4 pin connector

[Spenser1337]

I'm currently upgrading parts, I was planning on using my dell cooler for my CPU, as I already had it and my CPU didn't come with one. I set everything up only to see that dell used their own 5 pin connector. this connector looks identical to a 4 pin but there's an extra slot that is empty. Is there any way I can get it to work or am I screwed?

[Aleks NE]

2 minutes ago, Spenser1337 said:

I'm currently upgrading parts, I was planning on using my dell cooler for my CPU, as I already had it and my CPU didn't come with one. I set everything up only to see that dell used their own 5 pin connector. this connector looks identical to a 4 pin but there's an extra slot that is empty. Is there any way I can get it to work or am I screwed?

 

Did you keep the same motherboard? If so the stock cooler should plug into the pins labelled CPU_FAN.

[Spenser1337]

1 minute ago, <Aleks> said:

Did you keep the same motherboard? If so the stock cooler should plug into the pins labelled CPU_FAN.

No, new motherboard, that's why it doesn't fit. Though a regular CPU fan could fit in sysfan

[Aleks NE]

1 minute ago, Spenser1337 said:

No, new motherboard, that's why it doesn't fit. Though a regular CPU fan could fit in sysfan

Can you not just take something grind down the little plastic at the back and force the connector onto the pins? It could work if you connect it the right way round or try stripping the plastic off the cables connect them to the motherboard and use some electrical tape around so they don't touch? 

[Spenser1337]

10 minutes ago, <Aleks> said:

Can you not just take something grind down the little plastic at the back and force the connector onto the pins? It could work if you connect it the right way round or try stripping the plastic off the cables connect them to the motherboard and use some electrical tape around so they don't touch? 

I can get all 4 in but I believe that the 5th pin actually does something, when I plugged 4 in it didn't turn the fan on.

[KenjiUmino]

are all 5 pins wired or do you have one empty on the fan plug ?

[Spenser1337]

2 minutes ago, KenjiUmino said:

are all 5 pins wired or do you have one empty on the fan plug ?

1 seems to be empty, I can see straight through it

 

but I already tried plugging 1-2-3-4 in without the fifth and the cooler did not turn on

i believe dell has the wires switched up, I'm not sure if that matters

[KenjiUmino]

how are the indivudual wires colored?

[Just.Oblivious]

You can try rearranging the pins inside the Dell connector:

 

Use a tiny screwdriver to remove the pins.

[Spenser1337]

3 minutes ago, KenjiUmino said:

how are the indivudual wires colored?

It's the same as a standard 4 pin but with 1 and 3 switched 

1 minute ago, Just.Oblivious said:

You can try rearranging the pins inside the Dell connector:

 

Use a tiny screwdriver to remove the pins.

Can you send a link? That shows up as nothing for me

[Just.Oblivious]

https://i.imgur.com/x3GO2ff.png

 

Otherwise just Google "Dell 5 pin fan pinout"

[Spenser1337]

2 minutes ago, Just.Oblivious said:

https://i.imgur.com/x3GO2ff.png

 

Otherwise just Google "Dell 5 pin fan pinout"

I don't understand how I could use a screwdriver?

i thought I'd have to splice the wires to rearrange it

[Just.Oblivious]

There is a little catch on each pin, depress it while (gently) tugging on the wire.

 

[Spenser1337]

6 minutes ago, Just.Oblivious said:

There is a little catch on each pin, depress it while (gently) tugging on the wire.

 

I'll try when I get home, how would I change which wire is in which position?

what do I do about the mysterious 5th pin?

 

i don't understand why if I plug all 4 in the fan isn't getting power 

i also read that you can plug it to a 3 pin but if I plugged it into a 4 pin and it didn't work why would a 3 pin work

[Just.Oblivious]

10 minutes ago, Spenser1337 said:

how would I change which wire is in which position?

Remove all the pins and plug them back in a different order (they should just snap back in place).

 

10 minutes ago, Spenser1337 said:

what do I do about the mysterious 5th pin?

That fifth position on the plug is just a blank spot/key, you can ignore it.

[Spenser1337]

4 minutes ago, Just.Oblivious said:

Remove all the pins and plug them back in a different order (they should just snap back in place).

 

That fifth position on the plug is just a blank spot/key, you can ignore it.

If the fifth key doesn't matter why do I need to plug them in a different order? Shouldn't power be going to each?

sorry, just trying to understand this stuff 

[Just.Oblivious]

There are four signals involved (not just power):

- +12v

- Ground

- PWM signal (tells the fan how fast it needs to spin)

- Tacho/Sense (tells the motherboard how fast the fan is spinning)

 

If you mess up the last two, the fan will just spin at max speed.

 

The Dell connector has these wires in a different order than a standard PWM fan, switching pins around should make it compatible.

 

Plan B would be to buy a Dell fan adapter cable for a few bucks (or just a regular PWM fan).

[Spenser1337]

1 minute ago, Just.Oblivious said:

There are four signals involved (not just power):

- +12v

- Ground

- PWM signal (tells the fan how fast it needs to spin)

- Tacho/Sense (tells the motherboard how fast the fan is spinning)

 

If you mess up the last two, the fan will just spin at max speed.

 

The Dell connector has these wires in a different order than a standard PWM fan, switching pins around should make it compatible.

 

Plan B would be to buy a Dell fan adapter cable for a few bucks (or just a regular PWM fan).

I was thinking if I were to order an adapter why not just buy a cooler

I'll try this soon, thanks for the help.

[Spenser1337]

3 minutes ago, Spenser1337 said:

I was thinking if I were to order an adapter why not just buy a cooler

I'll try this soon, thanks for the help.

One last thing, if I didn't care that it was running at max all the time, could I just plug it into a 3 pin?