CPU Fan Pins

[UnitedMonkey]

So I finished build my pc now it time to connect all the cables up I’m reading through the manual for my motherboard and all of the fan and aio pumps pins are four bout the cable connect to the individual parts are 3 pins is that okay or did I fuck up???

 

 

thank you for the help!! 

[NelizMastr]

you can connect 3-pin fans to 4-pin headers and vice versa no problem. Keep in mind 3-pin headers cannot be PWM controlled so the speed is regulated by voltage instead (usually 12v or full speed).

[meenmeen1103]

Most motherboards with 4-pin (PWM) also support 3-pin control (linear DC), check manual for any needed BIOS settings on that. If not supported, the fans will still work but without adjustable speed, so 100%. This applies to using 3-pin fans/pumps on 4-pin headers, which will plug right in.

[UnitedMonkey]

6 minutes ago, meenmeen1103 said:

Most motherboards with 4-pin (PWM) also support 3-pin control (linear DC), check manual for any needed BIOS settings on that. If not supported, the fans will still work but without adjustable speed, so 100%. This applies to using 3-pin fans/pumps on 4-pin headers, which will plug right in.

So plug them in it just I can’t change the speeds manually basically?? 

[meenmeen1103]

1 minute ago, UnitedMonkey said:

So plug them in it just I can’t change the speeds manually basically?? 

If the motherboard doesn't support linear DC control then yes. The motherboard having 4-pin headers doesn't mean it doesn't also support 3-pin DC control though. Refer to motherboard manual for that. 

[AskTJ]

3 pin fan slots only run at full RPM with no voltage regulation, or meaning you can't change its speed. 4 pin fan slots mean they do have voltage regulation, meaning you can change their speed or RPM their running at.

[Mira Yurizaki]

3-pin fans are speed adjustable. All of my case fans are 3-pin and they can vary in speed. The problem is that they're voltage controlled and the motors need a minimum amount of voltage to even spin. So this limits the minimum speed to about 50%. However, whether motherboards can adjust 3-pin fan speeds or not is another thing (I'm pretty sure most do unless it's a super budget board and they want to pinch pennies off digipots).

[UnitedMonkey]

Thank you everyone for the help!