Is there a 3 - 4 pin converter cable?

Pulsedriver · 20 May 2008 at 00:30

Hey folks,

I wanted to get a TRUE 120MM HSF but it's sold out everywhere

So I have decided to stick with my Zalman 9700LED for now, but it has a 3 pin connector, and my ASUS Rampage Formula has a 4 pin connector.

I want to use the CPU fan at a controlled speed, not having the 4th pin doesn't let that happen and it goes at 2600RPM+ very noisy!

Only solution so far, is to plug the CPU fan into chassis fan header, and control it to 50% speed from there, but to be honest, 50% is still too much!

I don't want the clutter of a fan controller, or fan-mate I just wondered if there is a simple cable I can get that converts a 3 pin cable into a 4 pin cable for a header (not a molex).

Thanks

Senture · 20 May 2008 at 00:54

Doesn't the 9700 come with a Fanmate2? mine did!

Pulsedriver · 20 May 2008 at 01:00

It does but it's too much clutter as silly as it sounds! I'd rather have the fan speed automatically change also...

Senture · 20 May 2008 at 01:26

Have a look in the BIOS. If I change the fan from PWM to voltage speed regulation, my 3 pin fan changes speed. That's on a P35 DS4

misterPK · 20 May 2008 at 09:42

Senture said:
Have a look in the BIOS. If I change the fan from PWM to voltage speed regulation, my 3 pin fan changes speed. That's on a P35 DS4

What he said. That 4th pin carries the control signal that regulates the speed of the fan, while a constant 12v is supplied between the first 2 pins. This is why your 3-pin fans run on full speed when you plug them in. Changing the setting in your BIOS will cause the motherboard to stop using that 4th pin to control the speed and start changing the voltage between the first two.

Theoretically you could make a bit of circuitry to change the pulsed signal into a varrying voltage, but it's not just a case of getting a simple cable!

PK!

GunRunner · 20 May 2008 at 10:57

Pulsedriver said:
Hey folks,

I don't want the clutter of a fan controller, or fan-mate I just wondered if there is a simple cable I can get that converts a 3 pin cable into a 4 pin cable for a header (not a molex).

Thanks

Have you tried that place that sells odds and sods? I think they sell Maps i.e.TomTom!