{"id":16587,"date":"2022-04-18T18:55:03","date_gmt":"2022-04-18T16:55:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/g100.us\/?p=16587"},"modified":"2023-12-11T15:45:51","modified_gmt":"2023-12-11T14:45:51","slug":"system-fan-vs-cpu-fan-headers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/g100.us\/system-fan-vs-cpu-fan-headers\/","title":{"rendered":"System FAN vs CPU FAN Headers - Difference &#038; When to Use Which"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_39 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">TABLE OF CONTENTS<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-668447627bd41\" class=\"cssicon\"><span style=\"display: flex;align-items: center;width: 35px;height: 30px;justify-content: center;direction:ltr;\"><svg style=\"fill: #7f11e0;color:#7f11e0\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\" \/><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #7f11e0;color:#7f11e0\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\" \/><\/svg><\/span><\/label><label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-668447627bd41\" class=\"cssiconcheckbox\">1<\/label><input type=\"checkbox\" id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-668447627bd41\" checked><nav><ul class=\"ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 \"><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/system-fan-vs-cpu-fan-headers\/#System_Fan_vs_CPU_Fan_Headers_Main_Differences\" title=\"System Fan vs. CPU Fan Headers | Main Differences\">System Fan vs. CPU Fan Headers | Main Differences<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/system-fan-vs-cpu-fan-headers\/#Types_of_PC_Fan_Connector_Labels\" title=\"Types of PC Fan Connector Labels\">Types of PC Fan Connector Labels<\/a><ul class=\"ez-toc-list-level-3\"><li class=\"ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/system-fan-vs-cpu-fan-headers\/#SYS_FAN\" title=\"SYS_FAN\">SYS_FAN<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/system-fan-vs-cpu-fan-headers\/#CHA_FAN\" title=\"CHA_FAN\">CHA_FAN<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/system-fan-vs-cpu-fan-headers\/#CPU_FAN\" title=\"CPU_FAN\">CPU_FAN<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/system-fan-vs-cpu-fan-headers\/#CPU_OPT\" title=\"CPU_OPT\">CPU_OPT<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/system-fan-vs-cpu-fan-headers\/#3_Pin_vs_4_Pin_Fan_Headers\" title=\"3 Pin vs 4 Pin Fan Headers\">3 Pin vs 4 Pin Fan Headers<\/a><ul class=\"ez-toc-list-level-3\"><li class=\"ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/system-fan-vs-cpu-fan-headers\/#3_Pin_Fan_Headers\" title=\"3 Pin Fan Headers\">3 Pin Fan Headers<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/system-fan-vs-cpu-fan-headers\/#4_Pin_Fan_Headers\" title=\"4 Pin Fan Headers\">4 Pin Fan Headers<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/system-fan-vs-cpu-fan-headers\/#Summary\" title=\"Summary\">Summary<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/system-fan-vs-cpu-fan-headers\/#FAQ\" title=\"FAQ\">FAQ<\/a><ul class=\"ez-toc-list-level-3\"><li class=\"ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/system-fan-vs-cpu-fan-headers\/#Is_CPU_Fan_Header_the_Same_as_System_Fan_Header\" title=\"Is CPU Fan Header the Same as System Fan Header?\">Is CPU Fan Header the Same as System Fan Header?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/system-fan-vs-cpu-fan-headers\/#What_are_System_Fan_Headers_Used_for\" title=\"What are System Fan Headers Used for?\">What are System Fan Headers Used for?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/system-fan-vs-cpu-fan-headers\/#How_Many_Fan_Headers_does_a_Motherboard_have\" title=\"How Many Fan Headers does a Motherboard have?\">How Many Fan Headers does a Motherboard have?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/system-fan-vs-cpu-fan-headers\/#Where_to_Find_System_and_CPU_Fan_Headers\" title=\"Where to Find System and CPU Fan Headers?\">Where to Find System and CPU Fan Headers?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/system-fan-vs-cpu-fan-headers\/#What_is_the_CPU_OPT_Header_Used_for\" title=\"What is the CPU_OPT Header Used for?\">What is the CPU_OPT Header Used for?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/system-fan-vs-cpu-fan-headers\/#Over_to_You\" title=\"Over to You\">Over to You<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p>You\u2019re ready to plug in those Case or CPU fans but you\u2019ve stumbled upon terminology you\u2019re not all that familiar with?<\/p>\n<p>Your Motherboard has CPU_FAN and SYS_FAN fan headers - but what's the difference and which one should you use?<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"System_Fan_vs_CPU_Fan_Headers_Main_Differences\"><\/span><strong>System Fan vs. CPU Fan Headers | Main Differences<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The differences between system fan and CPU fan headers are subtle, but they do exist.<\/p>\n<p>For starters, if you don\u2019t plug your CPU fan into your motherboard\u2019s CPU_FAN header, your system probably won\u2019t even boot.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s because <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/best-motherboard-brands\/\">motherboard manufacturers<\/a> created safety measures to prevent CPUs from overheating, and if they detect that no fan has been connected to the CPU_FAN header, they\u2019ll assume it's missing and won't allow you to boot.<\/p>\n<p>As for system fan headers, even if you have zero case fans installed, your PC won't be bothered by that and boot just fine. System Fan headers won't throw an error on missing fans.<\/p>\n<p>However, without a single case fan, your airflow will suffer and you\u2019re likely to experience <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/thermal-throttling-guide\/\"><strong>thermal throttling<\/strong><\/a>, especially if you\u2019re running a powerful rig.<\/p>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-16600\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/04\/What-is-Thermal-Throttling-1.jpg\" alt=\"What is Thermal Throttling\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/04\/What-is-Thermal-Throttling-1.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/04\/What-is-Thermal-Throttling-1-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/04\/What-is-Thermal-Throttling-1-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/04\/What-is-Thermal-Throttling-1-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/04\/What-is-Thermal-Throttling-1-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-16600 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"What is Thermal Throttling\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/04\/What-is-Thermal-Throttling-1.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/04\/What-is-Thermal-Throttling-1-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/04\/What-is-Thermal-Throttling-1-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/04\/What-is-Thermal-Throttling-1-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/04\/What-is-Thermal-Throttling-1-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/04\/What-is-Thermal-Throttling-1.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p>If your CPU heatsink possesses more than one fan and your motherboard doesn\u2019t have a CPU_OPT header, you\u2019re free to use one of your SYS_FAN headers instead.<\/p>\n<p>Since CPU fans come with PWM, make sure you connect them to a 4-pin system fan header.<\/p>\n<p>In your BIOS you'll generally be able to then ramp that additional CPU FAN up and down based on your CPU's temperature - if set up correctly.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Types_of_PC_Fan_Connector_Labels\"><\/span><strong>Types of PC Fan Connector Labels<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Here are the four main types of PC fan connector labels you\u2019ll find on your motherboard:<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"SYS_FAN\"><\/span><strong>SYS_FAN<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Standard system fan headers, also known as <strong>case\/chassis fan headers<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-16597\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/04\/SYS_FAN.jpg\" alt=\"SYS_FAN\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/04\/SYS_FAN.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/04\/SYS_FAN-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/04\/SYS_FAN-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/04\/SYS_FAN-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/04\/SYS_FAN-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-16597 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"SYS_FAN\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/04\/SYS_FAN.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/04\/SYS_FAN-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/04\/SYS_FAN-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/04\/SYS_FAN-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/04\/SYS_FAN-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/04\/SYS_FAN.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p>Typically labeled as SYS_FAN, these headers are used for powering (and controlling) system fans. &#8220;System&#8221; being another word for case.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"CHA_FAN\"><\/span><strong>CHA_FAN<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Most <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/best-motherboard-brands\/\"><strong>motherboard brands<\/strong><\/a> label system fans as chassis fans and use CHA_FAN labels instead of SYS_FAN.<\/p>\n<p>These two are the same thing \u2013 <strong>they are used for powering and controlling case fans<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"CPU_FAN\"><\/span><strong>CPU_FAN<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>CPU_FAN header possesses four pins and is typically located near the CPU socket.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_16598\" style=\"width: 2048px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-16598\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-16598\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/04\/CPU_FAN.jpg\" alt=\"CPU_FAN\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/04\/CPU_FAN.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/04\/CPU_FAN-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/04\/CPU_FAN-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/04\/CPU_FAN-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/04\/CPU_FAN-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\"><\/noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-16598\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-16598 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"CPU_FAN\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/04\/CPU_FAN.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/04\/CPU_FAN-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/04\/CPU_FAN-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/04\/CPU_FAN-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/04\/CPU_FAN-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/04\/CPU_FAN.jpg\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-16598\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">CPU Fan Header of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.msi.com\/Motherboard\/B450-TOMAHAWK\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">MSI B450 Tomahawk<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<p>It is used for powering and controlling the speed of the CPU fan, <strong>based on <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/cpu-temperature-guide\/\">CPU temperature<\/a> data<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"CPU_OPT\"><\/span><strong>CPU_OPT<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/cpu-fan-vs-cpu-opt\/\"><strong>CPU_FAN and CPU_OPT<\/strong><\/a> are not the same!<\/p>\n<p>CPU_OPT stands for <strong>CPU Optional<\/strong>, this header is meant to power up the secondary CPU fan, though people often use it for powering AIO or liquid cooling systems too.<\/p>\n<p>Keep in mind that the system will boot even if there\u2019s no CPU_OPT fan connected. That\u2019s the only difference between CPU_FAN and CPU_OPT.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_15401\" style=\"width: 619px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-15401\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-15401\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/01\/Motherboard-CPU-OPT-and-CPU-FAN-Headers-1.jpg\" alt=\"Motherboard CPU OPT and CPU FAN Headers\" width=\"619\" height=\"411\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/01\/Motherboard-CPU-OPT-and-CPU-FAN-Headers-1.jpg 619w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/01\/Motherboard-CPU-OPT-and-CPU-FAN-Headers-1-300x199.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 619px) 100vw, 619px\"><\/noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-15401\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-15401 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20619%20411%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Motherboard CPU OPT and CPU FAN Headers\" width=\"619\" height=\"411\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20619%20411%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 619w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 619px) 100vw, 619px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/01\/Motherboard-CPU-OPT-and-CPU-FAN-Headers-1.jpg 619w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/01\/Motherboard-CPU-OPT-and-CPU-FAN-Headers-1-300x199.jpg 300w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/01\/Motherboard-CPU-OPT-and-CPU-FAN-Headers-1.jpg\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-15401\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Motherboard CPU_OPT and CPU_FAN Headers<\/p><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Pin_vs_4_Pin_Fan_Headers\"><\/span><strong>3 Pin vs 4 Pin Fan Headers<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>PC fan headers typically come with either three or four pins.<\/p>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-16599\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/04\/3-pin-vs-4-Pin-Fan-Headers.jpg\" alt=\"3-pin vs 4-Pin Fan Headers\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/04\/3-pin-vs-4-Pin-Fan-Headers.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/04\/3-pin-vs-4-Pin-Fan-Headers-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/04\/3-pin-vs-4-Pin-Fan-Headers-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/04\/3-pin-vs-4-Pin-Fan-Headers-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/04\/3-pin-vs-4-Pin-Fan-Headers-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-16599 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"3-pin vs 4-Pin Fan Headers\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/04\/3-pin-vs-4-Pin-Fan-Headers.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/04\/3-pin-vs-4-Pin-Fan-Headers-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/04\/3-pin-vs-4-Pin-Fan-Headers-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/04\/3-pin-vs-4-Pin-Fan-Headers-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/04\/3-pin-vs-4-Pin-Fan-Headers-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/04\/3-pin-vs-4-Pin-Fan-Headers.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p>CPU fans have four wires because they need <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/pwm-dc-system-fans\/\">pulse width modulation<\/a> to work properly.<\/p>\n<p>Most case fans these days also come with four wires, though you can still find lots of models with three.<\/p>\n<p><em>What\u2019s the difference?<\/em><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Pin_Fan_Headers\"><\/span><strong>3 Pin Fan Headers<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>First pin \u2013 ground<\/li>\n<li>Second pin \u2013 power (4 to 12v)<\/li>\n<li>Third pin \u2013 tachometric signal (speed sensor)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The latter monitors the fan\u2019s speed. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.analog.com\/en\/analog-dialogue\/articles\/how-to-control-fan-speed.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>tachometric signal<\/strong><\/a> can adjust the fan\u2019s rotation speed (rpm) by increasing and decreasing the voltage (between 5 to 12v).<\/p>\n<p>Keep in mind that 3-pin fan headers don\u2019t have the accuracy or RPM range of their 4-pin counterparts.<\/p>\n<p>Their life expectancy is also much lower than that of their 4-pin counterparts, but they <strong>tend to be significantly cheaper.<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_Pin_Fan_Headers\"><\/span><strong>4 Pin Fan Headers<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>First pin \u2013 ground<\/li>\n<li>Second pin \u2013 power (4 to 12v)<\/li>\n<li>Third pin \u2013 tachometric signal (speed sensor)<\/li>\n<li>Fourth pin \u2013 pulse width modulation (PWM) [control]<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Keep in mind that you <em>can <\/em>install fans with three pins to four-pin system fan headers. <strong>You just need to align them properly<\/strong>. Of course, you won\u2019t have PWM benefits.<\/p>\n<p>Additional benefits of 4 pin fans include longer life expectancy, less noise production, and superb speed adjustments.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Summary\"><\/span><strong>Summary<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Here\u2019s what we\u2019ve learned so far:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>CPU_FAN label marks the header on which you\u2019re supposed to connect the CPU fan connector.<\/li>\n<li>CPU_OPT label marks the header on which you\u2019re supposed to connect the secondary CPU fan (if it exists), but people often use it for AIO and liquid cooling solutions.<\/li>\n<li>SYS_FAN or CHA_FAN marks the header(s) on which you\u2019re supposed to connect all of your additional system\/case\/chassis fans.<\/li>\n<li>CPU_FAN header needs to have a fan connected otherwise your system might not boot (depends on your motherboard).<\/li>\n<li>You can install 3-pin fans to 4-pin fan headers. However, you will lose the benefits of PWM.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQ\"><\/span><strong>FAQ<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_CPU_Fan_Header_the_Same_as_System_Fan_Header\"><\/span><strong>Is CPU Fan Header the Same as System Fan Header?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>No, CPU fan headers and system fan headers serve different purposes.<\/p>\n<p>CPU_FAN headers are used to power the fan of your CPU.<\/p>\n<p>They typically have four pins, which means their speed can be adjusted <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/what-are-good-idle-cpu-temps\/\">based on the CPU temp data<\/a>, either through dedicated software, BIOS, or the operating system itself.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_are_System_Fan_Headers_Used_for\"><\/span><strong>What are System Fan Headers Used for?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>System fan headers, headers other than CPU_FAN, are used for connecting case\/chassis fans and creating an optimal airflow for the system.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Many_Fan_Headers_does_a_Motherboard_have\"><\/span><strong>How Many Fan Headers does a Motherboard have?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Typically, all low-end motherboards have at least two fan headers, one for the CPU and another one for a case fan.<\/p>\n<p>However, more powerful PCs require superior airflow so high-end motherboards tend to have 6+ fan headers. Alongside CPU_FAN, they have CPU_OPT, SYS_FANS,<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Where_to_Find_System_and_CPU_Fan_Headers\"><\/span><strong>Where to Find System and CPU Fan Headers?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>CPU fan headers are typically located in close proximity to the CPU socket.<\/p>\n<p>They are labeled with CPU_FAN or CPUFAN marks, though high-end boards will also have CPU_OPT headers too.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_the_CPU_OPT_Header_Used_for\"><\/span><strong>What is the CPU_OPT Header Used for?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>CPU_OPT header (stands for CPU Optional) is the same thing as your regular CPU_FAN header.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s basically the secondary header for connecting either the additional fan on bulky CPU cooling solutions or AIO or liquid cooling systems.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_15401\" style=\"width: 619px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-15401\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-with-border wp-image-15401 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/01\/Motherboard-CPU-OPT-and-CPU-FAN-Headers-1.jpg\" alt=\"Motherboard CPU OPT and CPU FAN Headers\" width=\"619\" height=\"411\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/01\/Motherboard-CPU-OPT-and-CPU-FAN-Headers-1.jpg 619w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/01\/Motherboard-CPU-OPT-and-CPU-FAN-Headers-1-300x199.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 619px) 100vw, 619px\"><\/noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-15401\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-with-border wp-image-15401 size-full lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20619%20411%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Motherboard CPU OPT and CPU FAN Headers\" width=\"619\" height=\"411\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20619%20411%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 619w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 619px) 100vw, 619px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/01\/Motherboard-CPU-OPT-and-CPU-FAN-Headers-1.jpg 619w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/01\/Motherboard-CPU-OPT-and-CPU-FAN-Headers-1-300x199.jpg 300w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/01\/Motherboard-CPU-OPT-and-CPU-FAN-Headers-1.jpg\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-15401\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Motherboard CPU_OPT and CPU_FAN Headers<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The only difference between CPU_OPT and CPU_FAN isn\u2019t in their pins \u2013 they both have four, meaning they can <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/cpu-fan-rpm-guide\/\">control fan speed<\/a> and voltage based on CPU temp data.<\/p>\n<p>The difference lies in the fact CPU_OPT doesn\u2019t have to be connected for the system to boot properly without any errors.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Over_to_You\"><\/span><strong>Over to You<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>That would be all for today\u2019s piece, ladies and gentlemen!<\/p>\n<p>What are your thoughts on system fan and CPU fan headers? How are you dealing with your workstation\u2019s airflow?<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>If you have more questions, hit us up in the <a href=\"#comments\">comments<\/a> below or our <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/forum\/\">forum<\/a> with whatever issues you might have that involve either system fan or CPU fan dilemmas.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>You\u2019re ready to plug in those Case or CPU fans but you\u2019ve stumbled upon terminology you\u2019re not all that familiar with? Your Motherboard has CPU_FAN and SYS_FAN fan headers - but what's the difference and which one should you use? System Fan vs. CPU Fan Headers | Main Differences The differences between system fan and...<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2343,"featured_media":16590,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[74],"tags":[181,117],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16587"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2343"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16587"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16587\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24888,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16587\/revisions\/24888"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16590"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16587"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16587"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16587"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}