[SOLVED] Fan splitter

[PaulosK]

My mobo has only one 4 pin connector for a case fan. I have 2x3 pin fans. Will this splitter:https://www.overclockers.co.uk/akasa-pwm-fan-splitter-ak-cbfa04-15-cb-071-ak.html
work well with my fans? It has a 4 pin for connecting with the mobo and one 3 pin for the fan and a 4 pin for another fan. Will the last one work with my 3 pin fan?

 

[Aeacus]

That fan Y-splitter works without issues. Also, there are no need to worry of it being 4-pin while you have 3-pin fans since they are compatible between eachother.

Image:

 

[-Fran-]

The only thing to keep in mind with the splitters is the motherboard readings will be different in terms of RPM, as they'll need to give 2x the power to the fans for any given RPM and, obviously, will work as twins.

And as said above, you won't have any issues with the connector types themselves.

Cheers!

 

[Paperdoc]

The 4-pin fan Splitter will work just fine with 3-pin fans. You will notice when you plug them in that they simply don't connect to the fourth pin in the male output connector.

The number of pins in the two output connectors of the Splitter has NOTHING to do with the fan type. A fan generates a speed signal consisting of 2 pulses per revolution and sends it back to its header on Pin #3 of the connector. Any mobo header can deal with the speed signal coming back to it from ONE fan only - two or more pulse trains together cause confusion and wrong readings and error messages! So the Splitter sends back the speed of only one of its two fans, and ignores the other's speed completely. This is done simply by NOT having a Pin #3 in the connector of the second output arm. you will never "see" the speed of the second fan, but this has NO impact on ability to control the fans' speeds.

What will be important to you, however, is how the mobo fan header is configured. Most mobos coming out now use 4-pin headers for all their fans. Now, there are two main fan types. The older ones have 3 wires and pins on their cables and have their speed controlled by the mobo's varying the voltage supplied to the fan on Pin #2. So they are "3-pin fans" that require that the mobo header use the Voltage Control Mode (aka DC Mode) to control the fan speed. The newer type are called 4-pin PWM fans because they have (surprise!) 4 pins and wires. Although their speed can be controlled the older way, it is best if the header uses the new method, PWM Mode. MANY mobos now give you the option for each of their 4-pin fan headers to configure the header to use either the new PWM Mode or the older Voltage Control Mode (aka DC Mode). IF you have that option in BIOS Setup for your single SYS_FAN or CHA_FAN header, set it to DC Mode so it can control the 3-pin fans properly. Then remember to SAVE and EXIT.