Fixing the "fan failure alert" on a Dell...
I had to do this a while back, and I wanted to post how to do it for anyone else that might need it. I KNOW this works on the Dell GX110s, at least the ones with slot 1 boards. It may work on other Dells too, you'd have to test it.
After doing some reading and some testing, I determined that Dell doesn't use the 3rd lead as a fan speed lead the way all industry-standard boards and fans do. Instead, at least on the GX110, when the fan is spinning, that lead carries +12v. When the fan is stopped, the lead carries no voltage. So, i simply soldered a jumper wire between the +12v pin on the fan header and the sensor pin. Problem solved.
Note that you can't/shouldn't do this and then use a 3 pin fan on that header; you'll probably fry the RPM sensor. Use a 4-pin fan or use a 3-4 pin adapter.
After doing some reading and some testing, I determined that Dell doesn't use the 3rd lead as a fan speed lead the way all industry-standard boards and fans do. Instead, at least on the GX110, when the fan is spinning, that lead carries +12v. When the fan is stopped, the lead carries no voltage. So, i simply soldered a jumper wire between the +12v pin on the fan header and the sensor pin. Problem solved.
Note that you can't/shouldn't do this and then use a 3 pin fan on that header; you'll probably fry the RPM sensor. Use a 4-pin fan or use a 3-4 pin adapter.
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