CPU fan with 3pins?

[onuralpbicer]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/gib-3-5inch-PC-HDD-CPU-4-Channel-Fan-Speed-Controller-Led-Cooling-Front-Panel/171370155437?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D30424%26meid%3D19ec032f353b4c758796168916f30dfd%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D5%26rkt%3D6%26mehot%3Dpp%26sd%3D271852807438&rt=nc

 

So guys, I am thinking about buying this fan controller. But I have a question. First of all, I have 2 Thermaltake Pure Blue LED 120mm fans and the stock Intel CPU fan. The question is, will my stock CPU fan work with this controller. I know the other fans will, but in the pictures, as far as I can see, the controller is 3pin, while my CPU fan is 4pins. All answers are appreciated.

[C0LL0SS0S]

If they are all 3pin only, the intel stock cooler will not work because it is 4 pin, 

[Arc_Jester]

You don't need to connect the cpu fan to a fan controller it should be connected directly to the motherboard

[onuralpbicer]

You don't need to connect the cpu fan to a fan controller it should be connected directly to the motherboard

I know I don't need to connect it into the controller, but it is rather I want to connect it there. Are you saying that it won't work?

[Lord_Karango17]

many motherboards will give you errors, if nothing is connected to the cpu fan header, and since they are 3 pin only, the stock cooler will not work, as it is 4 pin.

 

you could mod one of the receptacle, to accommodate a larger fan connector.

[Arc_Jester]

I know I don't need to connect it into the controller, but it is rather I want to connect it there. Are you saying that it won't work?

The mobo will give you an error unless the cpu fan is connected to the cpufan header on the motherboard, it can also damage your CPU. Why do you want to connect it to a fan controller?

[FizzyFantom]

The 4 pin CPU fan will work if plugged into a 3 pin connector, whether it be on the motherboard or another fan controller. The 4th pin is for PWM and only functions to slow the fan using Pulse Width Modulation, rather than actually supplying the fan with power. 3 and 4 pin fans will happily run without the 3rd and 4th pin, as the 12V power is supplied through the first two pins.

 

Your motherboard will most likely have a 4 pin CPU fan header which should be able to control it sufficiently (but if it has a 3 pin one it will work fine as I said). The motherboard will probably complain of CPU fan failure if you don't connect it, but this can (mostly) be turned off. Make sure your fan controller can alert you to fan failure and you will be fine.

[onuralpbicer]

The mobo will give you an error unless the cpu fan is connected to the cpufan header on the motherboard, it can also damage your CPU. Why do you want to connect it to a fan controller?

I was just curious about whether this could be done since most of the noise from my case came from the CPU fan. Also, it would be convenient if I could control all my fans just by using the controller but, oh well. Thanks to everybody for the fast responses.

[onuralpbicer]

The 4 pin CPU fan will work if plugged into a 3 pin connector, whether it be on the motherboard or another fan controller. The 4th pin is for PWM and only functions to slow the fan using Pulse Width Modulation, rather than actually supplying the fan with power. 3 and 4 pin fans will happily run without the 3rd and 4th pin, as the 12V power is supplied through the first two pins.

 

Your motherboard will most likely have a 4 pin CPU fan header which should be able to control it sufficiently (but if it has a 3 pin one it will work fine as I said). The motherboard will probably complain of CPU fan failure if you don't connect it, but this can (mostly) be turned off. Make sure your fan controller can alert you to fan failure and you will be fine.

I tried booting without the CPU fan plugged in and it didn't give me any warning. And I will be able to see visuallt whether the fan is spinning or not all the time, so you are saying it will work perfectly fine?

[FizzyFantom]

I tried booting without the CPU fan plugged in and it didn't give me any warning. And I will be able to see visuallt whether the fan is spinning or not all the time, so you are saying it will work perfectly fine?

It should work fine, just make sure that your fan controller alerts you to any fan failures.