Thanks to the PWM speed control, 4-pin fans can run quieter than 3-pin fans.How to properly control PWM fans with Arduino IntroductionĬomputers have been using PWM-controlled fans for ages now (they're the ones with a 4 pin connector). When you connect a 4-pin fan to a 3-pin header, the 4-pin fan’s speed will be voltage controlled, similar to a 3-pin fan. You have to use the voltage-controlled mode on the BIOS fan control settings to control the speed of a 3-pin fan connected to a 4-pin header.īoth 3-pin and 4-pin headers can also control the speed of a 4-pin fan. Conclusionīoth 3-pin and 4-pin motherboard fan headers can control the speed of a 3-pin fan. So 4-pin PWM-controlled PC fans can run at much slower speeds, making them quieter than 3-pin fans. On the other hand, PWM fan control doesn’t suffer from this issue it uses a fixed 12V voltage to drive the fan and switch it on and off at a high frequency to control the fan speed. So voltage-controlled fans can’t run at very low speeds, making them noisy even at their slowest speed settings. PC fans require a certain minimum voltage to operate if you lower the voltage below that level, the fan will stall. Generally, 4-pin PWM-controlled fans are better than 3-pin voltage-controlled fans. In this case, the 4-pin fan’s speed will be voltage-controlled using pin number 2 of the 3-pin header, similar to a 3-pin fan. The 3-pin fan header is compatible with the first three pins of a 4-pin fan, and the fourth pin (PWM) can be left unconnected. On the other hand, when the motherboard has a 3-pin fan header, you can still connect 4-pin fans to it. When the motherboard has a 4-pin PWM fan header, it can control the speed of a 4-pin fan by changing the PWM signal on pin number 4. Can All Motherboards Control The Speed Of 4-Pin Fans?īoth 3-pin and 4-pin motherboard fan headers can control the speed of a 4-pin fan. Then the 4-pin header will change the voltage of pin number 2 to control the speed of the 3-pin fan. So you have to enable the voltage-controlled mode on your BIOS fan control settings to control the speed of a 3-pin fan on a 4-pin header. So the 3-pin fan will run at its maximum speed, and you won’t be able to control its speed. However, if PWM fan control is enabled in your BIOS settings, pin number 2 of the 4-pin header will have a fixed 12V level. The first three pins of a 4-pin header are compatible with 3-pin fans, and the fourth header pin is not required. On the other hand, when the motherboard has a 4-pin PWM fan header, you can still connect a 3-pin fan to it. When a motherboard has a 3-pin header, it can control the speed of a 3-pin fan by changing the voltage of pin number 2. Can All Motherboards Control The Speed Of 3-Pin Fans?īoth 3-pin and 4-pin motherboard fan headers can control the speed of a 3-pin fan. So the speed of a 4-pin fan is PWM controlled. The motherboard changes the PWM signal on pin number 4 to control the fan speed. In 4-pin fans, pin number 4 is the PWM input. So the speed of a 3-pin fan is voltage controlled. The motherboard can change the voltage of pin number 2 between 5V and 12V to control the fan speed. In 3-pin fans, pin number 2 is the variable voltage input. There are two types of PC case fans: 3-pin type and 4-pin type. Can All Motherboards Control The Speed Of 4-Pin Fans?.Can All Motherboards Control The Speed Of 3-Pin Fans?.
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