Can i connect my 3 pin cpu fan to my 4 pin header in my motherboard?

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ronald.rhyme2

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Dec 21, 2017
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Guys i have a 3 pin heatsink fan and i dont know its brand looks cool tho, can i plug it to my asus a58m-e motherboard that has 4 pin header on it? and where to place the 3 pin connector of my cpu fan in the 4 pin header. please help im a nooby with assembling computers and i cant afford to fry it just like that. THANKS!
 
Solution
androbourne
Yes it should work as long as you plug it in properly. Normally there is an little plastic guide on either the mobo header or the heatsink fan plug.

In the worse case, you can always purchase a adapter to also make the 3 pin into a 4. It just basically adds a blank pin to it. However, you shouldn't need go that far.
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androbourne

androbourne

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Jul 18, 2017
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Yes it should work as long as you plug it in properly. Normally there is an little plastic guide on either the mobo header or the heatsink fan plug.

In the worse case, you can always purchase a adapter to also make the 3 pin into a 4. It just basically adds a blank pin to it. However, you shouldn't need go that far.
 
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Solution
geofelt

geofelt

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Oct 9, 2006
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A 3 pin fan is keyed to fit in a 4 pin header.
Some such headers are smart enough to recognize 3 pins and adjust the fan speed in the bios.
Older motherboards will simply accept the 3 pin fan and run at full speed all the time.

The fan from your cpu cooler must be plugged into the cpu fan header.
If not, the motherboard may not start.
 
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