Windows 7: Replacing A Fan

I need to replace the exhaust fan in my HAF922 case, because it has become noisy. Shopping eBay, it would be far cheaper to use this Antec fan instead:



Antec Big Boy 200mm TriCool Case Fan - eBay (item 190467077844 end time Dec-10-10 18:29:46 PST)

I couldn't care less that it has no LED, but I did notice that it has a 4 pin connector, instead of 3 like mine has. I know that a 2 pin and 3 pin connectors can be used together, but can this?

Yes. On some fans the fourth pin is usually for a fan controller. Here on Antec's website it tells you there is a 3 speed switch....

Antec.com - Product: Big Boy 200

I have one of those brand new I'm yet to install and yes, it has a small switch marked L,M,H

I think that I'm missing something, because it would seem that it wouldn't require an additional connection for the switch. However, I guess that it is a moot point, because I found a CoolerMaster fan on another search, that was even cheaper than the Antec.

I may still buy the Antec also, because it might be easier to get it to run slower/quieter than the CM.

The 4 pin connector is the LP4 Molex type used with IDE/ATAPI drives (PATA hard drives, optical drives). It doesn't use the fan headers on the motherboard, and there's no tachometer or control lines, unless they're separate. (If it's like other Antec fans that I have, it has no tach.) That's what Antec means by "convenient connection to your power supply". That'd be OK for me on a case fan, less so on a CPU fan.

It's not clear to me that the mounting points on the Antec would be the same as in your HAF922 case. They may be, but I suggest examining it carefully before you order.

www.newegg.com has lots of 200mm fans, including some by Cooler Master, for about the same cost as the buy-it-now price of the eBay item.

bobkn,

Thanks, this explains a lot to me.