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I've built around 5 systems in my entire life. I've attached every chassis fan (case fan) on the 4-pin MOLEX connector ever since.
I've noticed that there is a 3-pin connector there, but assumed that it was for "older" PSUs but now, I've noticed that my board has a 3-pin CHA_FAN header (which, after further reading, can enable "fan control").
So my questions are:
- What exactly is the 3-pin used for?
- If I plug the 3-pin connector into the board, should I also plug the 4-pin molex?
- Why should I plug my case fans to the 3-pin header on the motherboard?
- If I have more than 1 case fan, can I daisy-chain the 3-pin connectors and plug it into the single 3-pin header on the board?
- If I plug the case fan into the 4-pin molex, what happens to fan-speed control?
- Why is fan-speed control important?
I generally use ONLY the 3/4-pin fan header, this is the native connection for most modern fans. The MOLEX is an adapter and removing it in a lot of modern builds allows you to get rid of MOLEX cables entirely (you are using a modular power supply, after all, this is 2011!) – Shinrai – 2011-03-29T19:04:45.140
And I'd add that I'm curious what board this is...most new motherboards have at a bare minimum one of these for CPU_FAN and two for CHA_FAN1 CHA_FAN2. – Shinrai – 2011-03-29T19:05:52.300
@Shinrai: The board is an Asus P5k-se. I have 1 CPU_FAN, 1 PWR_FAN and 1 CHA_FAN. – Ian – 2011-03-30T05:01:14.570