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PC fan connectors

Tags:
  • Cases
  • Fan
  • Systems
  • Motherboards
Last response: in Systems
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September 3, 2014 2:11:01 PM

Hi

Do all PC fans whether they come with the case or are purchased separately come with a 4 hole female connector ?

Also: Are all fan connectors on a motherboard 4 pins or 3 pins or could be both ?



Thank you

More about : fan connectors

a c 81 V Motherboard
September 3, 2014 2:15:36 PM

No, there are 2 types of fans, 3 pin and 4 pin, with 4 pin you can control the speed, with 3 pin you're very unlikely to be able to control it, all pins on a motherboard are 4 pin but you can still connect 3 pins to it
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a c 102 V Motherboard
September 3, 2014 2:51:45 PM

There are more than two kinds

Many fans in cases and aftermarket have a 4 pin molex connector .
Some fave the 3 or 4 pin [ pwm speed control ] that plugs in to the mb .

Some fans have both a mb plug and a molex
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a c 82 V Motherboard
September 3, 2014 3:14:16 PM

Many motherboards have 3 pin connectors still, they're RPM, Ground, and + voltage, they can be speed controlled through voltage. 4 pin have the same but a PWM pin that makes speed control better, some boards with 4 pin connectors can control 3 pin fans. many fans that come in cases just have a molex connector which you generally can't control from the motherboard at all, they're just on all the time, you need a fan controller if you want any kind of control for them.

So no, there is no kind of consistancy with fans right now...there's 3 pin, 4 pin, and molex, motherboards have 3 or 4 pin, molex plug directly into your PSU. Most lower to mid level Mobos have mostly 3 pin connectors except maybe the CPU connector will be 4 pin. High end Mobo's are usually all 4 pin these days.
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September 3, 2014 4:24:12 PM

I hate to have to chose only one best answer. Your answers are all good.

For those not chosen, do not take it personal.
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