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Author Topic: Fan connection: 3 pin or 4 pin  (Read 553 times)

Offline Getback

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Fan connection: 3 pin or 4 pin
« on: November 18, 2009, 11:04:32 PM »
My fans have has 4 pin connector from the ps and a mb connector of 3 pins. Which should I use? Never really paid attention before.
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Offline Masherbrum

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Re: Fan connection: 3 pin or 4 pin
« Reply #1 on: November 18, 2009, 11:07:22 PM »
3 pins on the MB will generally allow Fan Speed Control (if the MB supports it).   4 pins run at full power.    Typically Exhaust fans should be run Full Power.   But depending on the case/zone within case, it may vary.
« Last Edit: November 18, 2009, 11:08:53 PM by Masherbrum »
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Offline TilDeath

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Re: Fan connection: 3 pin or 4 pin
« Reply #2 on: November 19, 2009, 01:33:41 AM »
A 4 pin (not molex) over a 3 pin.  Most motherboards have only 3 pin connectors for fans OTHER then the CPU fan which will be a 4 pin.  The 4 pin is for PWM fan which means Pulse Width Modulation.  In easy terms, if regulates the speed of the fan through digital pulses and is much more efficient and reliable than a 3 pin connected fan.  Also the fan is controlled by the CPU rather then the MB itself.  CPUs for quite some time now have had the PWM controller on the CPU for the use of these fans.

If your MB has temp settings ranges in the BIOS a PWM fan will adhere to these ranges much more then a 3 pin.

If you just speaking about case fans and to use the Molex or the 3 pin, I prefer the Molex to take the load off the MB and put it on the PSU.

TD
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Offline TheZohan

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Re: Fan connection: 3 pin or 4 pin
« Reply #3 on: November 19, 2009, 07:08:45 AM »
AMD(am2/am3) uses 4 pin off the motherboard (speed and temp sensors)
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Offline Getback

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Re: Fan connection: 3 pin or 4 pin
« Reply #4 on: November 19, 2009, 10:07:38 AM »
Thanks folks!

I think I've asked that question before. I just finished putting my gaming rig into a new NZXT case. I highly recommend this case. It is roomy and allows for good cable management. From TD's advice I drilled a few holes for even better cable management. Now My cable management isn't quite finished but it is so much better than what it was before. I also switched PSUs, taking my Silencer from my nongaming rig and putting it in my gaming rig. I had a modular cable PSU in the gaming rig and I think it was causing me some issues. The problem that took the longest was how the heck do the Hard drives go into the cage. Then Doh! there is some very small plastic brackets that have a small pin that you just hold on the hdd and slide it in. Must have messed with that for an hour. It was just too simple for my complex brain. Well that's the view I'm taking.

What surprised me the most was that both computers booted the first time. Usually I have to make 20 trips to the kitchen to see what I missed.
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Offline guncrasher

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Re: Fan connection: 3 pin or 4 pin
« Reply #5 on: November 19, 2009, 04:29:45 PM »
lol getback I had the same problem, took me just as long to figure it out.  I love that case too  :banana:.

semp
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Offline Spikes

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Re: Fan connection: 3 pin or 4 pin
« Reply #6 on: November 19, 2009, 06:27:57 PM »
Quote from: Getback on November 19, 2009, 10:07:38 AM
Thanks folks!

I think I've asked that question before. I just finished putting my gaming rig into a new NZXT case. I highly recommend this case. It is roomy and allows for good cable management. From TD's advice I drilled a few holes for even better cable management. Now My cable management isn't quite finished but it is so much better than what it was before. I also switched PSUs, taking my Silencer from my nongaming rig and putting it in my gaming rig. I had a modular cable PSU in the gaming rig and I think it was causing me some issues. The problem that took the longest was how the heck do the Hard drives go into the cage. Then Doh! there is some very small plastic brackets that have a small pin that you just hold on the hdd and slide it in. Must have messed with that for an hour. It was just too simple for my complex brain. Well that's the view I'm taking.

What surprised me the most was that both computers booted the first time. Usually I have to make 20 trips to the kitchen to see what I missed.
What case did you get? I got the Lexa S for my new build.
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Offline Getback

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Re: Fan connection: 3 pin or 4 pin
« Reply #7 on: November 19, 2009, 06:34:17 PM »
Quote from: Spikes on November 19, 2009, 06:27:57 PM
What case did you get? I got the Lexa S for my new build.

Tempest. I got it from TD.
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Offline Spikes

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Re: Fan connection: 3 pin or 4 pin
« Reply #8 on: November 19, 2009, 06:51:09 PM »
Quote from: Getback on November 19, 2009, 06:34:17 PM
Tempest. I got it from TD.
Ah rgr, got mine from him too. Yeah the HDD mounts are very handy, beats using a screw driver!
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Offline guncrasher

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Re: Fan connection: 3 pin or 4 pin
« Reply #9 on: November 19, 2009, 07:07:03 PM »
wow that makes 3 of us.  I got my case from TD too  :D.

semp
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Offline Getback

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Re: Fan connection: 3 pin or 4 pin
« Reply #10 on: November 19, 2009, 08:32:55 PM »
Quote from: guncrasher on November 19, 2009, 07:07:03 PM
wow that makes 3 of us.  I got my case from TD too  :D.

semp

Dang, he's having a fire sale.
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Offline TilDeath

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Re: Fan connection: 3 pin or 4 pin
« Reply #11 on: November 20, 2009, 01:44:27 AM »
Quote from: Getback on November 19, 2009, 08:32:55 PM
Dang, he's having a fire sale.
Now add the mid 100's of systems from AH guys, that's a lot of Tempest cases
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Offline OOZ662

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Re: Fan connection: 3 pin or 4 pin
« Reply #12 on: November 20, 2009, 07:23:34 AM »
They have 4-pin motherboard fan connections now? Sheesh, I've fallen so far behind...day by day, I wonder which one of my hard drives is going to give up first... :noid
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Offline Masherbrum

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Re: Fan connection: 3 pin or 4 pin
« Reply #13 on: November 20, 2009, 08:20:41 AM »
TD ordered my Tempest as well.   
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Offline minke

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Re: Fan connection: 3 pin or 4 pin
« Reply #14 on: November 20, 2009, 03:49:59 PM »
Another NZXT tempest user. The NZXT Sentry LX fan controller not only works well with it,looks cool too.
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