Panaflo tail question

[ChaosPhoenix]

Hey, I just got done ordering my new computer parts (which I know a fair amount about), including the XP-120 and Panaflo 120mm High Output fan. I ended up purchasing a 4-pin tail, and am thinking that was not the right thing to do. I now realize that the 3-pin would have allowed me to connect the fan to the CPU mobo fan-pins, and the 4-pin I must connect to a molex connector.

Did I make a bad choice? Will this be ok? And what are the differences between choosing the two (remember this is for a CPU)

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Some motherboards need to get an RPM signal from a fan attached to the connection labeled CPU fan...

 

[ChaosPhoenix]

I have the DFI Ultra-D, with 1 gig of OCZ RAM

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

I don't know if that motherboard needs it or not.

It will probably work, but I thought I would tell you about the RPM sensing because that's the only problem that could come up afaik.

Do all the other fans you're going to use have 4 pin adapters too? (If this ends up being a problem, you could attach a case fan with 3 pin end onto the CPU header to feed it an rpm signal).

 

[Jeff7]

Note that it's not a good idea to hook a fan larger than 80mm to the motherboard 3-pin headers, as they may draw more power than the headers can provide, which can cause damage to the motherboard. You can use this adaptor to get around that - the 4-wire tap provides power to the fan, while the remaining 3-pin connector lets you connect the rpm wire to the motherboard. Of course, some 120mm fans have such a low rotational speed that the motherboard might not be able to read it properly.