4 Pin PWM Fans connect to molex?

[chrisk]

I bought 6 of these to mount on my new rad:
GELID Silent12 PWM 750-1500RPM Power Management Speed Control GELID Silent12 PWM 750-1500RPM Intellegent Speed Control Fan [GELID Silent12 PWM] - $7.99 : DazMode, Watercooling enthusiasts store

These are 4-pin PWM fans. My intention was the mount six of these on my rad. I realized that they were PWM, but I assumed (incorrectly) that they would come with adapters for 3-pin or even molex. The fans came with neither. My mistake I guess.

I have a few questions:

1. Is it possible to attach these to a molex connector?

I do have some 3-pin to molex adapters that came with other fans lying around, but the 4-pin is too wide to fit. If I pried the 3-pin adapter open (ie. by forcing the 4-pin into the 3-pin adapter), will the pins on the 4-pin line up with the proper wires?

This is the 4-pin pwm connector on the fan:



Ie. this is the 3-pin adapter I have. I would have to bend/break the white plastic housing on the 3-pin side to physically fit the PWM connector:


2. If this will work, will the fan run at full speed?

3. If this will not work, is there something I can do to get these 6 fans running full speed on the rad?

Thanks guys! (btw posted in the 'Air Cooling' section because it is a fan question, even though it will be used in a WC setup. :) )

[Soultribunal]

There are open Faced adaptors to go to Molex Chris that you can use to get them to run full speed. They used to come with my Aero cools. I don't know if I have 6 but I can dig tommorow and see.

So you can do it, that is why the slot is offset, it has the Primary Functions on it.

ST

EDIT:

This one:

Buy the 3-Pin Fan to 4-Pin Pass-Thru Power Adapter Cable at TigerDirect.ca

[chrisk]

Thanks ST. So if I broke off the side of the 3-pin adapter to allow for the 4-pin to fit, the fan will work? I just have to let the two notches on the top of the black 4-pin connector to line up with the two grooves on the white 3-pin?

[Soultribunal]

Pretty Much yeah. What you need if you want to do online seaching is a Male 3pin - Molex. But breaking off the plastic should suffice so long as they wire them the same way lol.
Test it on one and see.

ST

[chrisk]

Originally Posted by chriskwarren

2. If this will work, will the fan run at full speed?

Not all pwm fans will run at full speed on 3 pin plugs, but it seems they will run at full speed when plugged into 3 pin header:

Q: "Is there any way to make these fans run at full speed on a 3 pin connector?"
A: "As soon as you plug the 4 pin GELID Silent PWM fan on your 3 pin connector the fan will run full speed."

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