2-4pin fans, please explain.

[Irlwizard]

Hello,

 

I'm hoping someone can educate me and the rest of the community about the difference between;

2pin, 3pin, 4pin and PWM fans...

 

Some questions

Q1: Can a 3pin be a PWM fan?

A: 3pins are NOT PWM, but can act as them through a special fan controller. By: M-ursu

 

Q2: Can a non PWM fan have its speed controlled without a fan controller i.e. by software (if so name a few)?

A:  Yes, it can be trough software that usually comes with the motherboard (e.g. ASUS FanXpert). By: M-ursu
          

 

 

 

I will edit the post and put in the answer giving credit to whoever gave it, e.g. someone says A to Q1 is 'Yes' and their forum name is 'Linus' I will put A: Yes (by Linus).

Same thing goes if people have questions, ask away if it is of significance and I will add it to the list with credits.

 

 

Regards

Irlwizard

[M-ursu]

2-pin: do not exsist.

3-pin: standard, pins are: power,grounding and rpm monitoring

4-pin: PWM same as 3-pin but whit PWM control.

Q1: 3-pin can be used as PWM whit special fan controller

Q2: yes it can be trough software that usually comes whit MoBo.

(ASUS FanXpert)

[hehehehhehehehe]

2-pin: do not exsist.

3-pin: standard, pins are: power,grounding and rpm monitoring

4-pin: PWM same as 3-pin but whit PWM control.

Q1: 3-pin can be used as PWM whit special fan controller

Q2: yes it can be trough software that usually comes whit MoBo.

(ASUS FanXpert)

2 pins do exist...

[M-ursu]

2 pins do exist...

Not anymore.

[hehehehhehehehe]

Not anymore.

yep :P

 

just thought I should say since the op asked about them...

[R4STABAN]

think of it like this

pin 1 : positive

pin 2 : negative

pin 3 : rpm report

pin 4 : pwm control signal

[Irlwizard]

Q2: yes it can be trough software that usually comes whit MoBo.

(ASUS FanXpert)

 

 

Does Asrocks 'Fan-Tastic' software work as well?

[KaareKanin]

think of it like this

pin 1 : positive

pin 2 : negative

pin 3 : rpm report

pin 4 : pwm control signal

 

Close, It's actually like this

 

pin 1: Ground (negative)

pin 2: 12VDC (whic sometimes is adjusted down to control speed)

pin 3: RPM report

pin 4: PWM control signal

;)

 

And to the above discussion about 2-pin. You can get fans that only utilize two pins, but those will almost certainly have a 3-pin plug on them (or a molex plug)

[M-ursu]

Does Asrocks 'Fan-Tastic' software work as well?

Yes, every MoBo fan controller works same,there is just cosmetic changes.

[M-ursu]

Close, It's actually like this

 

pin 1: Ground (negative)

pin 2: 12VDC (whic sometimes is adjusted down to control speed)

pin 3: RPM report

pin 4: PWM control signal

;)

 

And to the above discussion about 2-pin. You can get fans that only utilize two pins, but those will almost certainly have a 3-pin plug on them (or a molex plug)

These 2-pin fans only come whit cheap AIO liquid coolers.