[SOLVED] 3 Pin Fans Adjustable RPM?

[Dad Shoes]

I have 4 case fans that are 3 pin on a 4 pin mobo. With MSI Dragon Center, I am able to adjust the percentage that the system fans are spinning. I thought with 3 pin fans the only way you could adjust it was with voltage and that when connected to 4 pin headers they constantly run 100%?

 

[Nemesia]

Hi Dad Shoes.

Fan connected by molex are always 100%. 3 pin fan to 4 pin header or 4 pin fan to 3 pin header can still be speed controlled.

 

[Dad Shoes]

Gotcha. So since mine are connected to the headers, is the speed controlled by increasing voltage? I just wanted to make sure what Im doing is okay by increasing my SYS fan speeds

 

[CountMike]

Gotcha. So since mine are connected to the headers, is the speed controlled by increasing voltage? I just wanted to make sure what Im doing is okay by increasing my SYS fan speeds

You should be able to switch those fan headers in BIOS to DC mode instead of PWM, adjustments are not as fine as in PWM mode but works.

 

[Dad Shoes]

You should be able to switch those fan headers in BIOS to DC mode instead of PWM, adjustments are not as fine as in PWM mode but works.

Well I am confused on if mine are in PWM or DC. I thought all 3 pins were DC but in the MSI Dragon app I can change the fan speed along with the curve?

 

[Paperdoc]

This can get confusing, all right. There is a distinction between the fan control STRATEGY, often called the Fan Profile, and the METHOD of controlling the fan speed, often called the Mode of operation of the fan header.

In BIOS Setup there are several options for configuring each fan header, The Fan Profile (or similar term) usually has options such as Normal (automatic control of speed according to temperture measured by a relevant sensor), Turbo (constant full speed), Quiet (constant slow speed), Manual (you specify a constant setting) or Custom (similar to Normal, but YOU decide what the "curve" of fan speed versus temperature should be). The header MODE relates to the type of signal that is sent out to a fan to accomplish the speed that the Fan Profile setting has decided. Older 3-pin fans can be controlled ONLY by changing the Voltage supplied to it on its Pin #2. The new 4-pin fans work differently and are supplied with a constant full 12 VDC on Pin #2 at all times, BUT also receive a new PWM signal from Pin #4. Inside the fan motor there is a small chip that uses that PWM signal to modify the flow of current from the 12 VDC supply though the motor windings to vary the speed. MANY mobos today use only 4-pin headers, but offer in each header's congifuration options a choice of whether to use the older Voltage Control Mode (aka DC Mode) or the new PWM Mode.

So, set your Fan Prifile to whatever strategy you wish for deciding what speed to run under changing conditions, and then separately set the MODE the header uses for the fan type you have - in your case, DC or Voltage Mode for your 3-pin fans.

 

[Dad Shoes]

Thanks for the detailed response! Yea I am using MSI Dragon Center and saw these different options which confused me from what I had read about 3 pin fans. I just wanted to know if it was okay to set a custom fan curve with this program with fans that I thought weren’t able to have a custom modulating speed and instead were stuck at a static speed!

 

[CountMike]

Thanks for the detailed response! Yea I am using MSI Dragon Center and saw these different options which confused me from what I had read about 3 pin fans. I just wanted to know if it was okay to set a custom fan curve with this program with fans that I thought weren’t able to have a custom modulating speed and instead were stuck at a static speed!

All fans are adjustable by voltage and PWM also by pulse. 3pin, DC voltage adjustment (usually 7.5v to 12v) and PWM thru fourth wire which sends pulses shorter, longer and with various frequency and so adjust speed.