The motherboard is the backbone of any computer. It determines which components can be connected to it, and therefore - what the machine will be capable of. All connections are easy to make yourself if you know what and how to do.

The first thing to do is connect the power supply. As the name suggests, it will supply electricity to all components. It has the following connectors:

  • 24-pin (less often - 20) to motherboard with various "lines" for 3, 5 and 12 V .;
  • 4-pin for 12 V;
  • sata and molex
  • drive power.

All connectors have a specific design, thanks to which it is impossible to connect them incorrectly. Therefore, if the "power" does not enter the slot without difficulty, you do not need to connect them by force. Nothing good will come of it. Correct connection will be tightly fixed and accompanied by a characteristic click. If everything is done correctly, all that remains is to power the Power button, which turns on the computer, as well as Reset and the built-in speaker of the motherboard. Focusing on the pictures, we connect the corresponding sockets along the edges of the board with the connectors marked "POWER SW" and "RESET SW". The necessary "pins" on the board are indicated by abbreviations, like PW and RES. Any connectors labeled LED power signal lights responsible for various notifications. At this point, it is worth mentioning that incorrectly connected wires are not fatal. The chips won't burn out, so if the computer won't start, just make sure everything is connected properly.

To connect hard drive or the drive will require an IDE ATA, SATA, or eSATA cable, depending on the hardware you have. It is very difficult to confuse them, so just carefully look at the motherboard and the device. Be careful with proper SATA placement so you don't break the thin pin legs. Do not forget to separately supply power to the components from the power supply, as shown in the photo.

What and how to connect on the rear panel of the system unit? These connectors also lead to the motherboard. Everything is simple here. At the top is the power socket. You can recognize it by the grill placed next to it with a cooler that leads to the power supply. Below are two slots, green and purple for connecting to a ps / 2 keyboard or mouse, respectively. Next are several usb connectors, which, if desired, can replace ps / 2, and vertically placed slots for connecting to various video equipment. For additional fixation, they can be screwed with miniature bolts. Three round jacks of the same or different colors - connectors for audio devices (speakers, microphone, headphones, etc.). Even lower is the modem input with a plastic latch and various slots for connecting special devices.

As we saw from the article, there is nothing complicated in connecting wires to the motherboard. This process can be performed by any user by simply connecting the desired connector to a slot of the appropriate shape. The main thing is not to rush and make all connections without the use of force, so that the equipment remains in working condition.

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How to connect wires to the motherboard: step by step instructions

When assembling a computer, you definitely need to know how to connect wires to the motherboard, because without this knowledge nothing will work at all. This stage is carried out when all components are already installed in the case. That is, the motherboard itself, the power supply, the hard drive are in their places. It is also desirable to install the motherboard in the PCI-E slot and screw it to the case. Only now you need to connect the wires to the motherboard. How to do it? We will talk about this now.

How to connect wires to Asus, ASRock, MIS and other motherboards?

It is important to immediately note the fact that the method described below is highly generalized. Different motherboards will connect a little differently. That is, there may be some differences, but the principle remains the same. Let's start by explaining and connecting the body connectors: power button, reset, USB ports.

Connecting connectors

Before you connect the wires from the power supply to the motherboard, you need to connect the connectors to it. It is important to understand here that they all have protection against incorrect connection, so you need to insert them very carefully, without any effort.

Please note that each connector has a label that describes its purpose. There is also a marking on the motherboard, but it is missing on some models. The description of the terminals can only be found in the instructions for the motherboard.

We connect the first connector marked M / B SW. He is responsible for the power button on the case. It may also be called POWER SW. Take a close look at the motherboard (bottom right), if there are a couple of contacts marked POWER. If there is, then it is on them that you need to fasten this connector. If there is no such inscription, then open the instructions for the board and look for the diagram there.

The second connector marked RESET SW is responsible for the reset button. By analogy with POWER, we connect the RESET SW connector. If there is no indication on the board, then we look in the instructions for the motherboard, which contacts need to be closed.

There are also wires marked POWER LED + and POWER LED-, thanks to which the light bulbs on the system unit case glow. Here it is important to connect them correctly and not confuse plus and minus in places. Be sure to check the instructions.

Do not forget about the USB connectors on the case. If you want to be able to insert flash drives into the sockets on the case, and not directly into the motherboard, then you need to connect the USB connectors. They are marked as USB. The Audi wire is responsible for connecting the 3.5 mm Jack connector, which is used for headphones or speakers.

Let us remind you once again that it is important to know how to connect the power-on wires to the motherboard correctly. And if you have to forcefully stick the connector, then most likely you are doing something wrong. After the connector wires are connected to the motherboard, you can proceed to the power supply.

Processor power connection

The central processor is placed on the socket allotted for it, and a radiator with a cooler is put on it. No wire is connected to the processor itself. Its power is supplied from the motherboard, and the wire is connected directly to it. The power socket is located next to the processor. See if there is a 4-pin socket nearby. The instructions for the motherboard must indicate its location, but it can be seen even with a cursory examination of the board.

A 4-wire wire is connected to the processor power socket. Usually it is the only one here, so you are unlikely to make a mistake.

Connecting the Motherboard Main Power Cable

This is the largest cable. It consists of twenty connectors (pins), and in addition to it, 4 more separate connectors are attached. It turns out that the motherboard is connected through 24 connectors. And since the only wire with so many pins comes out of the power supply, you can’t make a mistake in its definition. In addition, there is a special latch at the end of the connector that prevents the cable from being inserted incorrectly into the connector.

When connecting, make sure that this design fits into the socket and snaps into place.

Connecting a video card

If you are using a processor with an integrated graphics card, then there will be no video card connection. But most often, users prefer to use powerful graphics platforms that connect via a PCI-E connector and require additional power.

The video card is powered by a 4-pin connector. The place for power, depending on the model of the video card, may be somewhere on the side, but most often it is located at the back. If the video card is very powerful and demanding on power, then it can also be powered from a 6-pin connector. Therefore, when choosing a power supply, pay attention to which ones and how many wires it has for power. When connecting the card, the connector should click into place - pay attention to this.

Connecting a hard drive

The hard drive is connected to the motherboard via a SATA cable. On the motherboard (somewhere on the right side) there are usually 4 SATA connectors, where it says: SATA1, SATA2, SATA3, SATA4. Choose the first one and connect a hard drive to it.

A SATA cable has identical connectors on both ends. But this is not enough. The hard drive also requires power and is usually connected to the unit via a 4-pin connector. Therefore, connect a cable with four cores to it. By analogy, an optical drive for discs is also connected, but they are now extremely rarely used.

Connecting RAM

We figured out where to connect the wires on the motherboard, and that RAM simply plugs into the connectors and does not require wiring. Your board has 2-4 RAM slots. Insert the memory there (note that there is protection against incorrect insertion) and press down a little. The click sound will indicate that the memory has fallen into place.

Well, that's all, now you know how to properly connect the wires to the motherboard, and you can do it yourself. We add that the developers are trying to make their hardware as convenient as possible for connection. Therefore, you will definitely be able to assemble this "constructor", because even if you wish, you will not be able to connect the wrong wires to the wrong sockets. From this there is reliable protection.

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Connecting wires to the motherboard

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Good time to all.

Now we will try to understand intelligibly what kind of wires are connected to the motherboard, as well as which wire to which connector. to the store for the power supply, for example.

So, as the most basic components, we need: Motherboard (it is unlikely that we will be able to forget about buying it); Power supply (the bulk of the wires from it is connected to system board); Necessary loops; As "other" you can mention a hard drive, DVD drive, etc.

Well, let's start connecting the wires to the motherboard!

1. This is how the connector looks like, to which we will connect the cable (wire) from the power supply (1).

And this is how the cable that comes from the power supply and connects to this connector will look like.

Immediately I ask you to pay attention to the fact that there is a 24 pin connector in front of you (this is the number of pins), there are also connectors for 20 pin.

This is what the connector and cable look like after connection:

2. The number 2 in the figure above marks the connector to which the power cable is connected CPU which (cable) looks like this:

I think that there is no need to remind that the latch, which is on one side of the cable, must snap tightly onto the connector in order to avoid a sudden power off.3. Point 3 on our system board is marked with a floppy connector (a device designed to read floppy disks, now found mainly on older computers). I must say right away that outwardly it is very similar to the IDE ATA port (4), but if you look closely, you will immediately see that IDE ATA is a little wider. The cable with which we can connect the flop to our "meter" has the following appearance:

4. Now we will talk about the connector for IDE connections ATA (attention to the figure - number 4). If someone does not know or does not remember, then you can connect a hard drive or DVD drive, provided that your device has an IDE ATA interface. This is the cable with which we will connect the equipment to the IDE ATA connector:

As you remember, we can simultaneously connect two devices to the IDE ATA connector, and this is clearly visible on the image: we connect one end to the motherboard, and we can use the other two at our discretion.

I hasten to please you, dear lovers computer world, the connection of wires to the motherboard does not end there, and we move on.

5. Now it's time to talk about Sata connectors. In the first picture of the motherboard, these connectors are labeled 5.

And this is the appearance of the cable that connects to the Sata connector. These cables are used to connect to the motherboard. hard drives and CD-DVD drives and Sata-interface. As an example, you can look at the figure below, where a hard drive (hard drive) is connected to the described connector.

As you can see, making a mistake with connecting wires to the motherboard is not as easy as it might seem at the initial stage.6. Another connector that can connect to your motherboard is External Serial ATA (eSATA). Below is an image of the connector itself and the cable that we can connect to it.

7. Since we are already engaged in connecting the wires to the motherboard, let's immediately connect the wires from the power supply to the hard drive and to CD-DVD drive.

Let's assume that everyone understood that now we have connected the power wire to the hard drive, by the way, the wire itself looks like this (when connecting the CD-DVD drive, the same wire is used):

A direct connection to the CD-DVD drive looks like this:

I hope you're not tired yet, as we're still making connections to the motherboard! 8. Now we are next in line to connect the front panel, that is, connect the Power, Reset buttons to the system board, as well as diodes from the front panel.

And now, WARNING! In order to correctly connect the power and reset buttons, together with the LEDs, you will need an instruction manual for the motherboard. The wires coming from the aforementioned buttons and diodes are usually signed, so you just have to look in the instructions for the places to connect these wires. Look at the pictures, and everything will immediately become clear to you.

The table in the instructions for your motherboard will look something like this:

I beg your pardon, but I'm not good at drawing, so I just redrawn the table from the instructions for my motherboard. connectors.

9. Look at the back panel:

Again, let me remind you that I am not strong in drawing, so I show what I can do. Now let's go through the points: a) PS / 2 - a mouse is connected to this output, unless, of course, it is connected via USB. Moreover, this connector is always green.b) PS/2 - a connector for connecting a keyboard, if, as in the case of a mouse, it is not connected via a USB connector. This connector is permanently colored purple.c) Digital input.d) Digital output.e) Connector for connection network cable, that is, through this port you can connect to local network or the Internet using an external modem.f) Outputs for connecting speakers, headphones, and a microphone.g) USB ports, which can definitely be called universal, since a large number of peripheral equipment is connected through these connectors (printer, scanner, etc.). d.).

This concludes our study of connecting wires to the motherboard. If you would like to receive some Additional information or you think that I made a mistake somewhere or was completely wrong, then you can leave a comment on the article or just write me a letter using the "Contacts" tab in the site menu for this.

You might also be interested in reading this article:

Front panel connection and more.

Getting ready to mount the motherboard.

Basic computer devices.

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Connecting wires to the motherboard: instructions

One of the important steps in assembling a computer involves connecting wires to the motherboard. Given that different compounds there is enough, it is necessary to clarify some points. And although motherboard and power supply manufacturers try to make all connectors intuitive for the user, problems sometimes arise.

Motherboard wiring instructions (MSI, ASUS, ASRock, etc.)

We note right away that the example below is not valid for all models and types of boards. It describes the general picture of connecting wires to the motherboard, but all sorts of small differences can always be present. We'll start by connecting the connectors. It is assumed that the motherboard is already screwed to the case and ready for connection. Also, the power supply is already installed and screwed.

Connecting connectors

The very first stage is the connection of the Power, Reset buttons on the case panel. We will also connect the power for the LEDs, which perform the function of indicating the operation of the computer. These wires are routed away from the front of the case and they come in different colors (yellow, red, etc.). At their end are connectors. Each of them has a special abbreviated marking. They need to be connected to the motherboard in the slots reserved specifically for them.

It is worth noting that all connectors have protection against incorrect connection, so you are unlikely to be able to insert a connector into the wrong connector. It is important that the connection occurs smoothly, without any effort.

The connector that comes from the power button on the case is labeled M/B SW. Open the instructions for your specific motherboard and see where you need to insert it. It has no plus or minus, so it can be inserted in either direction.

The second connector is responsible for the reset button, it is labeled RESET SW.

There are also two more small single connectors with plus and minus indications and marking POWER LED + and "-". They are responsible for indicating the operation of the computer. It is important not to confuse "plus" and "minus" in places, so be sure to check the instructions.

A hard disk LED without a plus or minus indication is labeled as H.D.D LED. However, it must be installed with a white wire to minus.

To be able to connect headphones to the case and not to the motherboard, you need to connect the AUDIO connectors. The sockets on the motherboard are also marked as AUDIO, but check the instructions before connecting.

The same is true for USB connectors. They need to be inserted into the slots on the board marked USB. Recall that if the connection of wires to the motherboard of Asus (or other manufacturers) is carried out with great effort, then there is a possibility that you made a mistake with the socket or connector. The latter have protection against incorrect connection, and you simply cannot physically insert them into inappropriate sockets.

Most often, connector sockets are located in the lower right corner - look for them there.

Connecting the processor power connector

Now it's about connecting the wires to the motherboard that come out of the power supply. First of all, we connect the processor. The socket for its power is always located next to the processor itself, but we will not indicate the exact location, since it is individual for different models.

So, a 4-wire wire comes out of the power supply, which is connected to the processor socket. Most likely, it will be the only one on the motherboard, so it is unlikely that you will be able to insert the connector into any other socket. And yes, it also has a special key from incorrect inclusion.

Main cable connection

The main power cable for the motherboard is the largest. In addition to it comes a separate 4-wire connector. Take them together and connect to the motherboard in the only existing connector. Connectors have special latches. Therefore, when connecting, make sure that this entire massive structure snaps into place on a special ledge in the connector itself.

RAM

The RAM sticks connect wirelessly. Here the contact method is used. For RAM, there are special slots with latches. They need to be pushed aside and the slots (or slot, if there is one) inserted in the only correct way due to the cut in the slot and on the bar itself. You need to insert the bar carefully, slightly pressing down from above. The clamps should gradually converge and snap into place as a result.

Be careful not to push too hard, otherwise the motherboard will bend. Thus, it is necessary to insert all the strips.

Connecting SATA and IDE Devices

The hard drive is connected to the motherboard using a special SATA cable. It usually has a red color. Both ends of the SATA cable have the same connectors. Connect one to the hard drive (there is also a key to prevent incorrect connection), and the second to the connector on the motherboard marked SATA 1. Typically, there are 2-4 such connectors on motherboards. You can choose any. After connecting the SATA cable, connect the power. In the rightmost hole (usually it is the rightmost one), turn on the connector, to which 4 wires from the power supply are connected.

An optical drive is connected via an IDE cable. But today, modern computers are not equipped with disk drives due to their uselessness.

Connecting a video card

The final stage of connecting the wires to the motherboard is the installation of a video card. It is installed in the PCI-E slot, which is marked accordingly. In fact, you won't be able to plug the graphics chip into any other socket. Depending on the model of the motherboard, the video card is fixed or not fixed with a special clip, but it is always attached to the case with a screw.

Powerful video cards need additional power from the block. If there is a power connector at the very end of the video card, be sure to use it. After connecting, we do not have free wires from the power supply. However, they may remain if you do not have an optical drive installed. On this, the instructions for connecting the wires of the motherboard can be considered complete.

Close the case cover and turn on the computer. Everything should work. But even if when connecting wires to the motherboard Gigabyte board(or another brand) you forgot to supply power to any component, then there is nothing to worry about. It just won't start the computer, but that won't hurt anything.

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How to connect the front panel connectors of a computer - SysAdmin Notes

Good day, dear readers. This is an article that is a small addition to the once written material on assembling a computer under the same name “Assembling a computer with our own hands” or “What is what in a computer, part 2″.

We will talk about a small missed, but important element - connecting connectors (all sorts of buttons, bulbs, etc.) of the front panel of the case. Go.

On the front panel of the system unit, there are usually power buttons and a manual reset of the computer. They also need to be properly connected to the motherboard. Connection cables are usually made in the form of pins (see above for what pins are). They look something like this:

Power SW - power button cable; Power LED + - - power indicator (bulb) cables; HDD LED - hard disk loading indicator cable (the same light that usually blinks); RESET SW - reset button cable.

Their correct connection is also important, because without this the computer simply will not turn on. Each motherboard has a so-called Front panel contact block, or F-Panel for short. Usually it is located in the lower right corner of the board, but there are exceptions. This is how it looks like:

The pins are connected manually, and for this, there are always tips in the accompanying documents to the motherboard.

If there are documents, then it is not difficult to connect the pins. If not, there are hints on the motherboard itself around or next to the F-Panel. If you are lucky many times, then the motherboard comes with the following adapter:

In which you simply stick, as shown above, the connectors themselves, and then this adapter to the motherboard and everything turns out quickly and simply. But not everyone is so lucky, and you probably got here because you are trying to connect everything for an already former (and not new) motherboard.

In addition, on the front panel of the system unit there are sometimes USB interface connectors (usually a couple of them) and ports for connecting headphones / speakers and a microphone. It looks something like this:

Cable pins for connecting these external USB ports inside the system unit look like this:

They are connected to the pin blocks on the motherboard, which are called F-USB1 and F-USB2, respectively (they may not look exactly the same in color and location as in the screenshot below, but everything is the same in shape and number / location of pins):

The ports for connecting external audio inputs look approximately the same - only the position / number of pins differs.

It’s easy to connect them (they simply won’t fit into other pin blocks). But for them, there are also hints in the accompanying documents for the motherboard:

Actually, everything and nothing complicated in this.

Usually it is at least somehow, but symbolically signed, since from the second or third time you can guess what is there and connect everything correctly. The wires are connected, as a rule, with an inscription on themselves:

Occasionally, the second row (far) looks the other way with inscriptions, but this is quite rare. One way or another, as I wrote above, not from the first, so from the second time - guess :)

If you can’t see anything (whether your eyesight is weak or the inscriptions are poorly spelled out), then open the motherboard manufacturer’s website and look for the “Support” section (or something like that), where you can usually download the instructions from the motherboard, where it is always described connection.

If you couldn’t find it on the manufacturer’s website, then you can find it on the Internet by querying “board name” + the word manual, with a minimum knowledge of English, you will definitely find a place to download, and there you can open, look and connect.

PS: The computer hardware shown in the pictures is shown for illustration purposes only. No ads. PS2: The article was written by a person who lives on the net under the nickname Simoro (a friend and assistant to the project). For which many thanks to him.

How to find out if the processor is suitable for the motherboard

The front panel on the case of the system unit is in no way connected with the rest of the "insides" of the computer. This means that when manually disconnecting for the purpose of cleaning or, which is a little more difficult, when replacing the motherboard, you will have to connect the front panel yourself. Next, it will be described in detail how to do this as correctly as possible.

Steps for connecting the front panel to the motherboard

Consider the main points in connecting the front panel to the "motherboard":

Stage 1

The first step is to find the main cable with 4 (sometimes 5-6) plugs. There may be some difference in names, colors, etc.

There can be many more plugs, it depends on the type of front panel / motherboard. But following the scheme on the "motherboard", it will not be difficult to connect them all without error. The description of the scheme is a little further in the article.


The plugs located in the photo above mean the following:
  • POWERSW (or PWRBTN) - Activates panel manipulation.
  • H.D.D.LED (or HDLED) - a light that blinks when the hard drive is working.
  • POWERLED + and - (or PLED) - a light on the computer on / off button; if the computer is working, it is on, and vice versa; can be a solid plug.
  • RESTARTSW (or RESET) - activates the computer restart button.
  • SPEAKER - a small speaker that emits a squeak if there are problems with the computer.

Connecting a SPEAKER plug is desirable, as such a beep signal helps save the motherboard from damage, instantly notifying the user of the presence of critical problems, wrong connection any plug or plugged into the wrong socket. Also, this sound effect allows you to generally evaluate the operation of the computer.


The names of these plugs may vary, but not much. For example, PW may be specified instead of POWERSW. And instead of RESTARTSW - just RES. By comparing the first letters of the names of plugs and connectors, you can easily understand which plug should be connected where. Colors also help, which often match the color of the cables from the plugs. But first of all, it is the names that need to be compared, followed by the colors, because they can differ, unlike the names.

Stage 2

Plugs must be inserted into one large socket (FRONTPANEL or F_PANEL) on the edge of the motherboard. It usually looks like this:


To connect the wires to the connectors in the correct direction, you can simply look at the plug itself. If it lacks one contact (iron "spoke"), then you need to connect it with this place, in accordance with another empty place on the motherboard, in the connector. Side mounts on some sockets and plugs can also help (the mounts must be on the same side). Additionally, you can navigate by the colors in the connector or visual clues in the form of shiny contacts, etc. As a rule, the plugs are connected with the inscription “towards themselves” or towards the inscriptions on the motherboard (circuit).

When all of the above is missing, you can insert the plug in either direction. The main thing is that the process goes smoothly and without the use of brute force. If the plug does not connect to the connector even with a little effort, then the wire is not connected correctly.


Below, under the colored connectors, the places where the plugs need to be connected are schematically indicated (signed). For example, according to the diagram under the connectors, the plug (POWERSW) responsible for the computer power button should be connected to the red socket (second from the left, from the top, signed as PW). All other wires are connected to the places indicated on the diagram in the appropriate way.

The documentation that accompanies the computer, if available, also has tips on connecting the plugs to the jacks. The hints look like this:


As you can see in the figure, the documents even decipher the names of plugs and abbreviations on the diagram. For example, RES - ResetSwitch (Russian "reset button"), etc.

Stage 3

The plugs responsible for the operation of the USB ports on the front panel are connected a little differently and easier. The USB plug looks like this:


The connector for this plug can have the following names:
  • F_USB1/F_USB2;
  • USB1/USB2;
  • or all sockets for this plug can be called simply USB.
It does not matter where the wire will be connected, since all USB sockets are completely identical. Except for USB 3.0. If there is just such a USB plug on the front panel, then you need to look for the connector on the motherboard with the appropriate name. Often this is exactly what it is called - USB 3.0, but there may be exceptions in the form of F_USB30, etc.

An interesting fact is that if you insert a USB 3.0 plug into a standard USB connector, the device will work. But its speed will not be like that of USB 3.0, but lower, because the connector only supports standard USB(2.0). If suddenly there is no USB 3.0 slot on the motherboard or it cannot be found, this method may I help.

Stage 4

Connecting sound (headphones / microphone) on the front panel is identical to the processes described earlier.

A plug is taken from the front panel with the name AC97 or HDAUDIO and inserted into the connector with the corresponding inscription:

  • A_AUDIO
  • AUDIO
  • AAFP etc.


If the sound still does not appear, perhaps the problem lies in. Rebooting the computer and "hitting" in BIOS system, you should check the front panel and its characteristics. Sometimes it happens that the HDAUDIO plug is connected, and the BIOS recognizes the connected device as AC 97. This defect is solved by changing the wrong driver in the BIOS to the one connected to the motherboard.

Video instruction for connecting the front panel to the "motherboard"

In the next video on good example and explains in detail the process of attaching plugs to the connectors on the motherboard.


The described method of connecting the front panel is suitable for any motherboard: msi, gigabyte, asus, asrock. The only differences, as already mentioned, can be hidden in the inscriptions on the sockets and connectors, their location on the motherboard, color scheme, etc. Otherwise, the connection process will always be identical.

USB ports usually come with the front panel for the system unit, or are installed to it as an add-on. Let's consider the installation of USB ports in the design of a computer using the example of connecting the front panel to the system unit. On this panel there will be not only USB connectors, but also power, reset buttons, various indicators.

In addition, in any case, you will have to connect the front panel to the system unit, since without it you will not be able to use the computer normally.

Preparatory stage

The front panel, as well as additional USB connectors, are installed on the motherboard after the main work on assembling and setting up the PC is completed. Before installation, it is advisable to examine all the free connectors on the motherboard and the cables with which the front panel will be connected.

If you connect the cables to the wrong connectors and / or in the wrong order, then you risk disrupting the operation of the entire computer. It is advisable to find and carefully study the documentation for the motherboard and front panel, even if it is not written in Russian.

All elements on the motherboard and front panel have their own markings, so if you carefully studied the documentation, you will not confuse anything. It is also worth understanding that the instructions described in the article are of a general nature, since the features of your motherboard may differ from generally accepted standards.

Step 1: Connecting indicators

If you connect exactly the front panel, then this step is mandatory. Those who connect an additional expansion board with USB connectors should pay attention to the design of this board. If it contains any indicators and buttons, then you should not skip this stage. If there are just connectors, then you only have to connect the cable responsible for the power supply.

Before starting work, turn off the computer from the power supply. Now you need to find a special block located on the motherboard. Usually, it has a special designation and one of the signatures - "Front Panel", "F_Panel" or "Panel". It can also be found by location, as it is as close as possible to the intended location of the front of the system unit.

Now let's look at the connecting wires that you can meet both on the front panel unit and on the unit with additional USB connectors:

    • A red wire is used to connect the on / off button;
    • The yellow wire is responsible for the reset button;
    • The blue cable is responsible for the operation of the system reboot / boot indicator;
    • The operation of the power indicator depends on the green wire;
    • Use the white cable to connect the panel to the power supply.


On some models, the functions of the red and yellow wires may change between themselves, which can cause confusion. Fortunately, such models come across very rarely, and this feature is always written in the instructions.

Step 2: Connecting connectors

At this stage, you need to correctly connect the USB and audio connectors to the pins on the motherboard. Cables and their connection points are marked accordingly. For example, a connection point is usually indicated by the inscription F_USB1, F_USB2 etc. It should be understood that there may be several such ports on the board. In this case, the sequence of connecting cables to them does not matter.


In the case of older versions of USB, everything is quite simple - connect the cables to special connectors on the motherboard and that's it. But if you connect USB version 3.0 and higher, then it will only have to be connected to certain connectors. You can find out which ones by using the documentation for the motherboard or board with additional connectors. Also on modern boards there are special designations for connecting connectors of version 3.0 and higher.


After completing all the work, try turning on the computer. If it turns on and works without problems, then connect the USB flash drive to one of the newly connected connectors. If the computer detects a flash drive, then everything is in order.

Connecting additional boards with USB connectors or front panel boards to the computer is not difficult task, however, it requires the manifestation of accuracy, as well as strict adherence to the instructions.

Since the introduction of Windows 7, almost all users have had problems with no sound from speakers or headphones on the front audio panel, and the microphone does not work.

It is quite convenient for users to connect headphones or a microphone in front, for example, to communicate via Skype. At the same time, there is no need to flatter under the computer and look in the back of the system unit, among the heaps of wires, for a headphone jack, pulling out the main speakers. Yes, and sometimes the length of the wire may not be enough for the headphones to connect them from the back of the computer.
As a result, the front panel remains an indispensable addition to the computer.

The lack of sound on the front panel can be for a number of reasons:

  • The front panel is not connected to the motherboard.
  • Driver not configured sound card(for Windows 7, 8, 10).
  • Audio driver not installed.
  • The audio driver is not compatible with the sound card.

Connecting the front soundbar to the motherboard

We open the side cover of the system unit and look for the front (front) panel connector on the motherboard - Fig.1.

Pay attention to the absence of one pin in the connector (marked with a red small square).

Likewise in the cable plug soundbar one hole is also missing - Fig. 2

Figure 2 - Front panel plug. Red square indicates no hole

This is done so that it is impossible to connect the panel incorrectly. Be careful when connecting the connector, orienting it correctly, according to Figures 1 and 2, so as not to bend the connector pins.

So. We have plugged in.

We connect the headphones to the panel. Turn on your favorite song. The player is playing. But there is still no sound.

Setting up an audio driver using the example of the manufacturer Realtek HD

If there is no sound from behind, then the driver is simply not installed in the system or is damaged (for example, due to viruses).
How to find out the company and version of the driver will be described below.

If the sound is present at the back, but not at the front, then we configure the driver.

NOTE: In the operating room Windows system XP there were no sound problems on the front panel. The sound card driver did not have to be configured.

Opening the sound card manager Fig. 3.

Figure 3 - Realtec HD Manager (brown speaker)

A large window appears Fig.4, in which, according to the arrow, click on the icon.

Figure 4 - Click on the yellow icon

Then we get into another small window, where we put a tick as in Fig.5.

Figure 5 - check the box as shown

Congratulations!!! Now our panel is working.

Setting up the sound driver using the example of a VIA sound card

Setting up the VIA sound driver is almost the same as setting up realtek drivers HD. It's just that the front panel settings in the program interface are located a little differently.

We open software sound card Fig.6.

Figure 6 — Window of the VIA sound card settings program

Click on the icon indicated by the arrow in Fig. 6, and get into the window, where, according to Fig. 7, install the switch.

Figure 7 - Select the item that is marked with orange highlight

The front panel audio settings have been successfully completed. Plug in your headphones and enjoy the sound.

If there is no Realtek HD Manager or VIA. What to do?

The absence of the program "Realtek HD Manager" or VIA, is, if your computer has installed unofficial version audio drivers.

Often when Windows installation 7 sound driver, on many models of motherboards, is automatically selected operating system and compatible with sound chip. But at the same time, the settings program itself (Fig. 4 and 6) is not installed. In this case, front panel adjustment cannot be made. At the same time, all ports in the rear panel work fine.

To download correct driver for your sound card, we need to know the manufacturer of the sound chip and its model.
This can be done using the Everest program.

Download the program as shown in Fig. eight.

Figure 8 - Downloading Everest

This is a portable version that does not require installation. Open the downloaded archive and run the everest.exe application. The program window will appear. 9, in which you can learn a lot of useful and interesting things about the hardware of your computer.

Figure 9 - Everest program interface

But we are still interested in how to find out the model of our sound card.

We do everything as in Fig 9 - open the "Multimedia" item, and then the "PCI/PnP Audio" sub-item. If you see a blank window in this sub-item, then select the "HD Audio" sub-item.

On the right side of the program we see a list of sound devices. It may differ for you both in quantity (there may be only one sound device) and in name.

We are interested in the device marked as in Fig. 9 - Realtek ALC 888. This is our sound card. It is on it that we will look for the desired driver, according to the name.

On the Internet, by searching for Realtek ALC 888, or for example Realtek662, depending on what sound card you have, you can find a driver for it with a settings program.

In order not to look for a driver under specific model I give you a link to a universal audio driver installer that fits almost all models of Realtek sound chips.

If you are the owner of a VIA sound card, you can download the driver with the program for this audio card on this site.

Connecting the front panel to an additional sound card, using the example of ASUS Xonar DX 7.1

Figure 10 - Sound card ASUS Xonar DX 7.1

Owners of optional sound cards, such as ASUS XONAR or Creative, can also connect the front panel, customize it and enjoy high-quality sound in games, movies or listening to music.
If you have a front panel connected to the motherboard, then you need to disconnect its plug and connect it to a similar sound card connector (in our example, ASUS XONAR DX 7.1) - Fig. eleven.

Figure 11 - Connector for connecting the front panel of the sound ASUS cards Xonar DX 7.1

Connect the plug to the connector in the same way as in the motherboard and also orient their pins with the holes.

Figure 13 - Application for sound settings, as well as the front panel

The sound settings program will open in front of us Fig. fourteen.

Figure 14 - Setting the sound for headphones

Expand the "Analog input" list and select FP headphones.

The case of the system unit is an important component of the entire computer. It is in the case that the “production shop” of the entire computer is located, so to speak. It is in the case that the motherboard is installed, and the RAM, video card, processor and all kinds of wires and cables are already “hung” on it. Moreover, the power supply is located in a separate place inside the case, however, like HDD and drive.

Modern cases look quite attractive, menacing, aggressive, unusual... The developers have enough imagination, which means that ordinary buyers can choose from a huge range. But not only do the current cases have an attractive appearance, they also have "working" pluses. Such pluses are USB connectors, as well as microphone and headphone jacks on the front of the case, and this in turn means that every time we need to connect a USB flash drive, we need to climb under the table and get to the back of the case. I think everyone agrees that these are, in principle, trifles, but still, it’s more pleasant to just insert a USB flash drive in front and start working.

But, unfortunately, there are cases when some parts of the computer case fail. It's about the famous POWER button, which is absolutely on every case. In the process long service life, this button can simply fail, for example, stop being pressed or vice versa, it will fall deep into the case, and no matter how you “conjure”, you won’t be able to turn on the computer. What to do in such situations? If you don’t really need a computer, then it’s better to call the master and wait with peace of mind until he repairs everything, paying him a certain amount of money for this.

If you need to use the computer urgently enough, then perhaps you should use the following advice.

First you need to find a flat surface and carefully place system unit so that the left cover looks at you, while disconnecting all the wires is not worth it in order to complete everything faster, but it is worth watching that these wires are not stretched. In addition, a prerequisite should be that the computer is disconnected from the power supply, as they say, you never know. The next thing to do is remove the left case cover. In modern cases, this usually does not require any great effort, so this should not be a problem.

After removing the cover, an amazing picture will appear in front of you. You will see everything for which you once gave a round sum, and which usually works peacefully, making an innocent noise, and what now does not want to “start up”. Our focus should be primarily on the multi-colored wires that run from the front of the case to the motherboard. There can be many such wires, and it is not surprising, because there are connected and POWER buttons and RESET button, and USB ports, together in the audio outputs. So, at the next step, we may need a little knowledge of English, which many received at school, because on the wiring itself, as well as on the motherboard, near the connection of these wiring, it should be written what they mean. Take the USB ports as an example. On the motherboard itself, near the connection, there should be an inscription USB1, USB2, etc. This means that the wires connected to these connectors are nothing but USB connection ports.

But do not forget about our problem, which means that we need to look for posting POWER(usually these are two wires woven together). Typically, the connectors to which the power or reset buttons are connected are located on the lower right side of the motherboard:

On most motherboards, these connectors are the same and consist of 9 pins arranged in two rows. The last two contacts in a short row of 4 plugs are responsible for turning on / off the computer.

Here are the connector diagrams for the most popular motherboard manufacturers.

MSI

AsRock

Asus

Biostar

Epox

foxconn

gigabyte

Intel

When these two wires are found, you should find where they are connected to the motherboard. After the connection point has been found, it is worth carefully disconnecting these wires, so that the small plugs are exposed.

That's it, now we're almost done. The final step is only turning on the computer, for this we need an ordinary stationery pen, preferably one that writes in bold. After finding such a pen, you can connect the computer to the power supply, and then gently run the tip of the rod over these bare needles. Or in other words, you just need to close these contacts. After these steps, the computer should come to life, and the download will begin. If nothing happened, then it is worth repeating the procedure, but close these needles quickly enough.

Thanks to such simple steps, you can start the computer without any problems, but this should not be neglected, and it is better to fix the start button on the case as soon as possible in order to avoid unnecessary problems.

Attention: Neither the author of this article, nor the administration of this site, bears any responsibility for possible problems that may occur during the process of turning on the computer in this way. You will perform all of the above actions at your own peril and risk, and will be solely responsible for possible problems that are not described in this article.