current limit

[kallenin]

Hey,

I was wondering if there was a particularly low current limit on the 3-pin motherboard fan connectors. I'm sitting here looking at a Vantec Tornado (80 CFM and 55 dB of fun), which draws 0.76 amps, and noting that they opted to use a large 4-pin connector that connects directly to the power supply (with a little yellow cable on a three-pin connector so your motherboard can tell the speed). So...can I assume that the motherboard will be unhappy if I plug this thing in on the 3-pin connector?

-Kallenin

 

[sleepdeprived82]

Not quite sure what your asking but:

I dont know why they opted to use the 4 pin molex, guess its because it what most people have and cheaper motherboards do not have 3 pin comnnectors.

The only way the fan can be powerd is with the 4 pin molex, the 3 pin on this model will only ever provide rpm data it can not power the fan as it is missing the two power wires.

The motherboard will not know the fan is there unless you use the 3 pin as well as four pin connectors.

 

[kallenin]

I was basically just wondering how many amps you could draw from the motherboard connector.

-Kallenin