This isn't right is it? (Case fans)

**MemnonOfRhodes** · December 21, 2012, 03:16 PM

Just bought 2 fans(Gentle Typhoon) and a fan controller, and after installing them I noticed that the fan controller couldn't control the RPM of the new fans.

Turns out that the 3 pin connector of the fans going to the controller only has a yellow wire.
Like this:

Shouldn't there be a black and red wire as well?
As you can see, the smaller black and red wire are put in the molex.

How do I fix this?
(Will it work if I make a 3 pin, and connect it to the controller?)

**PoleCat** · December 21, 2012, 08:13 PM

Originally Posted by Ujio

...Shouldn't there be a black and red wire as well?
As you can see, the smaller black and red wire are put in the molex....

No. The case fans will run off the 12V line from the PSU which is what the yellow wire is for. There are no black wires because there is no need to ground past the PSU for case fans - if they fail they're unlikely to cause a short in the system. Red wires are for a different rail that doesn't power small scale peripherals.

In short - you're golden. Use those fans freely. Good luck!

**MemnonOfRhodes** · December 22, 2012, 03:48 AM

Originally Posted by PoleCat

No. The case fans will run off the 12V line from the PSU which is what the yellow wire is for. There are no black wires because there is no need to ground past the PSU for case fans - if they fail they're unlikely to cause a short in the system. Red wires are for a different rail that doesn't power small scale peripherals.

In short - you're golden. Use those fans freely. Good luck!

I don't get it ,then why can't my fan controller adjust the RPM of the 2 fans?

**PoleCat** · December 23, 2012, 08:39 PM

Originally Posted by Ujio

I don't get it ,then why can't my fan controller adjust the RPM of the 2 fans?

This is what's missing here - what fan controller are you using? We know what fans you're using but not the controller. Please add that info. Good luck!

**MemnonOfRhodes** · December 24, 2012, 04:16 AM

Originally Posted by PoleCat

This is what's missing here - what fan controller are you using? We know what fans you're using but not the controller. Please add that info. Good luck!

Gentle Typhoon 5400 and Kaze-master(bk) km01-bk.

Problem already solved (made a single 3 pin connection), it doesn't fix my GFX card idling at 66, but atleast it's a start.

Thanks for the help though.

EDIT: Damn, GFX problem solved as well, 20 degrees cooler..

**mrmouth** · December 22, 2012, 12:47 PM

Are they low power fans? They could be overwhelming the controller.

Are settings in the bios correct?

Or it could be that 3-pin fan headers actually 'undervolt' fans which is different from PWM with 4-pin. That is how 3-pin changes speeds and that almost always leads to RPM reporting being totally useless.

**MemnonOfRhodes** · December 22, 2012, 01:59 PM

Originally Posted by mrmouth

Are they low power fans? They could be overwhelming the controller.

Are settings in the bios correct?

Or it could be that 3-pin fan headers actually 'undervolt' fans which is different from PWM with 4-pin. That is how 3-pin changes speeds and that almost always leads to RPM reporting being totally useless.

Been reading around on the internet and it seems that the single yellow wire going from the fan tot the controller only measures the RPM.

They advise making it a 3 pin connector and removing the molex, but I'm not sure whether that would fix it.