Sage-Tips

Can 2 pin fan connect to motherboard?

You can insert a fan with 2 pin connector into a 3 pin or 4 pin header. You may not be able to adjust fan speed or the motherboard may not be able to adjust the speed of the fan.

Can 2 pins power a 3 pin fan?

The 3 Pin fan will fit onto the 2 pin you just need to match the holes and the pins and see which two contacts make the fan function.

Do CPU fans need 4 pins?

You use 4pin for cpu coolers. They incorporate a pwm pin (high efficiency speed control). You use 3 pin fans for case fans. They use variable voltage speed control.

Will a 2 pin fan work on a 4 pin connector?

The 4 pin connector has 2 ground pins, plus one 12 volt, and one 5 volt supply pins. The fan usually requires 12 volts, so very likely the 2 pin fan plug is already configured to mate with the ground and 12 volt pin of the 4 pin PC connector. The 4-pin connector is known as molex.

Do 2 pin fans run at full speed?

A 2-pin fan generally has on the end of its wires a male 4-pin Molex connector, but only 2 pins are used. That mates with a power supply connector directly from the PSU. Done that way, it always runs at full speed.

How do you change a 2 pin plug to 3 pin?

1. Here’s how to replace a 2-pin plug with a standard 3-pin plug:
2. Cut off the 2-pin plug at the end of the cable.
3. Use the same sharp knife to split down the middle of the cable, so that you cut between the two wires inside the outer protective layer.
4. CONTINUES BELOW.

Can you use a 4 pin fan on a 2 pin connector?

Yes, the fan will work, but the speed of the fan won’t be controlled by the motherboard because the voltage can’t be controlled via just the two pins.

Will a 3 pin CPU fan work on a 4 pin motherboard?

Please Note: You can connect a 3 Pin Fan to a 3 Pin or 4 Pin header on the motherboard. The fan will function normally no matter type of fan header is used.

Why does PC fan have 4 wires?

The 4-wire fans have a PWM input, which is used to control the speed of the fan. Instead of switching the power to the entire fan on and off, only the power to the drive coils is switched. The PWM signal drives the fan directly; the drive FET is integrated inside the fan.

How many pins does a PC fan have?

Computer fans commonly come in standard sizes, such as 120 mm (most common), 140 mm, 240 mm, and even 360 mm. Computer fans are powered and controlled using 3-pin or 4-pin fan connectors.

Why does my fan only have 2 pins?

The simplest fans only need 2 – power and ground. More expensive fans have tachs and stuff. But the real reason is that you are showing a PC peripheral power which has +12V and +5V and two grounds. Presumably the fan only needs either +5 or +12 and a ground so only two pins need to be connected to make the fan work.

Can you plug a PC fan into a regular power supply?

Yes, you can connect those two molex connectors to each other to power your PC fan. The power supply provides 4 “rails” or “pins” to the female molex connector: the red is 12v, the 2 black wires are grounds, and the yellow is 5v.

What is a 3-pin fan used for?

A three-pin fan adds an additional pin used for the signal from the hall-effect sensor. A speed-controlled fan generally uses a four-pin connector, and is commonly referred to as a “PWM” fan.

What size fan connector do I need for my computer?

Click to expand… fans made for computers will have either a 3-pin mini fan connector (4-pin for a PWM fan), or a 4-pin molex connector (same as your PATA HDDs or CD/DVD drives).