[Danja]

Hello,

I just bought a new Rampage iii gene and I can't figure out how to connect the front panel power and LEDs. The pinout on my front panel cable looks like this (bottom right corner): http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/d...name=c00714578

The motherboard front panel connector looks like this (bottom right on most pictures):

http://www.overclock3d.net/reviews/c..._gene_review/2

I'm confused about which pins I should use because they are not labeled on my connector and I'm afraid to do it the wrong way and break the board. Does anyone know how?

[Trap05]

Are you trying to put this in an HP case?

[Danja]

Yes I am... will that be a problem?

[Trap05]

Considering the front panel connections are obviously different pinouts yes

[Danja]

Am I in danger of burning anything out if I plug power into power and go from there?

[Danja]

Also, could I just remove the front panel cable and turn the computer on via the power switch on the power supply?

[Trap05]

What you need to get is a standard ATX case of some kind failing that you can turn the pc on by shorting the power pins with a small screwdriver but this is really a temporary solution.

[Danja]

I don't have any spare cases at all... What I could do is cut apart the hp connector to fit the Asus one. I've attached pictures of the hp motherboard connector (the one on the mobo) and the asus Q connector. Would it be possible to cut apart the front panel connector to fit?

[Trap05]

Possibly if there's enough plastic to hold it together so it makes good contact. I recommend though finding a case or buying a case ASAP

[Danja]

Originally Posted by Trap05

Possibly if there's enough plastic to hold it together so it makes good contact. I recommend though finding a case or buying a case ASAP

How come? I'm not trying to be snappy or anything; I'm curious though why it's so urgent that I find a new case. I have a thin enough razor that I think I can cut through just the plastic. The question is, do I cut out every individual pin or are there two that have to be connected?

Edit: Here's the actual connector. Do the pairs of pins with the twisted wires have to go together?

Edit2: I think I get it. The two pins on the motherboard with PWR LED are PLED+/- and HDLED is HDD LED +/-. Is there a way to tell which is which? Power is power and Reset is reset but on the connector there are two pins whereas on the Q connector there is a pin and a ground. Is one of the pins on the hp connector an unlabeled ground? If so, can I tell which one? Finally, I'm not sure what to do with the pin that says BTN.

Also, the wires only go to PWR LED, HD LED, and PWR. The other ones don't seem to have any metal. Can I ignore them and just connect the ones with wires?

[CgS Drone]

I take it you don't have a hd-led or either you don't have a power led on the front of your case?

Also are you able to get the mounts to line up? I tried this one time when I had a Dell mb go south on me and I couldn't get the aftermarket board to line up with the slots in the back or the mounts. Not saying it cannot be done but have you checked that before going any further? Cases can be fairly cheap.

[Trap05]

You need a case so things work properly or you run into issues like you have now. I wouldn't hack things together for myself or for a customer but if its OK with you fly at it

[Danja]

I see. I've already spent more on the components than I was planning to so I think I'll at least try to cut out the pins. My only remaining question is, does it matter which wire goes to + and which one goes to -? Since it's just a button and two light bulbs, the basic wiring knowledge that I have tell me no, but I'm by no means an experienced electrician. Does anyone know? If so, is there a way to tell the polarity by the color of the wires?

Originally Posted by CgS Drone

I take it you don't have a hd-led or either you don't have a power led on the front of your case?

Also are you able to get the mounts to line up? I tried this one time when I had a Dell mb go south on me and I couldn't get the aftermarket board to line up with the slots in the back or the mounts. Not saying it cannot be done but have you checked that before going any further? Cases can be fairly cheap.

I believe the LED lights up for power and blinks for HDD. The wires on the connector go to PWR, HD LED, and PWR LED. RESET and BTN have no wires coming from them. What do you mean by having the mounts line up? You mean the rear IO ports or the motherboard mounting holes in the case? I've already put the board in so both are fully working (the board came with its own IO shield of course; the IO shield from HP was a pain in the rear to remove and I really don't want to put it in again).

[jaymz9350]

The LED's won't work if they are backwards, but it won't hurt them so just use trial and error. The power should work either way I believe.

[Trap05]

That should be correct

[Shigi]

Wouldnt it be less of a headache just getting one of those custom atx power switch/led and swapping the oem out? I know my local micro center sells a kit made by some company called xion for under 10 bucks, thats how im going to run my p5n q-connect in my hp case once i pick it up today ^^.

[bda1967]

My bench machine is an old HP case. I just traced down the wires to see where they went and rearranged the pins inside of the connectors to match up with the MB pins. You can extract the header pins carefully with a tip of a thin pocket knife.

[ronfiveo]

I had this exact problem and with days of searching and tons of advise forums on this subject the total consensus is to buy a new ATX case.

I could find no adapters nor could I find a power switch that had the mobo connectors the same as the switch.

The old mother board you had was proprietary with HP's case and connections that's why the plug and connectors did not fit.

I am using it now as I type but there's just no LED on the switch or activity LED light on the front panel.

If you find a workable solution I sure would be interested in it.

[RGone]

My brother is always finding some old proprietary case to put a standard ATX or mATX motherboard in and I have just gotten to the point I fit two snap in momentary push button switches in the front panel of the case and fit the "individual wires" from old wiring to the new switches one labeled power and the other reset. Most of the time I actually have to make-up the wires for the reset switch since proprietary cases only have the power button. Most of those cases have had power and hdd leds in the front panel so I just find those wires in the proprietary harness and remove them from proprietary harness and attach to the motherboard. Observing that the black wire is usually the (-) connector and then job done. Of course the push buttons are not illuminated, but I know where they are on the case anyway.