3 pin fans on fan controller

[MCMoartea]

Hello! I have 2 120mm 3 pin fans running at 1600rpm and they are a little loud, tried to make them run at 1200rpm with speedfan(and other softwares) and bios settings, but no success. Can i control a 3 pin fan with an aftermarket fan controller or do i have to buy 4 pin fans? (i have a MSI 970A-G43 mobo). What else would you recommand? Thanks!

 

[scout_03]

you need something like this to reduce the voltage so it reduce fan speed http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA85V4AV1343&cm_re=FAN_CONTROLLER-_-11-998-065-_-Product

 

[Paperdoc]

According to the manual for that mobo, on p. 1-22, the SYS_FAN1 header MAY be able to control a 3-pin fan. It is not using PWM Mode, so it MAY be using Voltage Control Mode. The SYS_FAN2 header apparently does NOT control any fan.

Make sure one of your fans is plugged into the SYS_FAN2 header and observe it carefully. IF it is under control, you will see it start up at full speed when the machine is turned on from not being in use, but in VERY few seconds it should slow down, them slowly speed up as your system is used and warms up. If it does that, your mobo can control 3-pin fans on this header only. Buy a splitter that has two output arms (it may be for a 4-pin fan system, but it will work). and use it to connect both your fans to this header.

 

[MCMoartea]

@Paperdoc the second fan isn't even detected when plugged in. It just goes to full speed and stays like this. Oh, and SYSFAN1 it's a 4 pin, that's why i could control a fan, but i only got 3 pin fans. So a fan controller on 3 pin is the solution. Thanks for the replies!

 

[Paperdoc]

I guess my point was not clear enough. Looking at the SYS_FAN1 header, it does have 4 pins BUT its labels in the manual suggest strongly that it is NOT a real 4-pin header using PWM Mode. It may be a standard 3-pin header using Voltage Control Mode with a useless 4th pin. In that case, it CAN control your 3-pin fans, which is why I recommended that you try out one fan on it so test. The other possibility for this header is that it is a non-standard header that only supplies a fixed +12 VDC on Pin #2 and cannot control any fan's speed, which is why I recommended the test before spending money on a splitter.

 

[madmatt30]

A cable like this will let you run fans at 7v & 9v (1200/900 rpm) or thereabouts.
Cheaper than a controller.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00A5TA8OE/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1473695795&sr=8-3&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=3+pin+to+9+volt&dpPl=1&dpID=41BresZHODL&ref=plSrch

A splitter will let you connect both to the 9v , or you can run one at 7v & one at 9v.

Two of these cables will let you run both fans at 9v.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004CLFP6M/ref=mp_s_a_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1473696099&sr=8-13&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=3+pin+to+9v