help with 4 pin fans

Pr0letar · 9 Jul 2014 at 23:23

hi all.
so new to forums thanks

i have 3x120mm
(Coolink SWiF2-1201 Retail 120mm - Silent)
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=FG-010-CL&groupid=701&catid=2331&subcat=4

And 2x80mm
Coolink SWiF2-80P Retail 80mm - PWM
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=FG-005-CL

With all 5 installed, it makes a bit of noise. 1 of em are on my cpu cooler.

So i wanted to buy a fan controller to noise down the 4 of em (those not on cpu)
But all i can find is fan-controllers with 3 pins.
So my question is. what are the 4th pin for?
And wich of the pins can i skip useing?

Cheers all

BattFink · 9 Jul 2014 at 23:27

4 pin fans have an extra cable for PWM control

Pin 1 - Ground
Pin 2 - +12v
Pin 3 - RPM Sensor
Pin 4 - PWM Control

Depending on the physical design you can get away with using a 3 pin fan on a 4 pin header, but the fans will spin at 100% all the time, so you will need to use voltage control to slow the fan down

Pr0letar · 9 Jul 2014 at 23:28

so i cant get a fan controller to turn em down?
isent PWM just (auto control)

BattFink · 9 Jul 2014 at 23:29

Yeah you can control them by controlling the voltage (which is what most 3 pin fan controllers do)

Pr0letar · 9 Jul 2014 at 23:30

BattFink said:
Depending on the physical design you can get away with using a 3 pin fan on a 4 pin header, but the fans will spin at 100% all the time, so you will need to use voltage control to slow the fan down

sorry for beeing a noob to this.
But how will i do that then ? :O

BattFink · 9 Jul 2014 at 23:35

Had a quick look at the fans & by the looks of it you can run at between 7v to 12 volts

You can either use a fixed resistor (e.g. something like this http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=FG-031-NC )

Or you can get a variable resistor (which means you can vary the speed to taste/cooling needs) http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=OA-000-ZA

The above products aren't recommendations, there will be better ways of doing it on the market (e.g. a pukka fan controller) but the principal is the same

Pr0letar · 9 Jul 2014 at 23:39

BattFink said:
The above products aren't recommendations, there will be better ways of doing it on the market (e.g. a pukka fan controller) but the principal is the same

Can you hook me up with something better that is an fan controller?

got this chasis, so would be great if it could look like that

** Do not hotlink images **

Pr0letar · 9 Jul 2014 at 23:54

BattFink said:
Had a quick look at the fans & by the looks of it you can run at between 7v to 12 volts

You can either use a fixed resistor (e.g. something like this http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=FG-031-NC )

Or you can get a variable resistor (which means you can vary the speed to taste/cooling needs) http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=OA-000-ZA

Also i cant use these since i have 4 pins ?
i can remove 1 if needed. and then put on a 3 pin connecter?
but which one?
green blue yellow black ? :O
dont know what they means.
cant find anything on google :O

BattFink · 10 Jul 2014 at 00:07

Normally they are:

PIN 1 - Black - Ground
PIN 2 - Yellow - +12 volts
PIN 3 - Green - RPM Sensor
PIN 4 - Blue - PWM Control

Have a look at this site: http://www.allpinouts.org/index.php/Motherboard_(CPU)_4_Pin_Fan

I can't suggest a fan controller personally as I use the CPU_FAN header on the motherboard to control my fans via PWM

Pr0letar · 10 Jul 2014 at 00:52

i still dont get it.
just.
can i take my 4 pin.
put it on a fan controller
and turn it down a notch
so the noise reduses.
yes or no ?
if yes wich fancontroller ?
thanks mate

alexhaslam · 10 Jul 2014 at 13:53

Pr0letar said:
i still dont get it.
just.
can i take my 4 pin.
put it on a fan controller
and turn it down a notch
so the noise reduses.
yes or no ?
if yes wich fancontroller ?
thanks mate

can i take my 4 pin.
put it on a fan controller
and turn it down a notch

Yes

if yes wich fancontroller ?

Any? If you want to control via PWM you will need one that supports that, otherwise as long as the controller has room between the fan ports to let the 4th pin overhang it should be ok.

Hagar · 10 Jul 2014 at 15:13

Tou can also get a cable splitter which connects to the CPU fan on the motherboard and a molex or SATA power connector and run three or four PWM fans from the motherboard controller or software.

YOUR BASKET
1 x Akasa FLEXA FP5S 5 Fan PWM Controller (AK-CBFA07-45) £5.28
1 x Akasa AK-CB002 PWM Fan Splitter Cable £3.59
Total : £11.84 (includes shipping : £2.48).

Phil2000 · 10 Jul 2014 at 20:34

nkata said:
Tou can also get a cable splitter which connects to the CPU fan on the motherboard and a molex or SATA power connector and run three or four PWM fans from the motherboard controller or software.

YOUR BASKET
1 x Akasa FLEXA FP5S 5 Fan PWM Controller (AK-CBFA07-45) £5.28
1 x Akasa AK-CB002 PWM Fan Splitter Cable £3.59
Total : £11.84 (includes shipping : £2.48).

I've been tempted to get these myself, only thing that puts me off is the cable management aspect. I went for a fan controller instead just so it keep things tidy.

DoneADougalOnSofa · 11 Jul 2014 at 10:05

To clarify- 4-pin PWM fans WILL connect to a fan controller with 3-pin plugs. The connector will line up with the little tabs, the PWM contact will overhang the end of the socket- but you need a controller with open pins on its plugs.
I have a Lamptron FC6 with Akasa Viper PWM fans, and no issues. When connected in this way they effectively become 3-pin fans.
This is by design- it's not a cheat and you won't damage anything.