Fan Splitter Speed Control

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GBMGames

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Jan 30, 2016
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I recently bought a fan splitter because I have two fans and only one motherboard fan pin (4 pin). The fan splitter splits into one 3 pin and one 2 pin connector, will i be able to control fan speeds if the splitter is 4 pin?

EDIT: Both fans are 3 pin.
 
Solution
nukemaster
More info would help, but I will try to explain.

You fan is for 3 pin fans and MAY work if the board has voltage control on the port you use.

Fans use 3 or 4 pins. They are
+ voltage(12 or variable depending on the header)
- or ground
Speed sense/ tach (tells you how fast the fan spins. This is most likely the missing pin on one of your splitter plugs because you only read the speed from one fan)
PWM (4 pin fans only. This controls speed)

Computers have two fan control methods.

Voltage Control.
This is used for 3 pin fans and works with 4 pin fans as well. Some 4-pin boards headers use this method for all fans(compatible with anything). Check the manual or post your board for further help on this.

PWM.
PWM controls...
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nukemaster

nukemaster

Titan
Nov 23, 2004
19,626
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74,965
More info would help, but I will try to explain.

You fan is for 3 pin fans and MAY work if the board has voltage control on the port you use.

Fans use 3 or 4 pins. They are
+ voltage(12 or variable depending on the header)
- or ground
Speed sense/ tach (tells you how fast the fan spins. This is most likely the missing pin on one of your splitter plugs because you only read the speed from one fan)
PWM (4 pin fans only. This controls speed)

Computers have two fan control methods.

Voltage Control.
This is used for 3 pin fans and works with 4 pin fans as well. Some 4-pin boards headers use this method for all fans(compatible with anything). Check the manual or post your board for further help on this.

PWM.
PWM controls fans with a pulsed signal that tells the fan how fast to go(it is a percentage of on to off time. Think of it as rapidly switching a fan on and off, longer off time means the fan spins slower). This mode of control uses the 4th pin and does NOT control 3 pin fans. 3 pin fans on PWM only headers run full speed all the time. This is because the power pins on a PWM header always run full voltage instead of adjusting it the way a 3 pin header can.

Please note some boards do NOT control fans at all on some headers.
 
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Solution
JackNaylorPE

JackNaylorPE

Titan
BANNED
Oct 30, 2004
32,255
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99,960
With the limited information provided ...

1. 4 pin headers may provide PWM control, DCV control or both.
2. That ability is MoBo (chipset) dependent ... so need to know what that is

If you want to control 3 pin fans via a PWM or DCV header I would recommend this:
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811984004

If you want to control 4 pin fans via a PWM header I would recommend this:
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIAAXT4V60523

If you want to control 3 pin fans via a DCV header I would recommend this:
http://www.performance-pcs.com/modmytoys-3-pin-power-distribution-pcb-3-way-block.html

according to Nidec, make of PWM fans ... (as well as Swiftech) control of 4 Pin fans via DCV is not recommended.

The Phanteks hub will work no matter what the header is








 
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