I'm wanting to replace my front case fans with Noctua NF-F12 fans that have a 4 pin connection. The fans I have now connect to the PSU with a Molex to 3 pin adapter because there are no other connections on the motherboard for fans. So if I get the Noctua fans I will need Molex to 4 pin. I cannot find these anywhere. Do these not exist, do i need to go about this a different way? Or will the 4 pin conncector fit the molex to 3 pin adapter?
Molex to 4 pin
- Thread starter speecbeen
- Start date
Solution
http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/323567-28-does-molex-power-adapter-exist
As stated in the answer. The 4th pin is only for the speed.
Here is a more detailed explanation: https://www.quietpc.com/faq/28
As stated in the answer. The 4th pin is only for the speed.
Here is a more detailed explanation: https://www.quietpc.com/faq/28
photonboy
Titan
- Jun 20, 2006
- 21,566
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- 85,015
Hi,
1) I suggest you get a proper 3-pin, non-variable fan rated at roughly 1000RPM.
2) 4-pin fans are PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) which means they get pulses of energy applied to spin the fan. It's analogous to spinning kids on a merry-go-round
With PWM you need a circuit that can send these pulses.
You can still connect a PWM fan to a constant voltage source however it will spin at a constant speed which may be too loud.
3) Using the power supply there is no way to control the speed, so you want to choose a fan that spins at the optimal speed when attached. Basically it's a combination of NOISE vs COOLING potential and the quality, design, speed all factor in.
In general though, I recommend roughly 1000RPM, non-variable fans. I'll link something below.
1) I suggest you get a proper 3-pin, non-variable fan rated at roughly 1000RPM.
2) 4-pin fans are PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) which means they get pulses of energy applied to spin the fan. It's analogous to spinning kids on a merry-go-round
With PWM you need a circuit that can send these pulses.
You can still connect a PWM fan to a constant voltage source however it will spin at a constant speed which may be too loud.
3) Using the power supply there is no way to control the speed, so you want to choose a fan that spins at the optimal speed when attached. Basically it's a combination of NOISE vs COOLING potential and the quality, design, speed all factor in.
In general though, I recommend roughly 1000RPM, non-variable fans. I'll link something below.
photonboy
Titan
- Jun 20, 2006
- 21,566
- 13
- 85,015
http://noctua.at/en/which_fan_is_right_for_me
Noctua gives advice on the DESIGN of fans (some are optimized for the case, or CPU, or radiator).
Thus, THIS is one of the better case fan:
http://pcpartpicker.com/product/Ky6BD3/noctua-case-fan-nfs12aflx
Product page:
http://noctua.at/en/products/fan/nf-s12a-flx
Speed/noise control:
Use one of the LNAs (Low Noise Adapters) to adjust the speed if desired to reduce noise.
*CHECK LIST for the optimal fan:
1) designed for case fan environment
2) 3-pin (when connecting to power supply)
3) not too noisy (since you can't control speed/noise during usage)
4) sufficient cooling
5) optional: mounting to reduce vibration noise
The above case fan is still variable (if connected to a fan controller) but the noise isn't an issue even at max RPM. Some people get 1000RPM to 3000RPM fans for example, then even with a fan controller the fan initially spins up to max when you first start the computer which isn't ideal.
Noctua gives advice on the DESIGN of fans (some are optimized for the case, or CPU, or radiator).
Thus, THIS is one of the better case fan:
http://pcpartpicker.com/product/Ky6BD3/noctua-case-fan-nfs12aflx
Product page:
http://noctua.at/en/products/fan/nf-s12a-flx
Speed/noise control:
Use one of the LNAs (Low Noise Adapters) to adjust the speed if desired to reduce noise.
*CHECK LIST for the optimal fan:
1) designed for case fan environment
2) 3-pin (when connecting to power supply)
3) not too noisy (since you can't control speed/noise during usage)
4) sufficient cooling
5) optional: mounting to reduce vibration noise
The above case fan is still variable (if connected to a fan controller) but the noise isn't an issue even at max RPM. Some people get 1000RPM to 3000RPM fans for example, then even with a fan controller the fan initially spins up to max when you first start the computer which isn't ideal.
The answer to your first question is that you CAN plug a 4-pin fan into a 3-pin fan male connector. The only "problem" with that is that the fan then will only operate at full speed. HOWEVER, in your case, OP, you're already doing that! Your fans are connecting to fixed 12 VDC power from the PSU with no speed reduction system, so using 4-pin fans on your existing 3-pin adapter outputs is just fine.
But Photonboy has given you an even better solution! The Noctua 3-pin fans he linked to are excellent and will do your job well. Moreover, each of them comes with two "noise adapters" that are really little resistor modules you can insert into the connection between the fan and the adapter. These will allow you to slow the fans down to what you need in terms of the balance of cooling and noise. With two different "noise adapters" supplied per fan, you have three possible ways to use them (in addition to not using them so they run full speed).
But Photonboy has given you an even better solution! The Noctua 3-pin fans he linked to are excellent and will do your job well. Moreover, each of them comes with two "noise adapters" that are really little resistor modules you can insert into the connection between the fan and the adapter. These will allow you to slow the fans down to what you need in terms of the balance of cooling and noise. With two different "noise adapters" supplied per fan, you have three possible ways to use them (in addition to not using them so they run full speed).
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