3 pin to 4 pin CPU connector

[ashrack]

On my new motherboard MSI K9a2 Platinum I need a fan with a 4 PIN cpu power connector in order for the bios to lower the RPMs according to temperature (Smart Fan). Unfortunately the Scythe Ninja Rev B fan uses the old 3 pin cpu connector

So I talked to MSI's customer support and they said that I would need a 3 pin to 4 pin CPU connector for the Smart Fan feature to work.
Anyone knows how do I get my hands on it?

[Oli]

This won't work AFAIK. As the fan itself doesn't deliver the fourth pin there is no possibility of regulating a non-PWM fan (which the Ninja fan is) by PWM function. An adapter won't help here as the signal for the fourth pin isn't generated by the fan!

But some boards offer voltage regulation additionally to PWM regulation. The most recent Asus Boards don't but the Gigabyte boards seem to support it. If MSI doesn't then you'll have to use another solution for rpm regulation or buy a PWM fan.


Bye Oli

[ashrack]

with this board it is like this. The K9a2 CF which is the slimmed down version of the Platinum board worked with a 3 pin connector. But with the Platinum they say they only support Smart Fan thru 4 pin connector.

I am also interested in knowing why would they say a converter would work if it is not possible?

[Oli]

You'll have to ask MSI about that!

I know what Asus told me over the years - many things were just wrong although they should have known better.

You cannot always rely on what manufacturers, customer support or hotlines say when it comes to mainboards. It's good that you can rely on Scythe's answers to 99%.

I can only repeat - as far as i am informed there are no adapters on the market that could generate the signel for the fourth pin (speed control) from the 3 pins of a normal fan. Ask MSI to send you a link to such a product, please!

All other things work: 4-pin fan on 3-pin header (w/o regulation or with voltage regulation based on 3 pins), 4-pin molex to 4-pin 5,25" power cable etc.


Bye Oli

[ashrack]

thx for the info. will let them know when I get a reply back from them.

[ashrack]

anyways they added the function to bios on my request so also the FAN with 3 pin CPU connector now has RPM control thru BIOS.
Go MSI

[Oli]

Well so much about MSI's spectacular PWM generators...

[ashrack]

Originally Posted by Oli

Well so much about MSI's spectacular PWM generators...

what do you mean?

[Oli]

They edited your BIOS to make voltage regulation possible. That'sb very positive!

But they first told you about adapters to generate a PWM signal from a 3-pin fan but didn't send you any links/names or product information on it. That's not so positive - if they tell you those adapters would exist they should also tell you details. Otherwise one must think that this first information on those adapters was just wrong.