3pin fan on a 4pin cpu fan header

Yes you can and yes it will (or should, depending on which board), but you will not have PWM control.
You can set up a fan curve, controlled by the 3-pin variable voltage, either in BIOS or using additional (and sometimes free) softwares.
 
Phil2008 said:
So the motherboard will still be able to change the speed of the fan
Click to expand...
As I understand it, yes.

Phil2008 said:
like its doing now with a 4pin fan?
Click to expand...
Not like it does with a 4-pin fan.
4-pin is PWM control
3-pin is voltage only control.


From Page 56 of your manual (available online as a free PDF from Gigabyte website):

CPU Smart FAN Control
Allows you to determine whether to enable the CPU fan speed control function and adjust the fan speed.

Normal Allows the CPU fan to run at different speeds according to the CPU temperature. You can adjust the fan speed with EasyTune based on your system requirements. (Default)
Silent Allows the CPU fan to run at slow speeds.
Manual Allows you to control the CPU fan speed under the Slope PWM item.
Disabled Allows the CPU fan to run at full speeds.

Slope PWM
Allows you to control the CPU fan speed. This item is configurable only when CPU Smart FAN Control is set to Manual. Options are: 0.75 PWM value /oC ~ 2.50 PWM value /oC.

CPU Smart FAN Mode
Specifies how to control CPU fan speed. This item is configurable only when CPU Smart FAN Control is enabled.
Auto Lets the BIOS automatically detect the type of CPU fan installed and sets the optimal CPU fan control mode. (Default)
Voltage Sets Voltage mode for a 3-pin CPU fan.
PWM Sets PWM mode for a 4-pin CPU fan.

Note: The Voltage mode can be set for a 3-pin CPU fan or a 4-pin CPU fan. However, for a 4-pin CPU fan that is not designed following Intel PWM fan specifications, selecting PWM mode may not effectively reduce the fan speed.


Clear as mud?

:)
 
Thankyou for all that info,, I would have to set it at voltage and that wont automatically increase and decrease the speed according to the temps, I don't think?
 
Phil2008 said:
Thankyou for all that info,, I would have to set it at voltage and that wont automatically increase and decrease the speed according to the temps, I don't think?
Click to expand...

I don't actually know without looking at your specific BIOS, but from the instructions in your manual, I believe you'd set different voltages for different temperatures and then let the system auto-adjust to those different settings according to whatever the temperature is doing at any given moment. This EasyTune suggests you can select the actual speed and the PC will then select the appropriate voltage to meet that speed.

Hook it up and give it a play yourself - I doubt you can break anything just by messing with the fan speed a bit.
 
ttaskmaster said:
I don't actually know without looking at your specific BIOS, but from the instructions in your manual, I believe you'd set different voltages for different temperatures and then let the system auto-adjust to those different settings according to whatever the temperature is doing at any given moment. This EasyTune suggests you can select the actual speed and the PC will then select the appropriate voltage to meet that speed.

Hook it up and give it a play yourself - I doubt you can break anything just by messing with the fan speed a bit.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I think I will have a play first before ordering a fan. I have replaced all my case fans with the black aerocool fans and I was thinking of doing the same with the cpu fan so they all match. Thanks
 
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