Molex 4 Pin to 3 Pin Fan Connector

wrenaudrey · Mar 6, 2012 278 0 ten,780 0

I understand that a fan with a molex power connector volition arrive run @ 12v and molex is in my opinion the easiest way to power upward fans.

But what about 3pins-What voltage are they able to run at? Can yous adjust the speed or the voltage?
And im enlightened that some motherboards come with several (2-four+ headers) in the board it cocky, but what if yous had more fans than your mobo can exist plugged into, where would you plug information technology in then?

And 4pins- What voltage are they able to run at? Im pretty sure you tin conform the speed on these but where?
and once more, where would y'all plug in these 4pin fans autonomously from the CPU cooler pin (ofcourse), equally im aware that not many or even none have 4pin headers autonomously from the cpu libation on mobos
Is it ideal to use 4pin fans as case fans?

Last affair, can you guys send me link to some fans that yous retrieve are expert? Preferably, in that location has to exist a residuum between operation and quietness.

Cheers all in advanced

nna2

molex can run at 12V or 5V

3 pin will run at 12V

iv pin will run at 12V, simply the speed can be adapted

wrenaudrey · Mar 6, 2012 278 0 10,780 0

Where would you plug in the 3pins and 4pins autonomously from the mobo though?

And links to good fans please

nna2 · Jul 5, 2011 2,032 0 20,160 105

yous have a laptop, it dosen't matter
just buy a cooling pad, or somthing else external to provide extra cool air to your laptop

Paperdoc · Oct 19, 2006 x,100 682 67,240 2,340

Start with: all example fans are designed to run at 12 VDC for total speed, but will run slower under the right weather. Details below.

A 4-pin Molex connector from the PSU will supply 12 VDC to the fan at all times over ii wires, so information technology always runs at total speed. Such a system has no way for the fan's speed to be sent to the mobo.

One IMPORTANT annotation: it is appropriate to plug your CPU libation fan into the CPU_FAN port of your mobo, and allow the mobo's automatic systems control the CPU fan speed. This ensures that the CPU cooling fan (bold it's working properly) volition run fast enough to keep the CPU at the right temperature, but not too fast so information technology makes more noise than necessary. It also allows the mobo to check that the fan is working - it will shut the system downwards fast if that fan suddenly stops. But because of that checking feature, if you opt to run your CPU fan direct from a Molex PSU connector at full speed, you lot must tell your mobo'south BIOS NOT to scout that fan, or information technology will get very upset that there is no fan speed signal to watch.

Exercise Not plug into the mobo CPU_FAN connector ANY other fan. If you lot don't plug the CPU fan in there, leave that fan port unused.

A 3-pin fan plugs into EITHER a 3-pivot or a 4-pin fan port on the mobo. Fan connectors and the mating mobo ports have been designed, physically and electrically, so that they always will fit together with reasonable electrical connections, but the details of fan speed control are not always the aforementioned. If you lot plug a 3-pin fan into a 3-pin fan port of the mobo and allow the mobo's automatic systems to control the fan speed, here's what happens. The fan's power is on the Black (Ground) and Ruby (+12 VDC) wires, and the mobo lowers the voltage on the Ruby wire to reduce fan speed equally needed. The Yellow wire carries a pulse train (ii pulses per revolution) signal generated in the fan motor back to the mobo for display and monitoring. This is how the mobo can warn you if the fan stops. The footing for speed control is what's chosen a feedback loop. In that system, the result of the loop'south control activity (a measured actual temperature) is fed back into the mobo controller and compared to the target. As the actual temp changes from the target, the control loop changes its output (the voltage supply to the fan) to bring information technology back to target. Note that the actual measured fan speed is NOT used to command the fan speed - that control is based only on measured temperature. For the CPU, the bodily temperature measurement is done with a sensor built into the CPU chip itself and fed to the mobo on one of the CPU's pins. For the Example Fans, the mobo has its own temp sensor congenital in and uses that to mensurate the actual inside-the-case temp.

A 4-pivot fan plugged into a 4-pivot fan mobo port works very similarly, but the details of how the fan speed is controlled are different, and the wire color codes are unlike, besides. In this organization, the Ground and +12 VDC power supply lines and the speed pulse return line are all at that place still, simply there'south a quaternary line carrying the PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) point. The +12VDC supply line in this organization is always at that full voltage (does not get reduced by the controller). Inside the fan motor is a small chip that uses the PWM bespeak to command how much of the fourth dimension the +12 VDC supply is actually fed to the motor, effectively reducing the average current flowing through the motor, and thus its speed.

Now, what most "mis-matched" fans and ports? As I said, they will piece of work because of the backwards compatibility designs. BUT ... If y'all plug a 3-pin fan into a 4-pin port, that fan volition receive the get-go three signals, and non the PWM signal it can't utilize, anyway. However, the +VDC line is always at +12 VDC on a standard four-pin port, so the fan always runs at total speed. To handle this situation, SOME mobo makers allow you in BIOS to change the way of operation for the fan controller for that port, and make information technology behave like a standard three-pin port with varying +VDC supply, accomplishing fan speed control. Some mobos even are smart enough to figure this situation all by themselves and make that mode aligning for you.

At present the other style - a four-pivot fan plugged into a iii-pin port. The fan will receive the first 3 signals, but no PWM betoken to use. So information technology will non do anything to modify the menstruation of current from the supply through the motor. Only since this is a standard 3-pin port, the +VDC line is varying, not fixed at +12 VDC, so the fan speed Tin be controlled past the mobo.

To consummate the picture show, SOME mobos have a port labelled "PWR_FAN", and SOME PSU'south have a set of wires coming out of them the patently fit onto a standard 3-pin fan port. If yous take both of these, you plug ane into the other. All it really does is let the mobo to receive the PSU fan's speed signal and monitor / display information technology for you. This mobo port does NOT control the PSU fan'due south speed. IF that fan's speed is under command, that is entirely washed inside the PSU itself. At present, if yous do not accept such a bespeak wire set coming out of your PSU, you just don't plug annihilation into that mobo port. EXCEPT ... some mobos manifestly do have the Footing and +12 VDC signals on that port so it CAN be used to ability a 3-pin or 4-pin fan, only it will not have any speed control - it volition run at full speed at all times.

Also many fans to connect, and not enough mobo ports? Well, you tin can do a few things to deal with this. First, it appears that nigh mobo fan ports tin supply enough current to ability Two fans per port, only non more than. The limit is mainly in the heavy momentary electric current every bit the fans start upwards from stopped. If you are going to strip fan wires and solder them together to accomplish this, note this. For iii-pivot fans you should connect together the two Blackness (Ground) wires, and and so the two Red (+VDC) wires. Simply leave only Ane Yellow (speed pulse) wire continued to the connector - leave the second fan's Yellowish wire disconnected. Yous should not feed ii pulse train signals into one fan port - the mobo pulse counting organisation volition get totally dislocated. If y'all're doing this with 4-pivot fans, follow the same rule, plus tie together the ii PWM point lines - 2 motors can share use of that signal. Check the spider web for color coding on iv-pivot fans.

j4960s

A very practiced detailed clarification for molex cables

boenklon2 · Jun 17, 2014 28 0 10,540 1

Offset with: all case fans are deigned to run at 12 VDC for full speed, just will run slower nether the right conditions. Details below.

A iv-pivot Molex connector from the PSU will supply 12 VDC to the fan at all times over 2 wires, then it always runs at full speed. Such a system has no way for the fan's speed to be sent to the mobo.

One Of import note: it is advisable to plug your CPU cooler fan into the CPU
_FAN port of your mobo, and let the mobo'south automatic systems command the CPU fan speed. This ensures that the CPU cooling fan (assuming it's working properly) volition run fast plenty to keep the CPU at the right temperature, but not too fast so information technology makes more noise than necessary. It too allows the mobo to check that the fan is working - it volition shut the system downwards fast if that fan of a sudden stops.But because of that checking feature, if yous opt to run your CPU fan straight from a Molex PSU connector at full speed, yous must tell your mobo's BIOS NOT to watch that fan, or it will get very upset that in that location is no fan speed indicate to lookout man.

Do Not plug into the mobo CPU_FAN connector Whatever other fan. If yous don't plug the CPU fan in in that location, leave that fan port unused.

A 3-pin fan plugs into EITHER a 3-pin or a four-pin fan port on the mobo. Fan connectors and the mating mobo ports take been designed, physically and electrically, so that they always will fit together with reasonable electrical connections, but the details of fan speed command are not always the same. If you plug a 3-pin fan into a 3-pin fan port of the mobo and permit the mobo'south automated systems to command the fan speed, here'due south what happens. The fan's power is on the Black (Basis) and Carmine (+12 VDC) wires, and the mobo lowers the voltage on the Red wire to reduce fan speed every bit needed. The Yellow wire carries a pulse train (ii pulses per revolution) signal generated in the fan motor back to the mobo for display and monitoring. This is how the mobo can warn you if the fan stops. The basis for speed control is what'due south chosen a feedback loop. In that organization, the consequence of the loop's control action (a measured actual temperature) is fed back into the mobo controller and compared to the target. As the actual temp changes from the target, the control loop changes its output (the voltage supply to the fan) to bring information technology back to target. Note that the bodily measured fan speed is Not used to command the fan speed - that control is based only on measured temperature. For the CPU, the bodily temperature measurement is washed with a sensor built into the CPU fleck itself and fed to the mobo on one of the CPU's pins. For the Case Fans, the mobo has its own temp sensor built in and uses that to measure the bodily inside-the-instance temp.

A 4-pin fan plugged into a 4-pivot fan mobo port works very similarly, but the details of how the fan speed is controlled are different, and the wire color codes are different, also. In this system, the Ground and +12 VDC ability supply lines and the speed pulse return line are all there however, but there'south a quaternary line carrying the PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) point. The +12VDC supply line in this system is always at that total voltage (does not get reduced by the controller). Inside the fan motor is a modest scrap that uses the PWM signal to control how much of the fourth dimension the +12 VDC supply is actually fed to the motor, effectively reducing the average current flowing through the motor, and thus its speed.

Now, what about "mis-matched" fans and ports? As I said, they will piece of work because of the backwards compatibility designs. Merely ... If yous plug a 3-pin fan into a iv-pin port, that fan will receive the get-go 3 signals, and not the PWM signal it tin't use, anyway. Even so, the +VDC line is always at +12 VDC on a standard 4-pin port, so the fan always runs at total speed. To handle this situation, SOME mobo makers let you in BIOS to modify the mode of operation for the fan controller for that port, and make it behave similar a standard 3-pin port with varying +VDC supply, accomplishing fan speed control. Some mobos even are smart enough to effigy this situation all by themselves and make that mode adjustment for yous.

Now the other style - a 4-pin fan plugged into a three-pin port. The fan will receive the offset three signals, simply no PWM signal to use. So it will non exercise annihilation to alter the flow of current from the supply through the motor. Simply since this is a standard 3-pin port, the +VDC line is varying, not fixed at +12 VDC, so the fan speed Tin be controlled by the mobo.

To complete the picture show, SOME mobos accept a port labelled "PWR_FAN", and SOME PSU's accept a prepare of wires coming out of them the obviously fit onto a standard iii-pivot fan port. If you lot take both of these, you lot plug i into the other. All it really does is let the mobo to receive the PSU fan'southward speed signal and monitor / display it for yous. This mobo port does Non control the PSU fan'southward speed. IF that fan's speed is under command, that is entirely washed inside the PSU itself. Now, if you practice not have such a signal wire set up coming out of your PSU, you simply don't plug anything into that mobo port. EXCEPT ... some mobos manifestly do have the Ground and +12 VDC signals on that port so it CAN be used to power a 3-pivot or 4-pin fan, merely it volition not take any speed control - it volition run at full speed at all times.

Too many fans to connect, and non enough mobo ports? Well, you can exercise a few things to deal with this. Offset, it appears that well-nigh mobo fan ports can supply enough current to power TWO fans per port, but not more. The limit is mainly in the heavy momentary current as the fans get-go up from stopped. If you are going to strip fan wires and solder them together to reach this, notation this. For 3-pin fans you should connect together the two Blackness (Footing) wires, and then the 2 Red (+VDC) wires. But leave only I Yellow (speed pulse) wire connected to the connector - go out the second fan's Yellow wire disconnected. You should non feed two pulse train signals into 1 fan port - the mobo pulse counting organization will get totally confused. If you're doing this with 4-pin fans, follow the aforementioned rule, plus tie together the two PWM signal lines - ii motors can share use of that betoken. Check the spider web for color coding on 4-pin fans.

dude,,awesome explanation.
been wondering over the net looking for this explanation.
and i found it in 2012 comment..lol

thank you

Erdogan

First with: all example fans are deigned to run at 12 VDC for full speed, but will run slower under the right conditions. Details below.

A four-pivot Molex connector from the PSU will supply 12 VDC to the fan at all times over 2 wires, then it always runs at full speed. Such a system has no fashion for the fan's speed to be sent to the mobo.

Ane IMPORTANT note: it is advisable to plug your CPU cooler fan into the CPU
_FAN port of your mobo, and let the mobo's automatic systems control the CPU fan speed. This ensures that the CPU cooling fan (bold it's working properly) will run fast enough to go on the CPU at the right temperature, only not too fast so it makes more dissonance than necessary. Information technology also allows the mobo to check that the fan is working - it will shut the system downwardly fast if that fan of a sudden stops.But because of that checking feature, if you lot opt to run your CPU fan straight from a Molex PSU connector at total speed, you lot must tell your mobo's BIOS NOT to watch that fan, or it will get very upset that there is no fan speed signal to sentry.

Do Non plug into the mobo CPU_FAN connector Whatever other fan. If y'all don't plug the CPU fan in there, leave that fan port unused.

A three-pin fan plugs into EITHER a three-pivot or a iv-pin fan port on the mobo. Fan connectors and the mating mobo ports take been designed, physically and electrically, and so that they always will fit together with reasonable electric connections, but the details of fan speed control are non always the same. If you lot plug a 3-pivot fan into a 3-pin fan port of the mobo and allow the mobo's automated systems to control the fan speed, here's what happens. The fan's power is on the Black (Footing) and Red (+12 VDC) wires, and the mobo lowers the voltage on the Scarlet wire to reduce fan speed as needed. The Yellow wire carries a pulse train (2 pulses per revolution) signal generated in the fan motor back to the mobo for display and monitoring. This is how the mobo can warn you if the fan stops. The footing for speed control is what's called a feedback loop. In that system, the result of the loop's control action (a measured actual temperature) is fed back into the mobo controller and compared to the target. As the bodily temp changes from the target, the control loop changes its output (the voltage supply to the fan) to bring it back to target. Annotation that the actual measured fan speed is Not used to control the fan speed - that control is based but on measured temperature. For the CPU, the actual temperature measurement is done with a sensor built into the CPU chip itself and fed to the mobo on one of the CPU's pins. For the Case Fans, the mobo has its own temp sensor built in and uses that to measure out the actual inside-the-case temp.

A four-pin fan plugged into a four-pin fan mobo port works very similarly, just the details of how the fan speed is controlled are different, and the wire color codes are different, also. In this system, the Ground and +12 VDC power supply lines and the speed pulse return line are all in that location still, but there's a 4th line carrying the PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) indicate. The +12VDC supply line in this system is always at that full voltage (does non get reduced by the controller). Inside the fan motor is a small fleck that uses the PWM signal to control how much of the time the +12 VDC supply is actually fed to the motor, effectively reducing the average current flowing through the motor, and thus its speed.

Now, what about "mis-matched" fans and ports? As I said, they will work considering of the backwards compatibility designs. BUT ... If y'all plug a 3-pivot fan into a 4-pin port, that fan will receive the first iii signals, and not the PWM signal it can't employ, anyhow. However, the +VDC line is e'er at +12 VDC on a standard 4-pin port, so the fan always runs at full speed. To handle this state of affairs, SOME mobo makers allow y'all in BIOS to alter the style of operation for the fan controller for that port, and make it bear like a standard iii-pivot port with varying +VDC supply, accomplishing fan speed command. Some mobos even are smart enough to figure this situation all by themselves and make that mode adjustment for y'all.

Now the other way - a 4-pin fan plugged into a 3-pin port. The fan volition receive the first three signals, just no PWM betoken to use. So it volition non practice anything to modify the menstruation of electric current from the supply through the motor. Only since this is a standard iii-pin port, the +VDC line is varying, non fixed at +12 VDC, then the fan speed Can be controlled by the mobo.

To complete the flick, SOME mobos accept a port labelled "PWR_FAN", and SOME PSU's accept a set of wires coming out of them the obviously fit onto a standard iii-pin fan port. If you have both of these, you plug one into the other. All it actually does is permit the mobo to receive the PSU fan'southward speed signal and monitor / display it for you. This mobo port does NOT control the PSU fan's speed. IF that fan's speed is under control, that is entirely done inside the PSU itself. Now, if you do not have such a signal wire prepare coming out of your PSU, you just don't plug anything into that mobo port. EXCEPT ... some mobos apparently exercise accept the Ground and +12 VDC signals on that port so it Tin be used to ability a 3-pivot or 4-pin fan, but it will not accept any speed control - it volition run at full speed at all times.

Too many fans to connect, and not enough mobo ports? Well, yous can do a few things to deal with this. Beginning, information technology appears that virtually mobo fan ports tin can supply enough current to power 2 fans per port, just not more than. The limit is mainly in the heavy momentary current every bit the fans beginning up from stopped. If yous are going to strip fan wires and solder them together to accomplish this, annotation this. For 3-pin fans you should connect together the two Blackness (Ground) wires, then the 2 Red (+VDC) wires. Simply exit only ONE Xanthous (speed pulse) wire connected to the connector - leave the second fan's Yellow wire disconnected. You should non feed two pulse railroad train signals into one fan port - the mobo pulse counting system will get totally confused. If y'all're doing this with 4-pin fans, follow the same rule, plus tie together the two PWM signal lines - ii motors tin share apply of that signal. Cheque the web for colour coding on 4-pivot fans.

Wow! I practise non think I can find such a comprehensive explanation somewhere else on the web. Information technology'southward March 2015 and you lot explained everything I demand. Thank you lot so much!

fredsone · Apr 14, 2015 16 0 4,510 0

Many thanks to Paperdoc for providing such a consummate answer.

DemShadow

All fans come with a label that states their specs. For example: (12V=DC i.34A) If you have an older computer similar I do (Dell Optiplex GX270) then yous have a floppy bulldoze. I personally have removed that drive because it'southward a waste material of space and with information technology gone i have mounted a blower fan which pulls cool air through the floppy port hole to add extra cooling to all internals. If your pc is running a little warm information technology is non a bad thought to run a 4 pin Molex to three pivot or 4 pin fan adapter. Doing and then (similar Paperdoc explained) volition NEVER run nether full speed. In other words, your pc internals volition E'er accept cool air flowing.

Nxtrice

Start with: all case fans are deigned to run at 12 VDC for full speed, but volition run slower nether the right conditions. Details below.

A 4-pin Molex connector from the PSU will supply 12 VDC to the fan at all times over two wires, and then it always runs at full speed. Such a system has no way for the fan's speed to be sent to the mobo.

I IMPORTANT annotation: it is advisable to plug your CPU cooler fan into the CPU
_FAN port of your mobo, and let the mobo's automatic systems control the CPU fan speed. This ensures that the CPU cooling fan (assuming it's working properly) will run fast plenty to keep the CPU at the correct temperature, but non also fast so information technology makes more noise than necessary. It likewise allows the mobo to check that the fan is working - it will shut the arrangement down fast if that fan all of a sudden stops.But because of that checking feature, if you opt to run your CPU fan directly from a Molex PSU connector at full speed, yous must tell your mobo's BIOS Not to watch that fan, or it will become very upset that there is no fan speed signal to watch.

Do NOT plug into the mobo CPU_FAN connector Whatever other fan. If you don't plug the CPU fan in there, leave that fan port unused.

A 3-pin fan plugs into EITHER a 3-pin or a 4-pin fan port on the mobo. Fan connectors and the mating mobo ports accept been designed, physically and electrically, so that they ever will fit together with reasonable electrical connections, only the details of fan speed control are non always the same. If you plug a 3-pin fan into a 3-pin fan port of the mobo and let the mobo's automatic systems to command the fan speed, hither's what happens. The fan's ability is on the Black (Basis) and Ruby (+12 VDC) wires, and the mobo lowers the voltage on the Red wire to reduce fan speed as needed. The Yellowish wire carries a pulse train (ii pulses per revolution) bespeak generated in the fan motor back to the mobo for display and monitoring. This is how the mobo can warn y'all if the fan stops. The basis for speed control is what's chosen a feedback loop. In that arrangement, the outcome of the loop'due south control action (a measured actual temperature) is fed back into the mobo controller and compared to the target. As the bodily temp changes from the target, the control loop changes its output (the voltage supply to the fan) to bring it back to target. Notation that the bodily measured fan speed is NOT used to control the fan speed - that command is based only on measured temperature. For the CPU, the actual temperature measurement is done with a sensor congenital into the CPU chip itself and fed to the mobo on one of the CPU'due south pins. For the Example Fans, the mobo has its own temp sensor built in and uses that to measure the bodily inside-the-case temp.

A four-pin fan plugged into a four-pin fan mobo port works very similarly, but the details of how the fan speed is controlled are dissimilar, and the wire colour codes are different, also. In this system, the Ground and +12 VDC ability supply lines and the speed pulse render line are all there notwithstanding, just there's a 4th line conveying the PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) bespeak. The +12VDC supply line in this arrangement is e'er at that full voltage (does not get reduced past the controller). Inside the fan motor is a small chip that uses the PWM betoken to command how much of the time the +12 VDC supply is really fed to the motor, effectively reducing the boilerplate current flowing through the motor, and thus its speed.

Now, what about "mis-matched" fans and ports? As I said, they will work considering of the backwards compatibility designs. Only ... If you lot plug a 3-pin fan into a iv-pin port, that fan will receive the first iii signals, and not the PWM bespeak information technology can't apply, anyway. However, the +VDC line is always at +12 VDC on a standard 4-pin port, so the fan always runs at full speed. To handle this situation, SOME mobo makers let you in BIOS to change the mode of functioning for the fan controller for that port, and make it behave like a standard three-pivot port with varying +VDC supply, accomplishing fan speed control. Some mobos even are smart plenty to figure this situation all by themselves and make that fashion adjustment for you lot.

Now the other manner - a four-pin fan plugged into a 3-pin port. The fan will receive the commencement iii signals, simply no PWM signal to use. So information technology will not do annihilation to alter the flow of current from the supply through the motor. But since this is a standard 3-pin port, the +VDC line is varying, non fixed at +12 VDC, so the fan speed CAN be controlled by the mobo.

To complete the movie, SOME mobos have a port labelled "PWR_FAN", and SOME PSU's take a set up of wires coming out of them the obviously fit onto a standard 3-pin fan port. If you accept both of these, y'all plug one into the other. All it actually does is allow the mobo to receive the PSU fan's speed signal and monitor / display it for you lot. This mobo port does Not control the PSU fan's speed. IF that fan's speed is under command, that is entirely done inside the PSU itself. Now, if you do non have such a signal wire set coming out of your PSU, yous only don't plug anything into that mobo port. EXCEPT ... some mobos apparently do have the Footing and +12 VDC signals on that port so it CAN be used to power a 3-pin or 4-pivot fan, but it will not accept any speed control - it will run at full speed at all times.

Too many fans to connect, and not plenty mobo ports? Well, yous can do a few things to deal with this. First, it appears that most mobo fan ports tin can supply enough current to power TWO fans per port, but not more. The limit is mainly in the heavy momentary electric current as the fans commencement up from stopped. If you are going to strip fan wires and solder them together to accomplish this, note this. For iii-pin fans you should connect together the 2 Black (Ground) wires, and so the ii Ruddy (+VDC) wires. But leave only ONE Yellow (speed pulse) wire connected to the connector - go out the 2nd fan'southward Yellow wire disconnected. You should not feed two pulse train signals into ane fan port - the mobo pulse counting system will get totally dislocated. If you're doing this with 4-pin fans, follow the aforementioned rule, plus necktie together the two PWM betoken lines - 2 motors tin share employ of that indicate. Check the web for color coding on 4-pin fans.

Paperdoc I wonder if y'all are around and if you or anyone reading this has any noesis of what I am about to try to do with fans. I take a powerful MB and case that controls all my fans nicely. But I want a redundant readout in a 5.25 slot on the forepart. I am going to try to use fan Y adapter's in reverse. Therefor letting the cpu fan and everything yet accept it'south command of the fan. but utilise the second have of the y to go to another separate fan controller. I'm not certain if the voltages will interfere. I really want to practice this. How crawly would it exist if your fans are all automatically controlled yet I have a redundant double temp verification in evidently view on the forepart and if I am nearly to do some hard gaming I would have the power to juice up the fans a fleck more than manually. Volition this work??? Anybody???

Paperdoc

Aye, information technology can work IF yous re-wire things carefully. At least, I retrieve it will. The question I cannot answer is whether two devices (the mobo port and the fan controller inputs) tin share the speed pulse point coming out of each fan on its Pin #3, merely I expect the answer here is aye, they can share. Of form you lot will need to buy and install a third-political party fan controller module in the front end, and then not even endeavor to employ its command features and not output whatever power to the fans. And of grade, this will take to be a controller designed to accept fan speed signals from several fans and allow you to choose which to view, which means it needs to be designed with fan connections for 3- or four-pin fans. It does non matter whether these connectors are for 3- or 4-pivot fans, since you are non sending ability to the fans from them. The only connections you will use between fan controller and fan are the Ground and Speed Pulse lines.

Now, the re-wiring details. Showtime piece of info to settle is: are your existing fans 3-pivot or 4-pin? The respond affects how you can identify the correct wires to modify. A 3-pin fan has a Black wire on Pin #1 for Footing, a Ruddy wire on Pin #2 for the +VDC supply, and a Yellow wire on Pivot #3 for the Speed Pulse point. On a 4-pivot fan, the functions of the first three pins are the same, only the wire colour coding is different. The nearly mutual colors on 4-pin fans are: Pivot #1Black (Ground), Pin #ii Yellowish (+12 VDC), Pin #iii Greenish (Speed Pulses), Pin #four Blue (PWM signal).

You cannot purchase an adapter or splitter to practice this job. Any practiced splitter does NOT connect wires to BOTH of the connectors from the fan's Speed Pulse line. So, you lot will accept to go to the wires to each fan, blank off a brusque length of the Speed Pulse wire on Pivot #3, and solder a 2d wire to that, and so insulate the bared wire. At the same time, do the same for the Black wire on Pin #1 to establish the Footing connection to that fan. A two-wire cable for each fan volition be suitable, and you lot can place a label on each such cable to place the fan it comes from.

The second step then is to connect the pair of new wires from each fan to the input connectors of the fan controller. It volition be designed with male inputs of 3 of 4 pins (does non affair which) and yous will need female three- or 4-pin connectors on the ends of your cables from each fan. Since yous are Non using the PWM signal, any standard 3-pin fan connector will do this job. For each cable terminate, connect the Blackness lead from the fan'southward Pin #one to the Pin #i of the connector at the fan controller end; likewise, connect Pin #three to Pin #three. Make Sure these are done correct. Then plug the new fan signal leads into the fan controller, and it should all work. You should be able to read the speed of each fan on the controller's front face, fifty-fifty though the actual control is being washed by the mobo ports.

Now for your terminal statement, "if I am about to exercise some hard gaming I would have the ability to juice up the fans a chip more than manually". NO, you can't do that readily. The fan controller on the front CANNOT send power to the fans, so information technology cannot control any fan at all. Since all control and power for the fans is beingness done past the mobo, you would take to use the mobo's fan command systems to accomplish this. In most cases that can be done in BIOS Setup, which ways a reboot ordinarily. But many mobos come with a fan control interface utility on their CD's of software. This is a minor app you tin can run in Windows that lets you encounter and conform the mobo's fan control systems. So using that you could choose i of three possibilities:
one. Get out information technology alone. The automatic organisation is already designed to increase fan speeds equally oestrus generation increases due to workload;
2. Alter the automated system settings so information technology is more aggressive and speeds up the fans more than "normal" if you remember it does non exercise enough cooling already in heavy-use situations; or,
iii. Change to a fixed manual fan speed setting (probably very high speeds) for gaming.
Of class, if you brand changes, you lot'll need to do this for all your fans individually, and then un-exercise those changes when you lot're finished gaming.

A comment: Many gamers talk nigh speeding up the fans and cooling when they are gaming and using the system heavily. BUT that is because they do NOT utilize the mobo'south automatic control arrangement at all. They are using a third-political party fan controller like the one you lot propose, and in that case they MUST speed upwards the fans manually. They do Non have whatever automatic control system to practice that for them. You don't have that situation if y'all programme to get out the fans all nether mobo automatic control, and so manually changing things for gaming should not be necessary.

Nxtrice

Thanks! I should accept told yous my fans were all 4 pin, my bad. Aye, I suppose y'all are right there is actually no need to speed up the fans beyond what the MB does. Eliminating the voltage increase or any from the manual fan controller would also eliminate most of the take chances I was worried near. Even if information technology worked, I approximate I would only be able to add fan speed on top of the MB, and and so even the idea of a fluid power of finding a more than silent sugariness spot would exist limited to adding voltage, therefore likely ineffective. Glad you helped me talk this out thanks once again. So I guess I'll be splicing pin #1-basis/black and pivot #3-speed pulse/likely green. The Y-cables I have coming say they are iv pin I would recall I'll just finish upward cut wires ii and 4, y'all are thinking this won't be the example? Either mode I should be able to see by looking at them. I'll post a movie if information technology works and I call back yous will see why I wanted to practice this. (Interesting then I'one thousand guessing on 4-pivot fans the voltage is constant and the PWM sort of limits the speed)

Paperdoc · October 19, 2006 10,100 682 67,240 2,340

What you lot should find when your 4-pin Y-splitters go far is that, of the two male output connectors, but I has a wire from its Pivot #iii to the female connector. So if you connect that splitter's female terminate to a mobo SYS-FAN port and the male output with 4 wires to the fan, and then snip off the wires on the other male connector for Pins two and four, there still is NO wire to acquit the speed pulse support to the 2d male output connector'southward Pin #3. That wire is missing in the first place! That is why a Y-splitter won't exercise the chore. But even if you could get effectually that problem, you lot nonetheless demand a two-wire line from that splitter up to the fan controller on the front end console, and that line would probably need a female 3-pin fan connector on each cease - something I'm sure you cannot buy. So yous're definitely into custom wiring and soldering. It is probably easier to get a set of wires from an old iii-pivot fan (well, several since you have several iv-pin fans to connect) that already has the female person connector on the stop. Then you lot snip off the Blood-red wire, and employ the Black and Greenish ones to solder onto the leads from your fan, Pins 1 and 3 respectively.

GuccizBud · Mar 1, 2014 15 0 eighteen,510 0

Holy all-embracing, in-depth explanations Batman, thx a million Paperdoc.

Then armed with his new-constitute cognition, courtesy of Paperdoc, our hero put his phone down, picked upwards his trusty screwdriver again, and returned to work.

lionmonkey13 · Feb 15, 2013 10 0 10,510 0

Paperdoc I wonder if you might be able to help me. I accept mono with a single four pin sys fan header. My thermaltake v1 example has a 200mm fan (0.2amp) that spins at almost 800rpm and I desire to install 2 80mm fans that max at 2000 rpm at the dorsum. If I apply a 4 pivot splitter will these fans with different speeds go hay wire or volition they work as they would if they. We're all connected individually? I accept a post about this on these forums but I'd similar s 2nd opinion

Paperdoc · October 19, 2006 10,100 682 67,240 2,340

Get-go I'll accost your question, so ask for more than info.

When you utilise a splitter or a 4-pin fan Hub to connect more than one fan to a unmarried mobo fan header, all the fans will piece of work under the aforementioned controls (see my questions below). The mobo may be using either Voltage Control Mode or PWM Mode, and all the fans on that splitter or Hub receive exactly the aforementioned signals. IF all those fans were identical, they would operate at very well-nigh the aforementioned speed. Simply if they are dissimilar designs, as you plan, they will operate at dissimilar speeds. Still, that does NOT affair at all. Although a mobo header tin can display the speed of ONE of the fans continued to it, it does not really use that speed data to do its control functions. So if several fans on one splitter operate at different speeds that does Not affect or harm the command system in any way.

The outcome that you have not mentioned is this: a true 4-pivot mobo fan header operating in PWM Mode can Non control the speed of a 3-pin fan. Now, I suspect strongly that the 200mm fan built into your instance forepart is 3-pivot. So we are left wondering whether your mobo'south four-pin header does actually change the speed of that front fan. It is possible that it does, in one of two ways. SOME mobo BIOS's allow you lot to configure a 4-pin SYS_FAN header specifically for either 4-pin (PWM Fashion) or 3-pin (Voltage Control Manner or DC Style) so either type of fan can be controlled. A lot of current mobos really have "fake" 4-pin headers that really deed but every bit 3-pin headers in Voltage Control Mode with a useless 4th pin, and these likewise CAN control a iii-pin fan. Moreover, because of the backwards compatibility designed into 4-pin fans, they likewise can be controlled by such a header. The merely problem with this type of "simulated" header is that information technology cannot be used with a true iv-pivot fan HUB, although it Can be used with a four-pin fan SPLITTER.

So, important questions to you: as you use your arrangement, does the speed of that forepart fan modify as you do more or less work? Or, does it run at one speed all the fourth dimension? AND, is information technology actually a three-pin fan? A 3-pin fan has a female connector on the stop of its wires with 3 holes, and the standard wire colours are Blackness, Cherry and Xanthous.

IF you have a 3-pin forepart fan AND if its speed really does change nether mobo command, and then your mobo'southward header is using Voltage Command Mode (aka DC Mode). This means three things for how you cull your new fans:
(a) Y'all should buy just iii-pivot fans to add.
(b) Adding ii "normal" 80 mm fans that each depict less than 0.ii amps is quite adequate, but I'd first to worry about more than 3 fans on a single header.
(c) Yous volition demand to buy a 4-pin fan SPLITTER with 3 output artillery. I say 4-pin considering information technology's getting hard to find iii-pivot splitters, and you tin ever plug iii-pin fans into 4-pivot splitters. You need 3 output arms for 3 fans. Now, splitter versus Hub. A SPLITTER has ane arm with a female plug on the end to connect to your mobo header, and (in this case) three arms with male output connectors for your fans. It does NOT accept any other arms. A Hub has those, PLUS information technology has i boosted arm that must connect direct to a power output connector from the PSU to supply ability to the fans. You should not attempt to use a four-pin HUB when you are using 3-pivot fans considering that would Non requite y'all automatic fan speed command.

If you lot have further questions, or if your front fan is iv-pin actually, or if it always spins at i speed, post back for more communication.

lionmonkey13

You are quite right of class. The 200mm is a 3 pivot 800 rpm fan and then I'll merely connect this to a Molex connector on the PSU and run the two PWM's off a splitter as I'm non sure that the 200mm needs modulating.

First I'll address your question, then ask for more info.

When y'all use a splitter or a 4-pin fan Hub to connect more than than one fan to a single mobo fan header, all the fans will piece of work under the same controls (see my questions below). The mobo may be using either Voltage Control Mode or PWM Way, and all the fans on that splitter or Hub receive exactly the same signals. IF all those fans were identical, they would operate at very nearly the same speed. But if they are different designs, as you program, they volition operate at different speeds. However, that does Non matter at all. Although a mobo header can brandish the speed of ONE of the fans connected to it, it does not really apply that speed information to practise its control functions. So if several fans on 1 splitter operate at different speeds that does NOT affect or impairment the control organization in whatever mode.

The issue that you have not mentioned is this: a true four-pin mobo fan header operating in PWM Mode tin can NOT control the speed of a 3-pivot fan. Now, I suspect strongly that the 200mm fan built into your case front is 3-pin. So nosotros are left wondering whether your mobo's 4-pin header does actually change the speed of that front fan. Information technology is possible that it does, in one of two means. SOME mobo BIOS'due south allow you to configure a 4-pin SYS_FAN header specifically for either four-pin (PWM Mode) or 3-pivot (Voltage Control Fashion or DC Mode) so either blazon of fan can be controlled. A lot of current mobos actually take "fake" 4-pin headers that really human action only as 3-pivot headers in Voltage Control Mode with a useless fourth pin, and these also CAN control a 3-pin fan. Moreover, because of the backwards compatibility designed into 4-pivot fans, they also can be controlled past such a header. The but problem with this blazon of "false" header is that it cannot be used with a truthful 4-pin fan HUB, although information technology CAN be used with a four-pin fan SPLITTER.

So, of import questions to you: as yous use your organization, does the speed of that forepart fan alter as you do more than or less work? Or, does information technology run at ane speed all the fourth dimension? AND, is it actually a 3-pin fan? A iii-pin fan has a female connector on the end of its wires with iii holes, and the standard wire colours are Blackness, Red and Xanthous.

IF you have a 3-pin front end fan AND if its speed actually does modify under mobo control, so your mobo's header is using Voltage Control Fashion (aka DC Manner). This means iii things for how y'all cull your new fans:
(a) Y'all should buy but three-pin fans to add.
(b) Adding two "normal" 80 mm fans that each describe less than 0.two amps is quite acceptable, but I'd start to worry nearly more than 3 fans on a unmarried header.
(c) Yous will need to buy a four-pin fan SPLITTER with 3 output arms. I say 4-pivot because it's getting hard to find 3-pivot splitters, and you tin e'er plug three-pin fans into 4-pin splitters. Y'all need 3 output artillery for 3 fans. Now, splitter versus Hub. A SPLITTER has one arm with a female plug on the finish to connect to your mobo header, and (in this instance) 3 artillery with male output connectors for your fans. It does Non have whatever other artillery. A Hub has those, PLUS information technology has one additional arm that must connect direct to a power output connector from the PSU to supply power to the fans. Yous should non try to use a iv-pin HUB when yous are using iii-pin fans because that would NOT requite you lot automatic fan speed command.

If you take further questions, or if your front fan is 4-pin really, or if it e'er spins at ane speed, mail service back for more advice.

Paperdoc · Oct 19, 2006 10,100 682 67,240 2,340

OK, that will work fine. Then you Still demand to know how the mobo header tries to command fans. IF the mobo header IS able to control the speed of your iii-pin 200mm fan, then it must be using Voltage Control Mode. In that case, you could use either three-pin or iv-pivot fans with a 4-pin splitter and it will work. Oft you lot detect that 3-pivot fans are a niggling cheaper than 4-pin.

Only if your existing fan cannot exist controlled by the header and thus that fan always runs full speed, then VERY probable the mobo header is using PWM Mode for control. In that example, you lot MUST buy 4-pivot fans and a splitter to be able to control them from that mobo header.

awephuk

@Paperdoc Thank you for the awesome post and all of your assistance with everyone'southward questions.

Paperdoc · October 19, 2006 10,100 682 67,240 ii,340

Cheers for your kind words.

I'd like to update my before posts (July 13/12 etc.) with info I've learned since then.

1. Mobo fan headers types and modes.
There are three bones designs of mobo headers in use now:
(a) Headers that are strictly three-pin or 4-pivot, and have the appropriate number of pins. 3-pivot headers always operate in Voltage Control Way merely (excepting the 3-pin PWR_FAN headers for their special application that offer no control of fan speed);
(b) Headers with 4 pins that can exist manually configured in BIOS Setup to operate either in PWM Mode or in Voltage Command Style (sometimes called DC Manner). It is necessary for the user to ensure the configuration matches the blazon of fan connected; and,
(c) Headers with 4 pins that really operate only in three-pin Voltage Control Manner with a useless 4th pin. These are in that location to help the user not worry because they are "universal". That is, they Tin can control the speed of any iii-pin or 4-pivot fan, considering all 4-pivot fans tin can be controlled past Voltage Control Manner due to their design. This only becomes a problem if you are trying to use such a port with a iv-pin fan HUB, because that Hub will require a PWM point from Pin #iv, and these "fake" 4-pivot headers practice not provide that. It tin be very difficult to discern from mobo manuals whether or not your mobo has this blazon of fan header.

Annotation that virtually all mobos use the configurable header type (b) in a higher place for their CPU_FAN header and so that they can always be set correctly for whichever fan type you use there. A few still take the single-configuration type (a) above, simply VERY few have the disruptive type (c).

ii. As I said, a SPLITTER can exist used to connect more than than one fan to a single mobo header. Lately, 3-pin splitters are difficult to find, but BOTH 3- and four-pin fans tin can plug into a four-pin splitter. Either manner, the Splitter will render to the mobo the speed signal of only ONE of its fans (to avert confusing the mobo with overlapping pulse trains), and it usually does this past NOT having a Pin #3 on well-nigh of its output arms. I said earlier that one should not effort to connect more than two fans to one header, but that is no longer true. Some posts hither have maintained that one does Not need to worry about heavy brief start-up current draw, then the only concern is the full normal running electric current of all the fans on one header. Well-nigh all mobo headers can support up to one amp. Most common fans today utilize less than 0.2 amps. So information technology should be OK to use from one to 5 fans on a single header - maybe even more than, but the more you use the closer you are to the limit. Still, if you are using heavy-duty fans with higher current draws, you MUST take that into account. Every fan has a current draw spec you can utilize for this.

3. HUBs are dissimilar devices. Farther, for these purposes a Hub can simply be for a 4-pivot fan systems; there are no 3-pin Hubs. What distinguishes a Hub from a Splitter is that the Hub also has a connection directly to a ability output from the PSU (either a four-pivot Molex or a SATA power output). It uses that high-power source for the ability to all its fans, thus eliminating the i amp limit of a mobo header. It then shares the PWM bespeak it gets from Pin #4 of its connection to ane mobo truthful 4-pin header to all its fans and then they all are under the same control indicate, and it returns to the mobo I fan'southward speed signal, as higher up. Almost Hubs are for four-pin fan systems only because they merely share the PWM indicate out to their fans. Right at present (mid-2016) I am aware of two Hubs that do this differently because they use the PWM signal to create their own group of 3-pin ports operating in Voltage Command Fashion. Thus they tin can control both three-pin and four-pivot fans, and any mix of them. Commonly each port of this Hub type is bailiwick to the limit of one amp max current so information technology is possible to use splitters on such ports, just the limit on the total number of fans continued to all of the Hub ports is much higher - often specified as two fans on each port.