Adding a ZalmanFan mate2 fan controller

[flyted]

My fan has a 4 pin male molex for power and a separate yellow 3 pin for rpm sense. It appears that for a Zalman fan mate to work, I need a female 4 pin molex to a 3 pin female fan connector and I still won't have rpm sense. $9 for the connector. Am I missing something here or is this just a poor setup to begin with?

 

[furballi]

You have a crappy fan. A good fan will have all 3 wires (+, -, and signal) connected to a plug that will interface with the Zalman.

 

[flyted]

It has a seperate molex for power because the current draw exceeds what the mobo can handle, so its powered directly from the ps. Quality fans are like that. Cheap fans that don't circulate much air use 3 pin.

 

[xsilver]

Originally posted by: flyted
It has a seperate molex for power because the current draw exceeds what the mobo can handle, so its powered directly from the ps. Quality fans are like that. Cheap fans that don't circulate much air use 3 pin.

a good fan will come in the 3 pin connector format but with the adapter included (4pin)

if u are smart -- u could just cut it up and join it manually (with scissors, solder, tape whatever is needed

 

[Ike0069]

Not sure exactly what your problem is, but I'm guessing you are missing something.
Are you saying that if you plug the 3-pin into the Fanmate, then the Fanmate into the MB, this will draw too much power thru the MB connector?
If so, your fan might be too much for the fanmate. It's only rated for 6W.

If this is the problem, just get one of these: 3-PIN TO 4-PIN ADAPTER WITH SEPARATE RPM CONNECTOR $0.99

 

[flyted]

The fan at rated rpm is too much for the mobo and is too loud, thats why I got the Fan mate2 so that I could lower the rpm, lower the current draw and use the mobo 3pin. The problem is finding a female molex 4 pin to a female 3 pin connector. That one connector solves the issue. Just can't find one for less than $9.