Fan control

Robzere31 · 31 Jan 2016 at 11:06

Quick one, other than getting a fan controller, is there any other way of using my motherboard to control 3 pin fans

I used PWM fans before so could use the bios to control them, but my new fans are 3 pin as I couldn't get 4 pin versions of them. I've installed 7v adaptors but they are still a bit loud.

I'm guessing not but I thought I'd ask.

GIBSrUS · 31 Jan 2016 at 11:35

Depends on the motherboard and the particular fan header on the mb. If you check your mb motherboard you may find one of the pins works as fan ctrl... You could be lucky. For example on my old z77, 2/4 of the headers support 3 pin fan control.

vince99 · 31 Jan 2016 at 12:36

Did you try controlling the 3 pins from bios? It shouldn`t make a difference.

Tealc · 31 Jan 2016 at 12:42

If you are not lucky then there are ways of converting the PWM signal into a more or less DC voltage as explored in this thread that I started a few years ago as I developed a solution.

Since then Phanteks came up with a hub that you can buy. It is a fan controller but not in the normal sense of the word as once you install it you never need to worry about it again.

I've got one I built in my system that I set up several years ago and it still adjusts speeds from 550rpm up to 1300rpm seamlessly as the PWM rises. I've also got around 30 I made for others also in use.

Robzere31 · 31 Jan 2016 at 14:04

vince99 said:
Did you try controlling the 3 pins from bios? It shouldn`t make a difference.

Yep, I've tried but doesn't work.

Tealc said:
If you are not lucky then there are ways of converting the PWM signal into a more or less DC voltage as explored in this thread that I started a few years ago as I developed a solution.

Since then Phanteks came up with a hub that you can buy. It is a fan controller but not in the normal sense of the word as once you install it you never need to worry about it again.

I've got one I built in my system that I set up several years ago and it still adjusts speeds from 550rpm up to 1300rpm seamlessly as the PWM rises. I've also got around 30 I made for others also in use.

Thanks, I'll look into that.