3pin 4pin ?

retard · 7th Mar 2008, 09:07 AM

Hello guys im kinda new at this .. that is i have newer had a 3pin CPU cooler before but i got one now and i dunno how to plug it in since my mobo has a 4pin connector for the CPU fan so should i just plug it in there or where what how ?

Thanks

Zenphic · 7th Mar 2008, 09:28 AM

Yup, that shouldn't be a problem to plug a 3pin fan plug into a 4pin motherboard header. The only downside is that you won't be able to enjoy PWM if you had used a 4pin fan, which is fan control via BIOS. Then again, you should be able to control your fan with SpeedFan

retard · 7th Mar 2008, 09:43 AM

Thanks mate but witch 3 of the 4 pins do i plug it in ? should i leave the one on the left(up) empty or the one on the right(down) ?

Zenphic · 7th Mar 2008, 12:23 PM

It doesn't matter really. Any fan header can be used to power up the fan.

However, it would be handy to plug it according to its function for easier fan speed monitoring. Look at the fan headers on the motherboard, there should be some small text near it, such as CPU_FAN (fan for the processor), SYS_FAN (fan for the case), AUX_FAN, etc.

Chai · 7th Mar 2008, 01:39 PM

There's only ONE way for you to plug in to the header. If you do it wrongly, you need to break the header first.

Zenphic · 8th Mar 2008, 04:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chai

There's only ONE way for you to plug in to the header. If you do it wrongly, you need to break the header first.

You gotta be pretty angry to break it

graysky · 9th Mar 2008, 02:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zenphic

Yup, that shouldn't be a problem to plug a 3pin fan plug into a 4pin motherboard header. The only downside is that you won't be able to enjoy PWM if you had used a 4pin fan, which is fan control via BIOS. Then again, you should be able to control your fan with SpeedFan

Right you are. I too have the Scythe S-FLEX SFF21F plugged into the MB's CPU Fan power source; the 4th pin isn't connected and the fan functions just fine.

Quote:

Originally Posted by retard

Thanks mate but witch 3 of the 4 pins do i plug it in ? should i leave the one on the left(up) empty or the one on the right(down) ?

Interesting... my board has a little piece of plastic that more or less mates with the 3-pin power source so you really can't put it on backwards. Have a look for yerself:

Mac Daddy · 9th Mar 2008, 11:39 PM

Yep my Arctic Cooling chassis fans have pigtails that work the same way with 3 pin fan connections. You can also plug a 4 pin connector onto a mobo with 3 pin connectors by observing the same orientation. I had to do it with this ASrock board

retard · 10th Mar 2008, 09:38 PM

Thanks guys

Now that my HSF arrived i can see that you cant plug it in the wrong way

) Thanks again

Cheers.

7th Mar 2008, 09:07 AM	#1 (permalink)
retard Newbie Join Date: 7 Mar 2008 Posts: 3 Reputation: 0 Rep Power: 0	3pin 4pin ? Hello guys im kinda new at this .. that is i have newer had a 3pin CPU cooler before but i got one now and i dunno how to plug it in since my mobo has a 4pin connector for the CPU fan so should i just plug it in there or where what how ? Thanks

7th Mar 2008, 01:39 PM	#5 (permalink)
Chai Administrator Join Date: 6 Oct 2002 Location: Maranello Posts: 26,655 Reputation: 3984 Rep Power: 72	There's only ONE way for you to plug in to the header. If you do it wrongly, you need to break the header first. __________________ Chai (Contributor & Forum Admin) http://www.techarp.com/

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7th Mar 2008, 09:28 AM	#2 (permalink)
Zenphic Active Join Date: 23 Apr 2006 Location: Quebec, Canada Posts: 895 Reputation: 331 Rep Power: 6	Yup, that shouldn't be a problem to plug a 3pin fan plug into a 4pin motherboard header. The only downside is that you won't be able to enjoy PWM if you had used a 4pin fan, which is fan control via BIOS. Then again, you should be able to control your fan with SpeedFan

7th Mar 2008, 09:43 AM	#3 (permalink)
retard Newbie Join Date: 7 Mar 2008 Posts: 3 Reputation: 0 Rep Power: 0	Thanks mate but witch 3 of the 4 pins do i plug it in ? should i leave the one on the left(up) empty or the one on the right(down) ?

7th Mar 2008, 12:23 PM	#4 (permalink)
Zenphic Active Join Date: 23 Apr 2006 Location: Quebec, Canada Posts: 895 Reputation: 331 Rep Power: 6	It doesn't matter really. Any fan header can be used to power up the fan. However, it would be handy to plug it according to its function for easier fan speed monitoring. Look at the fan headers on the motherboard, there should be some small text near it, such as CPU_FAN (fan for the processor), SYS_FAN (fan for the case), AUX_FAN, etc.

9th Mar 2008, 11:39 PM	#8 (permalink)
Mac Daddy Pickin' Da Gitfiddle Join Date: 19 Nov 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 2,048 Reputation: 802 Rep Power: 12	Yep my Arctic Cooling chassis fans have pigtails that work the same way with 3 pin fan connections. You can also plug a 4 pin connector onto a mobo with 3 pin connectors by observing the same orientation. I had to do it with this ASrock board

10th Mar 2008, 09:38 PM	#9 (permalink)
retard Newbie Join Date: 7 Mar 2008 Posts: 3 Reputation: 0 Rep Power: 0	Thanks guys Now that my HSF arrived i can see that you cant plug it in the wrong way ) Thanks again Cheers.