Do case fans need to be PWM for control with a fan controller

[HarryOMalley]

Hi,

For my new build i want to be able to control the fan speed with a fan controller, do i need to get PWM fans to change their speed (as i know thats what the PWM is for) or is there some majicky trickery in the fan controller that does it with normal fans (i.e change the voltage going to them😛). I just want to make sure that i get the right fans for when i put a fan controller in my build.

Thanks,
Harry

 

[legend001523]

you can connect pwm to your motherboard headers to control speed, any pin fan, whether 3 or 4, there are fan controllers for each pin

 

[Alex Kelly]

you can connect pwm to your motherboard headers to control speed, any pin fan, whether 3 or 4, there are fan controllers for each pin

That's not really what he asked, mayne.

I'm pretty sure you would need PWM fans, unless the fan controller you're looking at advertises that it can control the speeds of any 3 pin fan. I'm not 100% sure though, hopefully someone else replies who is.

 

[HarryOMalley]

Yea well im just thinking of like the Bitfenix Fan controllers and such, i dont think they specifically say. But ill get the PWM ones, not like itll make a difference until i come to control it, they are only a couple of quid more

 

[legend001523]

oops sorry you can get 4 pins or 3 pins, just make sure the fan controller you buy supports the amount of pins,
for 3 pin fans, you can get the nzxt sentry mesh
pwm fans, which are 4 pin, will be compatible with most fan controllers

 

[Alex Kelly]

Yea well im just thinking of like the Bitfenix Fan controllers and such, i dont think they specifically say. But ill get the PWM ones, not like itll make a difference until i come to control it, they are only a couple of quid more

Sounds good!

 

[HiTechObsessed]

Fan controllers control the speed of fans through voltage control, any 2, 3, or 4 pin fan will work. No sense in paying extra for the PWM version.