GPU aftermarket cooler help

[Martines91]

Hi,

I have this problem, I have a Gigabyte Radeon HD 7970 and I bought Arctic Accelero Xtreme IV 280(x) and I stumbled upon a problem, my GPU has a 3 pin header while the cooler has 4, my GPU original cooler was PWM capable, is there any kind of way to somehow modify the cooler header to fit into it? thanks

[blu4]

You can plug in the 3pin fan to a 4pin header. You can't modify the header on the GPU board but you can plug in the Xtreme fan 4pin to any motherboard 4pin header and control it that way.

[Martines91]

but the cooler header is smaller than what's on my MoBo, I was wondering if I could remove the header from original cooler and place it to the new one but 1 cable would be missing, that wouldn't work? other solutions?

[blu4]

but the cooler header is smaller than what's on my MoBo, I was wondering if I could remove the header from original cooler and place it to the new one but 1 cable would be missing, that wouldn't work? other solutions?

You can plug in a 4pin to a 3pin header but you won't be able to control it.

[Martines91]

but what's the difference between a 3 pin PWM and 4 pin PWM? the original 3 pin has black, red, yellow cables, the 4 pin has black, yellow, green and blue

[blu4]

but what's the difference between a 3 pin PWM and 4 pin PWM? the original 3 pin has black, red, yellow cables, the 4 pin has black, yellow, green and blue

3pin fan has got three wires V+ V- and RPM.

4pin fan has got four wires V+ V- RPM and PWM signalling.

 

You cannot have a 3pin PWM because they don't exist. That extra cable for the PWM fan is for the control.

[Martines91]

oh, I see now, but then what's the difference between RPM and PWM? Doesn't that do the same? so if I would rewire the 4 pin into the same model with just RPM wouldn't that work then? I apologize for my ignorance but I'm really searching for a solution here