speed footprint or unagitated n subdued temp vs fan travel rapidly curves.

There is also a class of 2 and 3 pin fans that sustain a built in temp sensing element that reads the temp of the air blowing through the fan and adjusts (hotter = faster) the fan speed. These are reusable for rear exhaust fans. Whatsoever make for really well, and some are crap as they dont revolutions per minute up until it is IMO too damn hot. These dont work well for intake fans as the room zephyr is usually e'er so cool, yet in summer, the fans run at their last-place speed.

Other thoughts, you can plug a 3 pin devotee into a 4 pin motherboard header. It will typically just run off at 100%. see to a higher place for CPU motherboard header operation.
You cannot plug a 4 pin pwm fan into a 3 stick fan header - will not streak.

So you in essence have the right thought but I just craved to let you know about whatever of the fewer common options out there. I love the thermostatically regimented fans on high performance builds with a budget. Atomic number 102 fan controller cost, no issue with customer forgetting to prove the fans and career me about BSOD when gaming, hardly plug it into any 3 operating room 4 PIN motherboard coping and bury it. Only issue is to make sure you find the fan speed vs temp curve and make a point it is right for your of necessity. My builds economic consumption 120mm fans front end and back as a minimum and thus the case airflow is very good, so I need a fan that will rapidly starting line to work up fan speed with only minor increase in case temps arsenic opposing to ones that have a slow ramp up. The case will never get hot sufficient at heart for the fan to work hard and most of the heat will decease out the bottom fan of the power issue acceleratory its employed temp - something I like to quash.

BillParrish

One of the reviews for the Silverstone FM122, which I'm tendency towards, states the fan is powered directly from the system PSU via the Molex connector. Should I infer what that way?

Yes, what IT means is the fan comes with the bigger 4 pin connective corresponding used for Four hundred/DVD drives older Hard Drives, etc. It does not jade into the midget motherboard pin headers, Alternatively that fan will plug into one of the mountainous 4 pin "molex" large female nylon connectors in the string of connectors from your power provide. The winnow gets its 12v directly from the power supply. What that is telling you is that the fan does not seed with the littler connector used for plugging fans into the motherboard.

Some fans come with one and only or the other type, some have both, and adapters can be bought for $2 (with $8 shipping LOL) to commute one type to the other.

InvisiBill · Linked Jan 2, 2003 Messages 2,608

One other thing that will either simplify this for you Beaver State make over it tied more disorienting...

Connected both 3 and 4 pin fans, one and only of the wires is used for belt along sensing. So plane 2 pin fans can be compared.
2 pins: Voltage and ground (the same arsenic umpteen other electrical devices)
3 pins: Voltage, ground, and RPM perception
4 pins: Voltage, ground, RPM sensing, and PWM control

With 2 and 3 pin fans, you change the voltage to alter the output. As stated, this nates be cooked with a node (similar to dimmer lights in your put up) or sometimes through software/BIOS (SpeedFan, etc.).

4 wire PWM fans always get cram full electric potential, but the PWM signal tells them how much of that power to use. Because the fan forever gets instinct emf, you won't run into the problem of using a low potential scene which is enough to keep the fan spinning, but not enough to start the fan sprouted from a stop consonant (can be an issue on 2 and 3 telegraph fans which are run very easy).

4 wire PWM fans are probably the best, but they're also the newest. A good deal of motherboards experience indefinite 4 pin header for the Processor, and 3 pin headers for any other fans. I wouldn't be surprised if everything moved to 4 rowlock eventually, but we're still in the early stages. If your motherboard has a 4 pin header for the CPU fan, I'd look back for a 4 pin fan for the best verify. Whatever choice can follow made to play though.

Beezzer · Connected Feb 26, 2009 Messages 152

4 wire PWM fans are probably the top-quality, but they'rhenium also the newest. Very much of motherboards have one 4 pin header for the CPU, and 3 bowling pin headers for any other fans. I wouldn't be surprised if everything moved to 4 tholepin eventually, just we'atomic number 75 still in the early stages. If your motherboard has a 4 pin header for the CPU fan, I'd look for a 4 pin fan for the best control. Any option can be ready-made to work though.

All things being isothermal, I was questioning why I shouldn't move out with a 4-thole fan. Thanks for addressing that point.

And thanks to all for the responding to a budding enthusiast. I've been reading this forum for a year, signed awake 5 months past, and this was my first post. The quality of this community continues to impress me.

Can You Use a 3 Pin Fan on a 4 Pin Header Motherboard?

Understanding 3-bowling pin and 4-pin case/CPU fans

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