PC Fan Connector Types [All You Need To Know]
Since many processors in a typical PC produce a lot of heat, active cooling is often necessary to keep them stable.
More heat dissipation is required by current, powerful gear, such as AMD’s Ryzen 5000 processors and Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 3000-series graphics cards. So, what are the PC Fan Connector Types?
Fans and heatsinks typically handle heat management in computers. You should install more or more fans if you’re upgrading or building a new computer or if your computer is overheating.
PC Fan Connector Typess
Dedicated 3- or 4-pin fan headers are frequently utilized in modern systems. However, conventional MOLEX 4-pin peripheral connectors are also employed. A 3-pin connector, a 4-pin connection, and a MOLEX connector are displayed from left to right. Before purchasing a fan, determine the type of fan connector you require.
What Is A Motherboard Fan Connector?
A tiny three- or four-pin connector with the designation “motherboard fan connector” can be found on the motherboard. One pair of cables from the fan will be connected to the motherboard connector in a bundle.
A Molex KK connector is used to connect the motherboard’s fan.
It is a member of a family of internal computer power connectors designed by the Molex Connector Company, which also produced the motherboard power connector and the larger 4-pin Molex used by earlier hard drivers.
The name Molex is no longer commonly used. Regarding these connectors, motherboard manuals usually use “SYSFAN” and “CPUFAN”.
Although technically speaking, SYSFAN and CPUFAN are the same connectors, SYSFAN is used to connect PC case fans, whereas CPUFAN is used to connect the fan linked to the CPU heat sink.
Don’t worry if this is your first time utilizing these connections. It is hard to connect them incorrectly, and they are simple. Getting your hands and fingers where necessary is the most challenging part.
How Does A Motherboard Fan Connector Work?
A motherboard fan connector’s function is to give power. On the side of the PC fan, a three-pin motherboard fan connector typically contains black, red, and yellow wires.
However, those hues might change depending on the manufacturer and, occasionally, the model. The yellow cable transmits a reading of the fan’s current speed back to the computer while the black wire serves as the ground.
The red wire carries electricity. Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) is enabled via a four-pin motherboard fan connector. Power may be turned on and off very quickly with PWM. This enables regulating fan speed.
PWM cycles the electricity so that if a fan is configured to run at 50% of its maximum speed, it will only get power 50% of the time.
It happens too quickly to notice, so it appears as though the fan is constantly operating at 50% of its typical maximum speed.
Alongside the pins, the motherboard fan connector will also have a plastic guide that protrudes from it. This fits into a notch on the connector for the computer fan. The guide makes sure you can’t put the connector backward.
How Do I Connect Fans To My Motherboard?
A three- or four-pin connector is typically placed as the motherboard fan connector at the end of a PC fan’s cable. This is connected to the motherboard’s three- or four-pin fan header.
There is no secret other than aligning the connector’s notch with the header’s guidance. Align both sides, firmly insert the connector into the header, check the connection to ensure it seems secure, and repeat as necessary.
The fan connector’s end should be flush with the motherboard header for a reliable connection. It shouldn’t look loose or feel that way.
The motherboard fan connector is simple to remove, drawing it out straight because it lacks a lock to keep it closed.
How To Connect A 3-Pin Fan To A 4-Pin Molex Connector?
Everything is fine if your motherboard only has a 4-pin Molex connector and your fan only has a 3-pin one.
Just line up the fan’s connector housing slot with the header’s header clip on the motherboard! Match the color of the wires to the appropriate PIN in the pinout table above if you need the luxury of everything being as it should be.
Conclusion
There are three PC Fan Connector Types are commonly used. A motherboard fan connector links the fan to the motherboard, as it is intended to do. Its simplicity is pleasant compared to more complicated connectors like GPU power connectors. Since the connector hasn’t changed in decades, an old fan and a new motherboard should function without issue.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the 3 pins on a PC fan?
A three-pin connector has three pins: signal, ground, and power (5/12 volts). Without fan speed controls, the signal wire measures how quickly the fan rotates.
What are the 3 pins on a PC fan?
A 3-Pin Fan is a typical case fan. The only difference between a 4-pin Fan and a conventional case fan is, you guessed it, a 4-pin connector. This connector, which includes Pulse Width Modulation in the equation, is the sole significant distinction between 3-pin and 4-pin fans.
Why do fans have 4 wires?
4-wire fans include a PWM input and the power, ground, and tach signal, which regulate the fan’s speed. To keep the tach information available continually, only the power to the drive coils is switched instead of turning the fan’s power on and off completely.
What is the voltage of a 4-pin fan?
Typically, a 4-pin connector (pinout: Ground, +12 V, sensing, control) is used to connect a PWM-capable fan. The oversight pin is an open-drain or open-collector output that the fan must draw to 5 V or 3.3 V. The sense pin transmits fan speed.
This is Mohammad Talha, a fervent tech enthusiast with a Computer Science degree, has been reviewing products and assisting the digital community for over 6 years. My passion for technology is matched only by my dedication to helping others navigate the ever-evolving digital landscape.