3 pin fan to a 4 pin wpm controller

Reece · 02-08-10, 04:51 AM

Hi, I have a Zalman 4 x fan controller (ZM-MFC3, similar to ZM-MFC2), 3 x 3-pin and 1 x 4pin pwm, can I plug a 3-pin fan into the 4 pin controller?

Arclight · 02-08-10, 06:36 AM

Yep, no problem. Though the fan speed normally isn't controllable with a 3-pin MB connector, but I guess that's different on a fan controller.

Reece · 02-08-10, 07:27 AM

I think the controller would vary the 12v supply whilst using the sensor to display the speed, just guessing!

Thanks.

Reece · 02-09-10, 02:38 AM

Just found that it can't be done, a 3 pin fan has no variable speed control, the 4 pin does, so it looks like I will have to buy a 4 pin PWM fan, the 3 pin will run but only at full speed!!

FIREWALL · 02-09-10, 02:50 AM

Go liquid cooling Reece. You'll never go back.

Reece · 02-09-10, 03:17 AM

The only thing that stops me going liquid cooling at this stage is money, they aint cheap, though I hope to in the future!

Arclight · 02-09-10, 07:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reece

Just found that it can't be done, a 3 pin fan has no variable speed control, the 4 pin does, so it looks like I will have to buy a 4 pin PWM fan, the 3 pin will run but only at full speed!!

Yeah, that's what I was afraid of; 4th pin is for speed control. Thought maybe a fan-controller could vary the speed like it does with normal 3-pin.

Reece · 02-09-10, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arclight

Yeah, that's what I was afraid of; 4th pin is for speed control. Thought maybe a fan-controller could vary the speed like it does with normal 3-pin.

The fan controller I have is a Zalman ZM-MFC3, controls 3x3pin and 1x4pin, was hoping to run a 3 pin on the 4, I have now ordered a 4pin pwm fan.

This is for my new case a Zalman GS1000, nice!!

http://www.zalman.com/ENG/product/Pr...ad.asp?idx=310

Arclight · 02-09-10, 08:38 AM

Aye nice case.

Fans aplenty.

Having heat issues or just because?

Reece · 02-09-10, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arclight

Aye nice case.

Fans aplenty.

Having heat issues or just because?

A little of both (HD4850), I always liked full tower cases, had them back in the old days of 386's, also the one I have is made very flimsy, when I saw this one it was love at first sight!

And maybe one day water cooling!!

Arclight · 02-09-10, 08:50 AM

I like my "normal" tower because I can put my legs up on it. But yeah, big tower is nice, could use one too because I have 4 HDs; 2 are mounted in brackets in DVD bays: causes a lot of vibration.

Something I wanted to mention btw: have a look at Arctic Cooling fans. They have "PWM sharing" on their PWM fans. There's another 4-pin connector on the cable, so you can chain several fans together on the same connector. I've used this to mount 2 fans on my CPU cooler (Thermalright Ultima90; tower design).

Another feature they offer is temperature sensor build in, so the fan reacts on it's own, without the need of a controller. Also have a fan that comes with a knob (think that one is a Nexus) that let's you set the speed manually.

Just throwing it out there, no reason really.

http://www.arctic-cooling.com/catalo...php?cPath=3_48

Reece · 02-09-10, 09:11 AM

Yes I have one of the 120mm fans but it has a low CFM of 35, the one I purchased:
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/GELID-SILENT-...item25561006c2
is 58 CFM and 5 year warranty delivered to my door for AU $17.00, not bad, this comes with the cable for 2 fans, though all I want this for is an intake case fan, the CPU Noctua NH-U12P I will leave to the CPU to auto adjust, usually runs my AMD Phenom II Deneb X2 550 at around 35 degrees C, quite happy with that, it's my GPU that runs between 45 and 55 that annoys me, that water cooled would be great, anyhow I hope to be able to upgrade that later this year.

02-08-10, 04:51 AM	#1
Reece CINC Pacific Fleet Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Down Under Posts: 34,688 Downloads: 171 Uploads: 0	3 pin fan to a 4 pin pwm controller Hi, I have a Zalman 4 x fan controller (ZM-MFC3, similar to ZM-MFC2), 3 x 3-pin and 1 x 4pin pwm, can I plug a 3-pin fan into the 4 pin controller? __________________ *Sub captains go down with their ship!* Last edited by Reece; 02-08-10 at 08:17 PM.

02-08-10, 06:36 AM	#2
Arclight Navy Seal Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Land of windmills, tulips, wooden shoes and cheese. Lots of cheese. Posts: 8,467 Downloads: 53 Uploads: 10	Yep, no problem. Though the fan speed normally isn't controllable with a 3-pin MB connector, but I guess that's different on a fan controller. __________________ Contritium praecedit superbia.

02-08-10, 07:27 AM	#3
Reece CINC Pacific Fleet Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Down Under Posts: 34,688 Downloads: 171 Uploads: 0	I think the controller would vary the 12v supply whilst using the sensor to display the speed, just guessing! Thanks. __________________ *Sub captains go down with their ship!*

02-09-10, 02:38 AM	#4
Reece CINC Pacific Fleet Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Down Under Posts: 34,688 Downloads: 171 Uploads: 0	Just found that it can't be done, a 3 pin fan has no variable speed control, the 4 pin does, so it looks like I will have to buy a 4 pin PWM fan, the 3 pin will run but only at full speed!! __________________ *Sub captains go down with their ship!*

02-09-10, 02:50 AM	#5
FIREWALL Eternal Patrol Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: CATALINA IS. SO . CAL USA Posts: 10,108 Downloads: 511 Uploads: 0	Go liquid cooling Reece. You'll never go back. __________________ RIP FIREWALL I Play GWX. Silent Hunter Who ???

02-09-10, 03:17 AM	#6
Reece CINC Pacific Fleet Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Down Under Posts: 34,688 Downloads: 171 Uploads: 0	The only thing that stops me going liquid cooling at this stage is money, they aint cheap, though I hope to in the future! __________________ *Sub captains go down with their ship!*

02-09-10, 08:38 AM	#9
Arclight Navy Seal Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Land of windmills, tulips, wooden shoes and cheese. Lots of cheese. Posts: 8,467 Downloads: 53 Uploads: 10	Aye nice case. Fans aplenty. Having heat issues or just because? __________________ Contritium praecedit superbia.

02-09-10, 08:50 AM	#11
Arclight Navy Seal Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Land of windmills, tulips, wooden shoes and cheese. Lots of cheese. Posts: 8,467 Downloads: 53 Uploads: 10	I like my "normal" tower because I can put my legs up on it. But yeah, big tower is nice, could use one too because I have 4 HDs; 2 are mounted in brackets in DVD bays: causes a lot of vibration. Something I wanted to mention btw: have a look at Arctic Cooling fans. They have "PWM sharing" on their PWM fans. There's another 4-pin connector on the cable, so you can chain several fans together on the same connector. I've used this to mount 2 fans on my CPU cooler (Thermalright Ultima90; tower design). Another feature they offer is temperature sensor build in, so the fan reacts on it's own, without the need of a controller. Also have a fan that comes with a knob (think that one is a Nexus) that let's you set the speed manually. Just throwing it out there, no reason really. http://www.arctic-cooling.com/catalo...php?cPath=3_48 __________________ Contritium praecedit superbia.

02-09-10, 09:11 AM	#12
Reece CINC Pacific Fleet Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Down Under Posts: 34,688 Downloads: 171 Uploads: 0	Yes I have one of the 120mm fans but it has a low CFM of 35, the one I purchased: http://cgi.ebay.com.au/GELID-SILENT-...item25561006c2 is 58 CFM and 5 year warranty delivered to my door for AU $17.00, not bad, this comes with the cable for 2 fans, though all I want this for is an intake case fan, the CPU Noctua NH-U12P I will leave to the CPU to auto adjust, usually runs my AMD Phenom II Deneb X2 550 at around 35 degrees C, quite happy with that, it's my GPU that runs between 45 and 55 that annoys me, that water cooled would be great, anyhow I hope to be able to upgrade that later this year. __________________ *Sub captains go down with their ship!*