Selecting case fan for MSI Godlike gaming motherboard

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
H

hancioglu

Reputable
Nov 26, 2015
5
0
4,510
I am building a pc with MSI X99A Godlike Gaming motherboard. All fan connectors of mobo are 4pin and I want to buy speed controllable case fans as my case came with 3pin fans. There are 2 cpu fan connectors and 3 system fan connectors on mobo and user guide says they have different specifications.

Spec for CPU fan:
1. Ground
2. +12V
3. Sense
4. Speed Control

Spec for system fan:
1. Ground
2. Speed Control
3. Sense
4. NC

I am considering buying Cooler Master Blade Master 120mm fan and I found(by looking at an image of the fan, couldn't find it on their website so I am not so sure it is correct) the following fan connector spec:
1. -
2. +
3. FG
4. PWM

It seems to me that it matches more to the CPU fan connector spec on mobo instead of the system fan connector but I am not sure. Can I control the speed if I connect the fan to the system fan connector? If I can't then which fan should I buy?
 
Sort by date Sort by votes
C

Calvin7

Titan
Feb 19, 2013
11,725
334
76,490
(page 3-28 of downloadable manual)
The motherboard provides a fan speed control feature call “Smart Fan Mode”. Please check the “Smart Fan Mode” to enable the Smart Fan Mode. Smart Fan Mode automatically controls fan speed depending on the current CPU temperature and to keep it with a specific operating speed. When the current CPU temperature is over/under the setting temperature, the CPU/ system fan will run at the corresponding speed. In this field, you can set the CPU/ system fan speed and the target temperatures by moving the square.

The smart fan mode’s temperatures / RPM plot line is colored from top to bottom making it easier to look at. Fan control is still somewhat limited compared to ASUS and GIGABYTE. You can set the fan speed to full or set via the smart mode. What you can’t do is set PWM or DC control modes. MSI also lacks the preconfigured hardware presets for each fan header.

Blade Master 120
http://www.coolermaster.com/cooling/case-fan/blade-master-120/
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
H

hancioglu

Reputable
Nov 26, 2015
5
0
4,510


Thanks for the reply but this is not what I asked. I know about smart fan mode and thats why I am changing 3pin fans to 4pin. However, as I said in my post, I am not sure whether any 4pin connector of a fan will match to the system fan connector of the motherboard. Specifications for the cpu fan and system fan are different on the mobo user manual and this made me suspicious. For example, speed control output pin is the 4th pin on cpu fan spec and it is the second pin on system fan spec as I shown in my post. Doesn't every pin of fan connector and connector of the motherboard has to match exactly in order to control the speed of the fan. I don't know if I am thinking on this too much but this is the first time I am building a pc so I am trying not to make a mistake.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
H

hancioglu

Reputable
Nov 26, 2015
5
0
4,510
I ordered just 3pin extension cables and connected them without problem as there is only one way to connect them because connector headers are keyed. Also I was able to control 3pin fans with smart fan mode.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom