CPU Cooler

The 4th wire is for PWM control of the fan, but only if it is connected to a 4 pin fan header. It won't affect anything if it isn't connected, and yes that 4 pin connector will go on a 3 pin header. In fact the AC Freezer comes with the same 4 pin connector and I used it for a couple of years on a 939 board that only had a 3 pin header. The only thing that happens when it isn't connected is that the fan will run at full speed, without the option of having it controlled by the bios.

Thanks, I wasn't familiar with the term "PWM control", so I checked Wikipedia. If I understood, it's value is for conservation, but that is not much of a factor for me (bills paid), so I'll give it a whirl (no pun intended).

When I went eBaying for another fan, the phraseology used in some of the ads caused me to doubt that I understood exactly what you meant. Such as in one, it says:

This high output fan has the PWM circuitry required on todays latest motherboards. Attached to a 3-pin header, this fan will run at full power.

While I understand that PWN would conserve energy, this makes me think that connected to a 3 pin connector, that it would always run at full speed...true?

I can counteract that by connecting the fan to my fan controller, instead of the motherboard, but that would require more monitoring than an automatic speed control.

If I did go that route, I noticed that there are some fans that have much higher rpm and cfm than the fan that came with the cooler. If I got one of these stronger fans, would it be better to put it on the intake or exhaust side of the cooler? I'm thinking that a low speed or powered off fan would create an obstruction to airflow, but I don't know on which side it would be greater?

I guess that I can figure this out by trial and error, but it would be nice to have some input to do it right the first time.

seekermeister said:

I guess that I can figure this out by trial and error, but it would be nice to have some input to do it right the first time.

happy to help but I'm not sure what your asking exactly ?

ickymay said:

seekermeister said:

I guess that I can figure this out by trial and error, but it would be nice to have some input to do it right the first time.

happy to help but I'm not sure what your asking exactly ?

Thanks, but I'm not sure how to rephrase what I said to make it more clear, so I will probably have to figure it out on my own.

I had delayed "trying" to install this cooler, until just now, but I'm running into a couple of problems. Both attaching the fan to the cooler, and attaching the cooler to the CPU. Taking the fan first, the clips that are provided look like they should work, until I actually try to. The installation instructions has a picture, but as usual, is difficult to make out. On the fins of the cooler, there are slots cut at a 45° angle, which appears to be where the clips are supposed to catch. When placing a clip, hooked into the screw holes in the fan and trying to catch the slot, it isn't possible, because the clip is designed in a fashion that it merely lays on top of the slot, instead of inserting. I guess that I could bend the clips in a fashion that it might work, but I'm reluctant to do so, unless I know that it is necessary? If this is so, the clips are very poorly designed.

Second, the crossbar that is intended to hold the cooler to the CPU is designed in a fashion that the hooks that must reach the CPU's holddown ring, are too high to do so, and with the double flat crossbar, is not designed to permit bending.

The picture provided makes it appear that bith attachments are so simple, that what little textual instruction is given is so brief that it is meaningless, for it shouldn't be necessary. Since I know that others have used this cooler before, I'm sure that I must be overlooking the obvious, so I really could use a hand on this.

seekermeister said:

Since I know that others have used this cooler before, I'm sure that I must be overlooking the obvious, so I really could use a hand on this.

what's the exact name of the cooler your trying to fit and please can you post any links to it :)

It's the Hyper TX3, but no need now, I managed to mount it and the fan (bending the fan clips). The problem now is that when I powered on, there was no video or sound from the PC speaker, so I must have bent a pin on the CPU putting it back in. I'll rip it out and start over. Something that I'm curious about, since the cooler didn't come with a thermal pad, nor seemed to show it necessary in the instructions. Is there any reason that I shouldn't have pasted it? With the grooves formed by the heat pipes, I pasted it a bit heaver than usual so that it would ooze into the grooves.

EDIT: One reason for my question about pasting, is that on the box it speaks of 3 "Direct Contact" heat pipes, which implies that no paste should be used.

I forgot the link:

Hyper TX3 - Cooler Master

I can say one thing about this cooler, it would be a lot easier to install before installing the motherboard. A person needs three hands...one to hold the cooler in place, and one for each end of the two part mounting bar. Even with using just two hands, putting everything in place within the case is cramped and awkward.