A power supply is required to supply electricity to motherboard and some of its components. In total, there are 5 connection cables on it, each of which has a different number of contacts. Outwardly, they differ from each other, so they must be connected to strictly defined connectors.

A standard power supply has only 5 wires with different characteristics. More about each:

  • A 20/24 pin wire is required to power the motherboard itself. It can be distinguished by its characteristic size - this is the largest module of all that come from the power supply unit;
  • 4/8-pin module is used to connect a cooler with a processor to a separate power supply;
  • 6/8-pin module for powering the video card;
  • SATA hard drive power cable is the thinnest of all, as a rule, it has a different color from the rest of the cables;
  • Additional wire for make-up standard "Molex". Required to connect old hard drives;
  • Drive power connector. There are models of power supplies that do not have such a cable.

For the computer to work properly, you must connect at least the first three cables.

If you haven't purchased a power supply yet, you need to make sure that it matches your system as closely as possible. To do this, compare the power of the power supply unit and the energy consumption of your computer (primarily, the processor and video card). You also have to find a power supply that matches the form factor of your motherboard.

Stage 1: mounting the power supply

Initially, you just need to fasten the power supply to the inside of the computer case. For this, special screws are used. Step-by-step instruction looks like that:


Stage 2: connection

When the power supply is secured, you can start connecting the wires to the main components of the computer. The connection order looks like this:


Plugging in the power supply isn't too difficult, but the process takes care and patience. Keep in mind that your PSU must be preselected to match your motherboard's requirements to ensure maximum performance.

(the computer is facing you). On the motherboard, look for small yellow or blue connectors, usually at the bottom.

Each such connector has two rows of pins (needles): in one row there are five, in the other four. Let's call the left or right side of the connector, where both pins are located, side "A". The second, with one pin - "B".

The five pins, starting from the "A" side, are labeled as follows (in series): VCC1 + 5V, Data -, Data +, Ground 1, NC.
The last pin - NC - is not used.

Four pins of the second row, starting from side "A", have the following markings (in series): VCC2 + 5V, Data -, Data +, Ground 2. There is no fifth pin (pin) in this row.

Examine the connector on the end of the ribbon cable coming from the USB port. It should be labeled: VCC1, Data 1 -, Data 1 +, Gnd 1. The labels may differ slightly, but it's easy to figure it out - on the first socket under the pin, VCC or +5 V is always indicated, the last is Ground or GND.

In most cases, connector wires are in standard colors:
+ 5V red
Data - white
Data + green
GND black

Connect the connector from the USB cable to the socket on the motherboard to the row of five pins. The first - from the "A" side - must be connected to VCC1 +5 V. The fourth - Gnd 1. The last fifth pin remains free. There is no pin next to it in the second row.

To simplify the connection, special adapters can be used to exclude the possibility of incorrect connection. They are suitable for connectors on the board, usually blue, with a small side and a key and allowing you to connect the adapter in only one way.

The pins on such an adapter are designated as + 5V, P2-, P2 +, GND. If you have such an adapter (they can be supplied with the motherboard), connect the ribbon cable to it in accordance with the marking, then insert the adapter into the socket on the motherboard.

By connecting all USB ports, close the side cover. If you are still not completely sure of the correct connection, then after turning on the computer, connect a USB mouse to the front port. If it works fine, then everything is connected correctly and you can safely connect flash drives and other equipment.

Sources:

  • how to connect the front

When buying a computer, a beginner - someone who has little understanding of the PC in general - needs some help in assembling and connecting this device. If it is not possible to call a specialist or friend, then this instruction will come to your aid.

You will need

  • Connect all interfaces and loops in the correct order.

Instructions

Take the main cable for the system unit from the mains. There will be a plug on one side and a trapezoidal connector on the other. It is necessary to turn the system unit towards you with the back (back) side, many connectors of the "female" and "male" types. We take the power cord, on the side of which there is a "female" connector, and connect it to the "male" connector located in the upper part of the system unit. Do not connect it directly to the network.

We put it next to the system unit to connect the monitor to the system unit. For this we need the same mains power cable. The principle is the same, only now we connect the cable to the monitor. We also do not connect it to the network.

We take the next cable - to connect the monitor and the system unit (VGA cable). We connect one side to the monitor, the other to the system unit, first you need to find the VGA connector on. After connecting this cable, tighten the plastic bolts with your fingers or a small screwdriver. This is necessary for a constant and stable signal.

The keyboard and mouse connections are very similar. The only difference is the color of the plugs and jacks for these devices. The keyboard and mouse jacks (PS / 2) are located below the power jack of the system unit. The keyboard is lilac and the mouse is green.

Recently, they began to produce devices under the USB interface. In this case, everything is much simpler. You need to insert the plug of the device (or mouse) you need into the USB port.

The last stage of connection will be the speakers and the system unit. There are 2 cables leaving the main speaker - a power cable and an audio cable. We need to connect the audio cable to the system unit. We find a round green socket on the system unit and.

Now we need to connect all the power cables to the outlet. You can use (pilot) here. After connecting all the devices for the system unit to work, we need a computer by pressing "Power" on the front panel.

Helpful advice

If you turn on the computer, but there is no image or no sound, then something was wrong. We advise you to seek help from people who are well versed in this matter.

Sources:

  • system unit connection
  • Types of peripheral devices and rules for their connection

If you have not bought a separate sound card or you do not have a personal computer, but a laptop, you may need to connect sound from the sound card built into the motherboard. On modern motherboards, such built-in sound fees have reached such a level that they are almost in no way inferior to discrete sound solutions. Even support for 8-channel audio from integrated audio solutions is no longer something special.

You will need

  • - Computer (laptop) with Windows OS;
  • - motherboard with built-in sound card;
  • - drivers for the built-in sound card;
  • - sound speakers.

Instructions

First, install the drivers on the built-in sound fee. Find the disk that came with your motherboard, it should contain everything you need, including these drivers. Installation of sound drivers happens almost automatically - just insert the disc into the drive, click the line responsible for their installation, and follow the instructions on the screen. The installation wizard will ask you to accept the terms of the license agreement, agree with them, click "Next" and wait until the installation is complete, then restart your computer or.

After Windows boots up, wait while the system detects a new device (that is, your sound card) and install drivers on it. Eventually, a message should appear stating that the device is installed and ready to use.

Plug the speaker wire into the audio jack fees... If these are stereo speakers, you only need to connect one wire. If it is a 6- or 8-channel audio system, there may be several wires. If you have a computer, the audio connectors fees usually painted. Green or light green color marks the input for stereo speakers and center speakers in the case of a multichannel audio system. There shouldn't be any problems finding the right connector, just plug in the appropriate wire. In a multichannel audio system, all the wires that connect to the sound card are usually colored the same colors as the connectors on the sound card.

If you have a laptop, the audio connector fees can be of any color. In order not to be mistaken, refer to the user manual, or you can turn on and alternately insert the plug into several connectors on it until you hear a sound. There is no need to be afraid that you will insert the plug into the wrong connector, as this does not harm the operation in any way.

Few of the novice users decide to implement the build process computer system with his own hand. Nevertheless, this "purchase option" is considered to be the most profitable. Since the user himself decides what exactly should be the hardware configuration of his computing device. At the same time, the correct connection of the front panel to the motherboard is a very important point in the overall assembly process. Some intricacy of the mentioned operation requires knowledge and precise actions from the practitioner. However, about everything in more detail from the following article.

Instead of an introduction: feet, plugs and connectors

After you have hoisted the central processor, positioned and secured the main element of its cooling - a cooler, inserted the RAM straps into special slots and equipped the "motherboard" with a hard disk (in general, installed important PC components), the moment comes when it is necessary to connect the front panels to the motherboard. However, for many novice users, the latter operation sometimes becomes simply insoluble. Indeed, often the system unit has a bunch of incomprehensible wires. In some cases, their "quantity" is striking in its multi-color and mysterious purpose. Since the manufacturer of the enclosures does not always adhere to generally accepted standards, changing the labeling of the cables and their location. However, everything is easily resolved if the user has carefully studied the technical documentation for the purchased device and exactly follows the installation instructions described below.

Trigger elements and indications

So, before carrying out the direct process - connecting the front panel to the motherboard, you need to conduct a visual inspection of the main system detail for accumulation of plug-type contacts. In other words, you need to find out where the connector pad is located, through which the computer starts. After all, most motherboards, in addition to the main start / stop and reboot node, have in their configuration arsenal, so to speak, a number of additional connectors, which will also be discussed within the framework of this article.

  • When connecting the front panel to an Asus motherboard (brand indicated as an example), locate the connector pad labeled "Front panel".
  • Be guided by the color coding of the contact pads and their designation.
  • The two-pin "Power SW" wire must go into its corresponding socket, as, indeed, the rest of the control cables: "Reset SW", "HDD LED" and "Power LED". By the way, when connecting the last group of contacts, you must observe the polarity (there are "+" and "-" signs on the board).
  • The “Speaker” sound sensor is also connected according to the above principle.

Important digression

If for any reason you have reversed the polarity or made incorrect positioning of the mentioned controls, the computer may not start at all, or there will be no light indication of the operating equipment.

Therefore, be extremely careful when connecting the front panel to the motherboard. However, don't worry too much if something went wrong. You can always correct a connection error by moving the incorrectly connected wires to the position corresponding to the working diagram.

Additional interface connectors

Modern system units, in addition to the "Power" and "Reset" buttons placed on the front of the case, are often equipped with additional Audio and USB ports. In some cases, a card reader (a device for reading / writing memory cards) and even an IEEE 1394 connector may be present, through which various peripheral devices can be connected. In any case, to increase the comfort of working on a PC, additional interface connectors must be activated. That is, first of all, they need to be physically connected to the motherboard and, if necessary, make some changes to the BIOS firmware parameters. However, let's not get ahead of ourselves ...

Front USB connection

The motherboard (when you purchase it directly from the store) always comes with a technical data sheet, which indicates the location of a particular connector and its purpose. At the same time, in the documentation, the user can always find a graphically displayed connection diagram of the required device.

  • Locate the USB labeled header on the system board. You will most likely find several of them. By the way, there can be up to ten such ports in multifunctional modifications of computers.
  • Connect the connector coming from the front panel to the 9-pin female connector.
  • Make sure that the joints of the plastic parts fit snugly together.

In the case when the USB connector connected to the board does not have an integral structure, for example, it has an end switch branched into four pins, use the following instruction.

We solve a difficult situation: USB-"pinout"

As a rule, each of the four pins has its own designation in the form of an inscription:

  • "VCC" is the wire that receives the +5 Volt power supply.
  • "Data -" or "D -" - negative value data.
  • "Data +" or abbreviated "D +" is the opposite of the previous point.
  • "GND" - ground (mass).

When the user connects the front panel connectors to the motherboard, he must remember that if the "pinout" is incorrectly used, there is a risk of damage to any system component. As you can imagine, haste and rash actions can cost you dearly. Therefore, connect each wire to a strictly defined place on the motherboard connector.

  • "VCC" is the first.
  • Then, "Data -".
  • The third pin is "Data +".
  • The last is “GND”.

By the way, after the "ground" there is an unoccupied pin of the first port, the lower row of connectors is connected according to the above instructions. However, there will be no "extra" pin after the mass. As you can see, everything is simple!

Agree, it is convenient when on the front side of the PC case there are a microphone input jack and an Audio output for headphones. However, despite the simplicity of the immediate moment of connecting an additional audio panel to the motherboard of his PC, the user often encounters an incomprehensible effect - the connectors do not work properly or do not function at all. To avoid such an unpleasant situation or to understand the true reasons for the "digital silence", you need to do the following:

  • Make sure the front audio panel meets the "audio" standard of your motherboard and is connected to the appropriate "F-AUDIO" connector.

For example, if your motherboard supports "HD Audio", then, most likely, this mode is activated by default, which means that the external module "AC'97" will not work. If the stipulated condition can be corrected by reconfiguring some software components, then in the case of considering the above situation in the context of the opposite, it will be necessary to completely replace the external audio module. The fact is that the "HD Audio" standard uses other codecs than "AC'97" and is incompatible with the latter due to some technical differences.

How to activate the front panel connection in BIOS?

It is enough to enter the BIOS firmware and find the corresponding section of the audio device settings. As a rule, you can make the necessary changes using the “Advanced” tab, and by going to the check-box for changing the “Front panel select” parameters, set the desired operating value. It is worth noting that a particular computer manufacturer equips its devices with the original version of the base system. Therefore, some of the names of the BCVV control interface items may be labeled differently.

Changes to settings in Sound Manager

Sometimes it happens like this: despite the correct (physically) connection of the front panel to the Gigabyte motherboard, the audio devices connected to the front connectors do not work.

A sound snag is resolved as follows:

  • Go to Realtek HD Manager and enable the Disable Front Panel Slot Detection option.
  • Perhaps, in the basic settings "Connector parameters" it is necessary to enable the "item" corresponding to the sound standard of the external audio module.

Finally

So, if you, dear reader, have a diagram for connecting the front panel to the motherboard (and this is not difficult to find out by looking at the technical documentation of your device), then a positive result is guaranteed. Remember that an incorrectly used connector can cause "total" damage to your computer. On this - you make rational decisions and full-fledged achievements!

The front panel on the case of the system unit has nothing to do with the rest of the "insides" of the computer. This means that if you manually disconnect it for cleaning or, which is a little more difficult, when replacing the motherboard, you will have to connect the front panel yourself. Further, it will be described in detail how to do this as correctly as possible.

Stages of connecting the front panel to the motherboard

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

Stage 1

The first step is to find the main loop with 4 (sometimes 5-6) plugs. There might be some difference in names, color, 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 all of them faultlessly. The description of the circuit is a little further in the article.


The plugs shown in the photo above mean the following:
  • POWERSW (or PWRBTN) - activates manipulations on the panel.
  • H.D.D.LED (or HDLED) - a light that blinks when the hard disk is working.
  • POWERLED + and - (or PLED) - a light on the computer's 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 is a small speaker that emits a squeak when there is a problem with the computer.

Connecting a SPEAKER plug is desirable, since such a squeak signal helps to save the motherboard from damage, instantly notifying the user about critical problems, about incorrect connection of any plug or connection to the wrong socket. Also, this sound effect allows you to assess the overall performance of the computer.


The names of these plugs may vary, but not by much. For example, instead of POWERSW, PW can be specified. And instead of RESTARTSW - just RES. 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

The 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 the right way, you can simply look at the plug itself. If it lacks one contact (iron "spoke"), then you need to connect this place, in accordance with another empty space on the motherboard, in the connector. Side mounts on some sockets and plugs can also help (mounts should be on the same side). Additionally, you can navigate by the colors in the connector or visual prompts 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 (diagram).

When all of the above is missing, you can insert the plug either way. The main thing is that the process goes smoothly and without using brute force... If the plug is not connected to the connector even with little effort, it means that the wire is connected incorrectly.


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

The documentation accompanying the computer, if any, also contains tips for connecting the plugs to the sockets. These prompts look like this:


As you can see in the figure, the documents even decode the names of the plugs and abbreviations in 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 in a slightly different and simpler way. The USB plug looks like this:


The connector for this plug may have the following names:
  • F_USB1 / F_USB2;
  • USB1 / USB2;
  • or all of the sockets for this plug may simply be referred to as USB.
It doesn't 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 the connector on the motherboard should be looked for with the appropriate name. Often this is 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 USB 3.0, but lower, because the connector only supports standard USB (2.0). If suddenly there is no USB 3.0 socket on the motherboard or it cannot be found, this method can help.

Stage 4

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

Take the plug from the front panel with the name AC97 or HDAUDIO and insert it into the connector with the corresponding inscription:

  • A_AUDIO
  • AUDIO
  • AAFP etc.


If it still doesn't sound, the problem might be. After rebooting the computer and "getting" into the BIOS system, you should check the front panel and its characteristics. Sometimes it happens that the HDAUDIO plug is connected, and the BIOS recognized the connected device as AC 97. This defect is solved by changing the wrong driver in the BIOS to the one connected in the motherboard.

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

The following video explains the process of connecting the plugs to the connectors on the motherboard with an illustrative example and in all details.


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

Self assembly personal computer is not only an interesting activity comparable to playing a construction set, but also a great way to save a decent amount (in a service center, this service costs an average of 10% of the cost of all components).

An additional reward for neatness and consistency in performing work will be a perfectly working computer and a sense of pride in your achievements.

Assembling the system unit begins with connecting the main PC components to the motherboard (video card, hard disk, processor, power supply, etc.).

At this stage, questions arise extremely rarely, since all the connectors and plugs are made in such a way that it simply will not work to mix something up or connect it on the wrong side.

When all the hardware is assembled, the case of the system unit itself has to be connected to the motherboard. It displays important controls and control indicators.

We are talking about the buttons to turn on the power (Power) and forced restart of the PC (Reset), as well as indicators of power and hard disk operation.

From each of the listed elements, wires with miniature connectors extend. They must be plugged onto the corresponding connectors on the motherboard.

To make it clear what function a particular wire is responsible for, manufacturers apply the following conventions to each mini-connector:

  • Power SW (Power Switch) - The connector that comes from the Power button. Pressing this button starts the computer;
  • Reset SW (Reset Switch) - connector coming from the computer forced restart button;
  • Power Led- PC on / off indicator connector;
  • HDD Led - the wire coming from the indicator state of tough a PC disk;
  • SPEAKER - connector for a system speaker ("buzzer");
  • HD Audio - microphone and headphones;
  • USB - USB connector.

We connect the buttons of the case to the motherboard

For the right connecting the Power and Reset buttons to the motherboard you need to have instructions on hand. On the board diagram, you need to find information about the location of the contact block.

In most cases, manufacturers refer to it as "F_Panel", "Front Panel" or simply "Panel". If the instructions are lost, you just need to carefully examine the motherboard and find this group of connectors on it.

  1. First, we connect the Power SW (Power Switch) power button connector to the board. The place for it on the motherboard is designated as "PWR_BTN". Since this is a button, not an indicator, the polarity of the power button connection to the motherboard does not matter. The power button ribbon cable can be connected either side.
  2. Next, connect the Reset SW (Reset Switch) forced reset button. The location for this connector on the motherboard is labeled "Reset" or "RESET_SW" and is located directly below the power button connector. In this case, the polarity also does not matter.
  3. We connect the indicators of the system unit to the motherboard
  4. Focusing on the diagram from the instructions or the symbols printed on the motherboard, it is necessary to connect the indication connectors.

When connecting the indicators, it is important to observe the polarity, since otherwise they will simply not light up. On the board itself, the polarity is indicated by the symbols "+" and "-".

It must also be present on the connectors. If it is not there or not visible, then you should use the hint: the white wire is a minus, the colored one is a plus.

The place for the PC on / off indicator (Power Led) connector on the motherboard is designated as "PWR_LED", for the HDD Led connector - "HDD_LED".

VIDEO INSTRUCTION

If after starting the computer any of the indicators does not work, just reconnect the connector by turning it the other side.

Similarly, other connectors coming from the case of the system unit are connected to the motherboard - SPEAKER, HD Audio and USB.