Unable to connect 3-pin case fan to 4-pin slot

[thesenate]

I have a Corsair Carbide Spec-01 case which comes with a single fan pre-installed. I use an MSI H110M PRO VH-PLUS motherboard, which has a four pin slot for the fan. From what I learned by searching online, it should connect just fine but I've tried everything to fit the cable into the slot, but it just won't go in. I'm currently running the system without any case fan. Is there anything I can do to fix this? Maybe through some sort of converter? Is it safe to keep running the system without the fan?

Thank you.

 

[feelinfroggy777]

Either you are not installing the fan header properly, the fan header is damaged, or the wire is damaged. A 3 pin fan will work on a 4 pin header. Make sure the wire is turned in the corrected position. There are plastic tabs on the wire header that will slide into the header on the board.

As far as safe, it depends on your temps. If your CPU and GPU temps are fine, then it is safe. My guess is that it is safe unless you have a whole lot of high end hardware in that budget case.

 

[thesenate]

Either you are not installing the fan header properly, the fan header is damaged, or the wire is damaged. A 3 pin fan will work on a 4 pin header. Make sure the wire is turned in the corrected position. There are plastic tabs on the wire header that will slide into the header on the board.

As far as safe, it depends on your temps. If your CPU and GPU temps are fine, then it is safe. My guess is that it is safe unless you have a whole lot of high end hardware in that budget case.

Thanks for the answer. I'll take another look at it.
If I were to use another fan instead of the pre-installed one, which slot would you recommend for it?
http://www.corsair.com/en-us/~/media/F281293C51564F9799223EBD199AA2AC.ashx?w=750
Thanks!

 

[Karadjgne]

If replacing the fan, I'd go with a pwm style. That's a 4pin fan, and will be controlled by the motherboard, so it'll not always run full (noisy) speed. Go with the header closest to the fan, a system fan is all the same. Only cpu fan is a must for the cpu cooler.

 

[feelinfroggy777]

Either you are not installing the fan header properly, the fan header is damaged, or the wire is damaged. A 3 pin fan will work on a 4 pin header. Make sure the wire is turned in the corrected position. There are plastic tabs on the wire header that will slide into the header on the board.

As far as safe, it depends on your temps. If your CPU and GPU temps are fine, then it is safe. My guess is that it is safe unless you have a whole lot of high end hardware in that budget case.

Thanks for the answer. I'll take another look at it.
If I were to use another fan instead of the pre-installed one, which slot would you recommend for it?
http://www.corsair.com/en-us/~/media/F281293C51564F9799223EBD199AA2AC.ashx?w=750
Thanks!

I suggest having at least one intake and one exhaust. So one or two in the font as intake and one on the rear as exhaust.

 

[thesenate]

If replacing the fan, I'd go with a pwm style. That's a 4pin fan, and will be controlled by the motherboard, so it'll not always run full (noisy) speed. Go with the header closest to the fan, a system fan is all the same. Only cpu fan is a must for the cpu cooler.

I'll get one of those. Thanks.

 

[thesenate]

Either you are not installing the fan header properly, the fan header is damaged, or the wire is damaged. A 3 pin fan will work on a 4 pin header. Make sure the wire is turned in the corrected position. There are plastic tabs on the wire header that will slide into the header on the board.

As far as safe, it depends on your temps. If your CPU and GPU temps are fine, then it is safe. My guess is that it is safe unless you have a whole lot of high end hardware in that budget case.

Thanks for the answer. I'll take another look at it.
If I were to use another fan instead of the pre-installed one, which slot would you recommend for it?
http://www.corsair.com/en-us/~/media/F281293C51564F9799223EBD199AA2AC.ashx?w=750
Thanks!

I suggest having at least one intake and one exhaust. So one or two in the font as intake and one on the rear as exhaust.

Got it. Thanks.