4 to 3 pin adapters

[Enigmo]

If you use one of these to connect a 4 pin fan (which really only have 2) to your motherboard will you be able to get an RPM reading in the BIOS or does this require the extra wire which comes with 3 pin fans?

Hope that made sense.

 

[Witchfinder]

The third (usually Yellow or Blue) lead is the RPM sensor.. the best method if you get something heavy like a Delta is to get a 3-pin one, remove the black and red main fan power pins and solder the wires from them to a standard HDD plug leaving just the sensor wire in the small 3-pin plug for monitoring , that way there is no risk in overloading the motherboard connector AND having RPM sensing

 

[CheapGator]

You'd need a fan that had the third wire already meaning it was designed to monitor it. You can try and take apart the fan to see if there is a place to solder a third wire,(some companies make a basic one and just jip you a wire to make it cheaper). Takes skill and it's usually not designed for it anyway. I usually get a 3 pin fan and an adapter that puts the power to 4 pin, and the rpm monitor to a 3 pin type. If you're going bulk(5) try here for the adapter cause of free shipping case-mod($1.15). If you just want a few try svc (0.99+.44 shipping)

 

[Enigmo]

Thanks for the info and links both of you. Much appreciated.