X58A-UD7 4th pin (PWM) at CPU_FAN & SYS_FAN2 sockets

[sensesme]

This is my first MOBO with 4-pin fan sockets' and inherited my previous water-cooling-radiator & system fans, both have 3-pin connectors.
I connected radiator fan to first 3 pins of CPU_FAN socket and works fine but it seems to work just at 2 speed levels with no progressive speed increasing. It behaves just like my previous 5 years old mobo

I would like to know if it is worth to buy a PWM (pulse-with-modulation) 4-pin fan, I mean if that way it is expected to get a smooth and progressive fan speed control.

Same question for X58A-UD7 SYS_FAN2 4-pin socket. Fourth pin is labeled at user manual as 'reserved', so in this case I need to know not only if it is worth to upgrade to a PWM fan but also if mobo 4th pin is working.

Thank you.

[Dark Mantis]

Hi

The only way to be able to make full use of the PWM facility is to use a 4 pin PWM fan. There is no other way. A 3 pin fan will run but you wont have full control over it. For the price of a new fan it is not worth worrying about.

I am not sure if the PWM is functional on the SYS_FAN2 header but I would take it that it does not as according to the specs it doesn't mention using it as that.

[sensesme]

The only way to be able to make full use of the PWM facility is to use a 4 pin PWM fan. There is no other way. A 3 pin fan will run but you wont have full control over it. For the price of a new fan it is not worth worrying about.

Thanks for the reply, that's what I am going to do.

I am not sure if the PWM is functional on the SYS_FAN2 header but I would take it that it does not as according to the specs it doesn't mention using it as that.

I agree, the confusin thing is why to provide a fourth pin for SYS_FAN2 if it is not going to be functional.
Once having a new PWM CPU fan I will give it a try with SYS_FAN2 to see what happens. I will post the results.
Thank you.

[Dark Mantis]

I would have imagined that it is something that could be enabled by a simple BIOS code change but why they don't do it automatically then I don't know.