Is this where the mounting holes are for ATX mobos?

[BenW]

Seeing as i own a Dell and will need a new case if i get a new mobo, i'm thinking about getting a new case and fiddling with the wiring.

So, i got a pic of a mobo and put a green dot where i think the mounting holes are. Can someone just confirm that's where they are?

[Shogun]

They are indeed there and what do you mean by fiddling with the wiring?

[BenW]

On a dell, the wiring for the power button, leds etc all go to a little circuit board on the case where they link up with a headphone socket and 2 USB ports, all the wires which went into that little circuit board come out in a USB cable going into the USB header (Think thats what it's called) on the mobo.

That means that the power cables etc on a new case will have to go into the usb header on the mobo somehow. It can be done because i've heard of people who've done it

[rajagra]

Standard cases have lots of individual 2 or 3 -pin connectors (more pins for USB) whereas proprietary designs like Dells might have one larger connector. The connectors themselves are labelled with their function, and by referring to the mobo manual it should be clear where everything goes. Although sometimes the USB connectors vary. And sometimes the plugs are labelled wrong. And sometimes a 3-pin plug is supposed to connect to just 2 pins. Or vice-versa. But trust me, it's very straightforward, lol. All part of the fun of building your own machine.

[BenW]

Thanks, so to connect my mobo upto a standard case i would have to somehow connect everything upto either the end of the USB cable or into the USB header on the mobo.

How would i do this? Would it just be a case of shoving the wires in each hole until i get it right? And when there's a connecter on the wire from the case would i just remove the connector?

[rajagra]

Standard motherboards will typically have two rows of pins - much like where you plug in jumpers. But instead you plug in the tiny connectors fitted to the end of the case's leads. Pins 1&2 might be "Power" (look in manual for this info), so you find the lead with a connector marked "Power" and plug onto pins 1&2, and bingo, your power button does its job. Same for reset. LED connectors will be similar except you have to connect them the right way round - just experiment, if you get it wrong the LED simply won't light so turn it round. The actual USB pins will probably be in an area of their own, in a 2 x 4 layout. If you're lucky, your case's USB wire will have a plug with 2 x 4 holes so you just plug it in - a blocked hole will line up with a "missing" pin on the motherboard so you can't plug it in the wrong way round. It can seem overwhelming the first time, but just take it one step at a time. If anything is left over and you don't think you need it - don't worry about it! All you really need is the power button, although Reset is very useful if you're running Windows,

[BenW]

Thanks rajagra!

Sounds quite easy, there's no risk of frying everything if i get the power cable in the wrong place is there?

Out of interest, have you tried this on a Dell?

[rajagra]

Sounds quite easy, there's no risk of frying everything if i get the power cable in the wrong place is there?

The risk is very, very small. If you place a switch connector across pins intended for an LED, you will short the pins. But that shouldn't do any harm as there should be a built-in resistor to limit current.
If you place a switch across pins that supply raw 0V and 5V it could cause harm, but I've never heard of that happening. The manufacturers probably design the system so it is safe, and that can't happen.

If you're going to worry about something, let it be the CPU and heatsink. Fit them to the motherboard before putting the mobo in the case, and be certain you do it right. Then check it again. READ THE INSTRUCTIONS! If the heatsink isn't laying flat against the CPU, the CPU and motherboard can both be destroyed in a puff of smoke. That's mostly relevant to AMD chips, but still important with Intel ones.

Out of interest, have you tried this on a Dell?

Don't think I ever have. I'm fairly sure they use a non-standard format, so a Dell mobo only goes with a Dell case and they both use a Dell connector style. Which means no cheap, easy upgrades without trashing a whole lotta kit.

[Ceefer]

My 'work' computer, listed below started out as a Dell Dimension T600 (600mhz PIII cpu, Intel BX440 mobo). Fitting a replacement mobo was an interesting excercise, the opposite way round from what you're trying to do, but similar in that you've got to overcome non-standard connectors. My Dell case is now on its third motherboard and third PSU!

[Russ]

are you getting the Kt8 neo? or you just using that as a demo board?

the risk of "frying everything" is very small indeed matey just be carefull though

[BenW]

Thanks guys, i posted on the dell forums and got this: http://www.lnmdesign.com/400sc/front_pnl.html#FNT_PNL

Thats the circuit board in the front of the case and what all the wires are