Dell fan connector help

Raziel1 · 30 Jan 2009 at 15:51

I'm inthe process of upgrading my friends dell pc for him.

So far everything is goingok, MB fits, managedto pop out the I/O cover onthe back(unlike thelast dell I tried upgrading the MB on).

myproblem is the case fans. Dell have got an odd 5 pin connector (althoughonly 4 wires) on the fans.

is there any wayto change the connectors to standard 3 pinconnectors?

I have spare 3 pin connectors lying around, just unsure of which wire will go where& which one to leave out.

Any one have any clues?

bremen1874 · 30 Jan 2009 at 22:48

If the wire colours make any sense at all then I'd guess the following...

Black = 0v
Red = 12v
Yellow = RPM sense
Blue = PWM control

If that's correct then you'd leave the blue PWM wire disconnected. If it's not you might damage the motherboard.

Those Dell fans are probably going to be hellish loud without PWM control. You may be better just buying replacements that you know will work and won't damage anything.

Bradley8988 · 30 Jan 2009 at 22:54

Im replacing a fan in a dimension 3000 now with a 3pin version of that plug. Just going to cut and solder the stock fan ends on the new fan and hopefully be sorted.

bremen1874 · 30 Jan 2009 at 23:18

Bradley8988 said:
Im replacing a fan in a dimension 3000 now with a 3pin version of that plug. Just going to cut and solder the stock fan ends on the new fan and hopefully be sorted.

It should work, just watch the order of the wires as Dell uses a non standard arrangement.

Did the original fan have a heat sensor? If it did, and your new fan doesn't, then you may find that the new fan runs at full speed all of the time rather than adjusting to the conditions.

Raziel1 · 31 Jan 2009 at 00:53

looks like I'm just going to replace the fans, less hassle etc. Thaks for the advice though bremen

Bradley8988 · 31 Jan 2009 at 01:05

bremen1874 said:
It should work, just watch the order of the wires as Dell uses a non standard arrangement.

Did the original fan have a heat sensor? If it did, and your new fan doesn't, then you may find that the new fan runs at full speed all of the time rather than adjusting to the conditions.

Well im replacing it as its broke and running at 100% now. I tried a 120mm fan and it worked fine but i need a 92mm/38mm. Couldnt be bothered to order one special so just got a mid range 25mm one from here as i get free delivery. Should hopefully fix it.