Can you plug a 3 pin cpu fan connector onto a 4 pin mb?

[spw24]

title says it all really,

Can I just plug the 3 pin one on?

or would I need to wire up a 4 pin plug?

Cheers,
Stu

 

[juggernaught]

Answer is NO you can't. More than likely the 4 pin port is an aux cd port.
There is only 2 types of fan pins (CPU or not)
They are 2 pin variety and 3 pin only.
Check it out dude

 

[Fuzzy]

Is that a 4 pin molex connector? or a 1cm wide array of 4 pins, which is, as posted, usualy an audio connector for the CD-ROM.

 

[juggernaught]

Thats what I was saying.

 

[spw24]

thanks for responding,

My MB is: ASRock 775Dual - 915GL
It has a 4 pin CPU fan connector on it (that the genuine intel fan uses)
It is 4 pins in line with a backing piece (in a similar way to what you get on floppy drive power connectors - is this "molex").
It is definitely not audio.

Here's a link to the manual:

MB manual

I want to get a quieter fan but many have 3 pin connectors.

Don't want to buy something I can't use.

Cheers,
Stu

 

[juggernaught]

Sorry mate Thats all I know. Ask 1Tanker he would know, cos I am a AMD Fanboy.

Sorry

 

[Datman]

The 4 pin connector looks like it can be used by a 3 pin fan, it has the locking tab offset to be used by a three pin fan.

Pic of the molex connector to show the difference.

 

[jajig]

yes it is backwards compatible see this link to Intel's website

 

[spw24]

Thanks jajig, that answered my Q perfectly. :trophy:

Cheers,
Stu

 

[tvl]

Although a little more difficult to find, you can find a 4 pin CPU fan for your CPU. The fourth lead is for PWM control (Pulsed Width Modulation).

As a matter of fact, if you are looking for a replacement CPU fan and a CPU cooler, then the Zalman 9500AT has everything you are looking for ........ including the 4 pin fan lead.

Before someone jumps all over me, I am not trying to push a 9500AT on you. It just happens to have a 4 pin fan lead and does a good job of cooling very quietly.

 

[Crashman]

Sorry, most of these guys don't know about PWM because P4 isn't very popular here.