Phanteks PWM Hub Question

[killaklik]

Hi guys, I've just had delivery of

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/phanteks-pwm-fan-hub-ca-009-pt.html
and at the same time I got some fans, It turns out the fan headers / connectors are all 4pin rather than 3pin, about 5 years ago all the fans I purchased were 3 pin so I was surprised to see these were all 4 pin when they arrived. I'm obviously behind the times.

My question is, can I use the 4pin fans on the 3 pin hub controlling them all at the same speed via my bios, I plan on putting the fans on rads so don't need any individual speeds per fan.

I'm sure this question been asked before so apologies in advance.

Regards,

Michael

 

[doyll]

Most PWM fans work fin on variable voltage control .. unless they are new Corsair ML or PWM fans with LED lights. The MLs need 9+ volts for the ML bearing and LED lighting will start acting wired below some level of voltage as well.

I suggest you get a PWM fan hub that is made for PWM fans. Sadly the Phanteks PWM fan hub is not a PWM PWM fan hub but a variable voltage fan hub that uses 12v power from PSU and the PWM signal from motherboard to convert that 12v to lower voltages depending on PWM signal percentage.

 

[Tealc]

As Doyll points out the phanteks hub isn't ideally suited to control PWM fans. I've only ever used a couple of PWM fans and found they both had relatively high starting voltages when driven with voltage. I think around the 8v mark if memory serves.

A typical 3 pin fan will go down to 3v with this device.

You may find that your fans are fine at 8-9v but ideally you would need an actual pwm hub/splitter not this slightly poorly named device.

 

[doyll]

As Tealc said, getting a real PWM hub is the best solution.

Swiftech, Phobya and Silverstone all make good ones

 

[killaklik]

Thanks for the suggestions guys, I never broke it's seal so I will probably send it back to Oc and go for a real PWM hub. I'm surprised that overclockers don't stock them given the variety of watercooling products they do stock.
Kudos doyll +Tealc.

 

[killaklik]

Thanks again guys, ended up ordering a SilverStone PWM Fan Hub System Cables, Black (CPF04). Sounds like it should do the trick,

 

[doyll]

I haven't used the Silverstone PWM hub, but see no reason it shouldn't work very well. I've used a fair number of Silverstone products and all have been good.

 

[killaklik]

Thanks for the vote of confidence, got my email initiated with oc. So the balls rolling again on my new build.