Thermaltake Commander F6 Rgb help

Dazzzer10 · 14 Sep 2019 at 20:33

I have a Thermaltake Commander F6 Rgb and it only has 3 pin headers and most of my fans have 4 pins and wondering how to run them safely or should I buy 3 pin fans?
I would also like to know if anyone knows if its ok to run an AIO pump from this controller

LuckyBenski · 14 Sep 2019 at 23:43

That controller varies the DC voltage supply rather than sending a PWM control signal, hence just 3-pin connectors.

Most 4-pin PWM fans will run fine off different DC supply voltages. Some can be sensitive but you should be OK. Will the 4-pin fan plugs physically fit?

You'd be fine running a pump from it too, but I wouldn't vary the speed too much. Does the AIO pump have a 3 or a 4-pin connector? Or does it have a separate power connector? Best to check its manual.

Dazzzer10 · 15 Sep 2019 at 01:08

LuckyBenski said:
That controller varies the DC voltage supply rather than sending a PWM control signal, hence just 3-pin connectors.

Most 4-pin PWM fans will run fine off different DC supply voltages. Some can be sensitive but you should be OK. Will the 4-pin fan plugs physically fit?

You'd be fine running a pump from it too, but I wouldn't vary the speed too much. Does the AIO pump have a 3 or a 4-pin connector? Or does it have a separate power connector? Best to check its manual.

its the Kraken X52

LuckyBenski · 15 Sep 2019 at 09:25

X52 is controlled by USB and gets its power from SATA. The 3-pin cable is just so the motherboard can read pump speed.

So connecting it to a fan controller won't do anything.

Dazzzer10 · 15 Sep 2019 at 09:41

LuckyBenski said:
X52 is controlled by USB and gets its power from SATA. The 3-pin cable is just so the motherboard can read pump speed.

So connecting it to a fan controller won't do anything.

thanks for explaining, a bit disappointed as I wanted to control the speed of the pump through the fan controller . I was thinking if there was some kind of SATA to 3 pin cable ? this is all I have found do you think it would work https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/15Pin-SA...500739?hash=item4203238403:g:WaUAAOSwL0tdCQFo

LuckyBenski · 15 Sep 2019 at 10:00

That's the wrong direction - bringing power from SATA to a fan header. You're describing taking power from a fan header to a SATA plug. But that still wouldn't work I think, as we should assume the X52 has internal circuitry to manage pump and fan power. So the SATA input is processed a bit before reaching the pump.

I also wouldn't want to run an AIO pump at too low a speed unless it's designed for it. Some AIOs recommend full speed all the time but I think some can be varied.

Does the pump noise bother you? There's no point changing speed based on temperatures really, just keep it set somewhere not too low.

Dazzzer10 · 15 Sep 2019 at 10:22

LuckyBenski said:
That's the wrong direction - bringing power from SATA to a fan header. You're describing taking power from a fan header to a SATA plug. But that still wouldn't work I think, as we should assume the X52 has internal circuitry to manage pump and fan power. So the SATA input is processed a bit before reaching the pump.

I also wouldn't want to run an AIO pump at too low a speed unless it's designed for it. Some AIOs recommend full speed all the time but I think some can be varied.

Does the pump noise bother you? There's no point changing speed based on temperatures really, just keep it set somewhere not too low.

I think this would be the right cable https://www.amazon.co.uk/DeLOCK-Cable-Power-15-Pin-Floppy/dp/B018NKPUIA , would the internal circuitry change anything if its getting power from the fan controller instead ? I think the software does let you run the pump from 60% to 100% but I don't like running software programs when gaming.
I guess if its to risky I would leave the pump where it is but i thought it would be nice to add it to the fan controller

LuckyBenski · 15 Sep 2019 at 14:58

That cable has a floppy drive connector rather than fan header. You could cut it and splice to a fan extension. I can't comment on what the pump does internally, suffice to say it's probably got some circuitry doing something rather than straight wiring to the pump.

It could use a PWM setup to pulse the 12V supply, you may find similar effects altering the 12V supply yourself. I've had success controlling PWM fans with a DC voltage control and PWM signal at the same time. So you could try it if you're really keen. I'd make sure not to go below about 7-9V at the lowest.

N.B. competitor linking isn't allowed on these forums as they're funded by OcUK, just FYI

You could add pictures instead.