3Pin fan connectors and PWM fan usage?

[FranBunnyFFXII]

I'm looking at some noctua fans as part of QoL choice upgrades for my case, particularly the new A series 120mm and 140mm fans, and I noticed that the noctua fans are PWM(4pin), the fan hub in my case, and my fan cables are 3pin.

I have a various mix of fans in my case already, but they're mismatched, it annoys me a bit and I'd like to give Noctua a shot, as their new A series looks interesting. but again the fan connection system in the case is all 3 pin.
Obviously without a PWM singnal you can't control the fanspeed, but the case has a built in fan speed controller anyways.
10 connection fan hub, manual speed switch.

Question: Can you use 4pin PWM fans as if they were 3 pin standard? Will they just run at the max power that's delivered to them or do you need the PWM signal to make them run?

 

[nicspits]

Yes, 3 pin fan controllers usually work by adjusting voltage output via programmed levels via the tach read or just pre programmed levels. just pick this up and it should be fine: http://www.frozencpu.com/products/8...ack_CB-PWM-3F.html?tl=g47c251s634&id=YXqmcifZ

look for cheaper besides frozencpu or do the mod yourself.

PWM is integrated in circuit, power saving with countercurrent rather than power circuit switching or a rheostat,... Yes do that, if you want to understand how it works, here's a good post, lol. Sorry.

http://www.overclock.net/t/989566/pwm-fans-what-does-it-mean Crimsontear's


The modification, remember yellow is 12v, red is 5v, black is ground, and the blue goes to ground. I find a small snowing need works great.
http://img.techpowerup.org/110319/PWM3pin.jpg

 

[t1nm4n]

Shouldn't have to modify the fans at all, they will only spin as fast as the motor allows depending on the voltage you send it. Just cause it's a PWM fan doesn't mean it will take a 6v supply and spin at 12v speeds. I wouldn't modify the PWM line on the fans, there might of been something to this on older fans, but all the PWM fans I have are; Black wire ground/neg, Yellow (could be red on some fans) wire power/12v, Green wire RPM signal and the Blue wire is the PWM lead. I would think anything other than a PWM signal through that blue wire could possible damage the circuitry of the fan.

 

[NiHaoMike]

Use the fan controller built into your motherboard.

 

[FranBunnyFFXII]

-sigh-
Ok so apparently no one understood the question.

Can I plug in a PWM fan into a 3 pin connector and still have it work?(Like just runs, obviously it wont have variable speed)
If I plug in a PWN fan into a 3 pin fan connect do, does it still go/spin?

 

[NiteSmoker17]

yes.

you just wont be able to use the PWM function of the fan.

 

[Blaylock]

Yes it will work just fine, just at max speed. I just plugged one in to see if Mobo speed adjustments would still work, they don't for me YMMV.

 

[FranBunnyFFXII]

Cool. The fan hub in my case has speed control, and the USB to 3Pin fan cables don't provide a large amount of power either.
Thank you for the test Baylock.

Now anyone have any idea when Noctua is releasing those new 120mm and 140mm A-series fans?
I have modding ideas.

 

[ehume]

Noctua has already released all of their fans. There are some unreleased prototypes, but the current ones are very good. I reviewed some here and on Vortez. Those are old reviews now, but you will get the idea.

 

[FranBunnyFFXII]

Noctua has already released all of their fans. There are some unreleased prototypes, but the current ones are very good. I reviewed some here and on Vortez. Those are old reviews now, but you will get the idea.

No they have not released their new Aseries fans
Here: http://www.noctua.at/pdf/noctua_computex_2015_press_kit.pdf

• Next generation 120mm,140mm & 200mm A-series fans
Next generation 120mm A-series fan
• Succeeding the award-winning NF-P12 (positioned between NFS12A
and NF-F12)
• Integrating Noctua’s latest technologies in order to provide unprecedented
efficiency in a broad range of applications
• Fine-tuned pressure/airflow (P/Q) curve for mid to high impedance
applications such as CPU heatsinks or water cooling radiators
• Ultra-tight 0.5mm tip clearance helps the fan to work more efficiently
against back pressure such as on heatsinks or radiators
www.noctua.at COMPUTEX TAIPEI 2015

Pages 7 and 8 specifically.

Hardwarecanuck's video coverage

 

[ehume]

Those are prototypes. We may see them in 2016.

 

[FranBunnyFFXII]

Those are prototypes. We may see them in 2016.

For what it's worth, their website is stating Q4 release.

 

[ehume]

For what it's worth, their website is stating Q4 release.

If so, that would be wonderful. Some of those prototypes look . . . interesting.