VF900 cooler with Ga965P-DS3 motherboard: incompatable?

[TheRealMrGrey]

This is a builder newb question:

I got a VF900 cooler to place on my graphics card. The fan has a 3-pin power connector. There are two fan power plugs on my motherboard, one called CPU_FAN and one called SYS_FAN. Obviously the CPU_FAN is in use, but the SYS_FAN is free. The problem is that both fan connectors on the motherboard are 4-pin connectors, and I don't see any other fan connectors in my manual.

Is it possible to obtain a 3 to 4-pin adapter, or have I purchased an incompatable cooler?

Thanks.

 

[Sniper82]

did you buy it used or something because it should have came with a 3 pin to 4 pin molex connector to hook straight to your PSU. Actually Zalman usually includes a adapter to allow 5v or 12v.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16812189119


BTW the NB fan connector on my DS3 is 3 pin not 4 pin.

 

[TheRealMrGrey]

I purchased it new (ie retail) from newegg.com, and it did not come with a molex connector or adapter. If you look at the pictures of the product description, you will see that it isn't included:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835118001

But if I can put it directly into my PSU by getting one of those adapters, that works just fine. The VF900 manual states that it is supposed to be plugged into the motherboard, and I was assuming the reason for this was so the software can control the fan speed. But am I right then that if you buy a custom fan you control the fan speed manually out of software? The VF900 does come with a manual control knob.

Thanks for the reply.

 

[Sniper82]

well my DS3 has a 3 pin PWR Fan connector and NB Fan connector. Only fan connector on my board thats 4 pin is the CPU fan. The VF900 connects to one in of the wire thats included and the other end plugs into your motherboard. The finally the end of the connector goes into the black box to control the fan speed. If you have a odd ball DS3 you will need the adapter I linked you to.

EDIT: I noticed you have a launch revision DS3. Mine is the newest(afaik) revision and they changed some stuff(including power connectors). You need that adapter I linked you to for sure.

 

[TheRealMrGrey]

Ah, ok, I didn't know there were different DS3 versions.

What does the "NB" in NB fan stand for?

Do you control your fan speed in software on your DS3 version, or do you use the manual control? Edit: obviously if I am plugging directly into the PSU I won't have a software option.

Thanks again.

Edit: ya, I had figured out the VF900 side of the wiring, just not the motherboard side.

 

[JPB]

NB is northbridge....for the fan.