For a long time, I was a victim of a faulty mobo. I received a nVidia GeForce GTS 250 with a ATI VIVO VE with a PWM cable, but no header pins. This caused me a lot of grief since the pins aren’t soldered on the PCB, but on the other side of the cable. I tried soldering on the other side, but every time I turned the card, the cable would break. I ended up having to return the card to the shop I bought it from.
Since the release of the first i7 processors, there has been a proliferation of fan controller cables. The standard is now PWM, which stands for Pulse Width Modulation. It is the technology of the CPU fans. It is especially important for users who have fans connected to their motherboard, as the type of cable used will determine whether the fans are controlled by the motherboard, or directly by the CPU.
Alright, I’m sure this has been asked by many people, but I figured it’s worth an answer. So, I’ve written up a comprehensive list of what you can find in the A-, B-, and C- series of cables. Basically, the A-series cables are for the PWM connections. If you don’t know what the hell I’m talking about, don’t worry about it. Just Google it. And… you can see the list below. A – Throttle Only Connector B – Accelerator Connector C – Flickering Connector. Read more about where to plug in pwm cable on motherboard and let us know what you think.
You went out and purchased a new set of case fans so you could regulate the fan speed for quieter computing, and then you went ahead and replaced the old fans with the new ones, but hey, you can’t simply plug it in.
Isn’t it aggravating? I understand.
But what about the PWM cable?
The PWM cable connects to the Motherboard directly. The majority of customers are unable to install PWM cables because they are placed in the incorrect Header. Most case fans are mounted on three-pin headers, therefore the PWM cable comes with a 4-pin header.
I went through the same ordeal and created a comprehensive guide so you don’t have to seek elsewhere for the answer.
So put on your reading glasses to get the answer you’re looking for.
For your ideal setup, check out our expert’s suggested best RGB Hub and fan splitter cable.
How Does PWM Work and What Is It?
So, you’re probably wondering what PWM means.
Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) is an acronym for pulse width modulation.
Although this technology was introduced to the IT sector in 2003, only a small percentage of the population is aware of it.
Which is more reasonable for customers, but not for those that manufacture Motherboards? NO.
You may be thinking to yourself, “Hey, why is this man getting so worked up over the suppliers?”
To install PWM fans on your computer, you’ll need four-pin headers on your motherboard, as I previously said. However, a handful of firms continue to produce motherboards with just three-pin headers. Outrageous! To put it mildly.
But, you may wonder, why is this technology so essential.
With almost little noise, it changed contemporary computing.
PWM fans include an integrated circuit that allows you to regulate the speed of the fan.
It’s as simple as flipping a switch. When regulating the Fan or Pump, it’s more like an on/off switch. You may adjust the fan’s power from zero to full in accordance with the motor.
One thing to keep in mind is that PWM fans always operate on 12 volts, which is why you should only use one or two PWM fans with the Y-splitter.
PWM fans may be used on CPUs, casings, and even GPU units.
PWM Water Cooling Pumps are also available on the market, but be aware that they use a lot of power.
So, before you install the fans, you must first choose the fan type.
Also, have a look at these elegant and visually appealing RGB CPU Air coolers. Do you have a setup that doesn’t need air coolers? Check out the finest RGB CPU AIO cooler that our specialists have tested and evaluated.
Different Fan Types and How to Recognize Them
There are three kinds of supporters at the moment. One is almost outdated, but it is still available.
- Two-pin connections are included, with just one plus and one minus connection. That’s all there is to it.
- Three-Pin Headers: You guessed it, three-pin headers are included. Two plus and minus pins for the connection, plus another to check the speed of your fan.
- PWM fan cable has four pins and is known as four pin headers.
Keep in mind that certain three-pin connections seem to be four-pin connectors, but if you look carefully, you’ll notice that only three of the wires connect to your Motherboard. So, if you’re purchasing PWM fans, be sure to check them out first.
The next step is to connect your PWM fans to your motherboard. Also, if you have some spare time, check out my review of the top Ryzen 9 5900x motherboards.
What happens to PWM cables?
The PWM cable connects to the Motherboard directly.
The majority of customers are unable to install PWM cables because they are placed in the incorrect Header.
Most case fans are mounted on three-pin headers, therefore the PWM cable comes with a 4-pin header.
So, how does this differ from normal fans?
To begin with, conventional fans do not allow you to adjust the fan speed. Regular fans, for example, would constantly run at full speed outside; in this manner, you could never make your pc client.
You may inquire:
Is it possible to utilize a PWM fan without using PWM?
If you don’t have four-pin headers, you can connect PWM fans to three-pin headers. However, the PWM fans will always operate at full speed if you do so. That is to say, there is no way to regulate or turn them off entirely. They will function similarly to standard case fans.
Regular fans also have one of the most serious faults in that they stop working if the voltage drops below 5 volts.
PWM fans, on the other hand, may reduce fan speed to 300-600 RPM. That implies your computer is making no noise at the moment. Some fans may be fully turned off. Consider getting the finest Ryzen 5 5600x motherboards for your rig.
How to Connect PWM Fans to a Motherboard
With the exception of a handful, most modern motherboards come with a four-pin header.
So, for those of you who possess new-generation Motherboards, the procedure is pretty simple.
Every MOBO usually comes with at least two fan headers. However, if you have a MOBO such as the B450m, you will have four pin headers.
Now search your Motherboard for the following pin headers:
- SYS FAN is a system variable (System Fan)
- CHA FAN is a fan club (Chassis Fan)
- PWR FAN is a placeholder for PWR FAN (Power Fan)
- EXT FAN is a placeholder for EXT FAN, which (Extension Fan)
If you’re having trouble finding them, look in the bottom left corner of your Motherboard. You’ll acquire one Header in no time.
It’s time to plug in the Header once you’ve found it.
- Every connection will have two bumps (at the beginning and end of the port) that will align it above the Motherboard.
- Push the connection all the way down the Header until it’s completely attached to the MOBO.
That’s it; you’ve finished plugging it up.
To keep cable management tidy, try to connect the fan to the nearest fan header.
But what if you don’t have any Four-pin Headers on hand?
You’re in luck, however. Don’t beat yourself up for picking up the incorrect Fan straight immediately. Check out our separate assessment of the best motherboard for the i7-10700k processor.
It turns out that you can still connect the four-pin connectors to your three-pin headers, but you won’t be able to control the fan power or speed if you do so.
You can get Y-Splitters if you really want to manage it, but your Motherboard may be in jeopardy. So it’s not advised.
You’ve finished installing the fans, but how will you put them to use?
How to Use BIOS to Control PWM Fans
We used to have to do everything on our desktop back in the day, right? Those were the days. Bios have advanced to the point where you can now do almost anything with them.
So, let’s get started with fan control.
- By pressing F2 at the bootup screen, you can get to your System Utility Screen. (The key is usually F2, F1, or Delete.)
- Click Fan Info once you’ve gotten to BIOS.
- CPU FAN and SYSTEM FAN are the two FAN settings you’ll find there.
- Turn on smart fan mode by going to settings and selecting it.
- Then adjust your fan speed to the desired amount.
When the temperature is 50 degrees Celsius, I set my fans to 70%, and if the temperature rises to 60 degrees, I set my fans to 85%, but if the temperature rises to 70 degrees, I set my fans to 100%.
Activate the CPU Fan Fail And Warning Control as well. That way, if any of your Fans die, you’ll receive a notification.
Last Thoughts
We all want for a computer that produces as little noise as possible. We may make our fantasy a reality by using PWM wires.
I hope you were able to connect your PWM cable to your Motherboard using this method.
However, if you have any more questions, you can always contact us.
If you’ve ever owned a gaming PC, you know their power supply fans are loud, and often too loud for comfort. This is especially true of the high-end enthusiast PC’s, where the power supply, CPU, and graphics card are often housed in close proximity to each other. Furthermore, the bulk of the installation is handled by the motherboard, with little room for cable management, which can lead to overheating and power supply modding.. Read more about pwm cable meaning and let us know what you think.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I put the PWM cable?
The PWM cable is the power supply for your Beat Saber headset. It plugs into the USB port on the back of your computer.
How do I connect my PWM controller to my motherboard?
To connect your PWM controller to your motherboard, you will need a USB 3.0 header on your motherboard and a USB 3.0 port on the controller.
Where do you connect case fan hub?
The case fan hub is connected to the motherboard.
