Newbie Builder - Front case Peripheral Outlets?

  • Thread starter Thread starter admiral_victory
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A

admiral_victory

I'm about to upgrade my old m/b ( a GA-7IXE4 ) and , among other
improvements , I would like to have the ability to plug peripherals
into the front of the case instead of continuously having to get
around to the back of the PC to perform this activity.

I notice that almost all the current PC cases have the these outlets
as standard

However , in reading the various m/b reviews , I also notice that not
all mention the facilty to wire these outlets to the front of the case
..

Is this lack of mention here due to the fact that this is a standard
feature of moden m/b's these days and is , therefore , not worth a
special mention or are there m/b's being produced without this facilty
?
If there are m/b's lacking this feature , would it be an easy task to
connect these ports to the outlets provided on modern cases ?

B.N.
 
I'm about to upgrade my old m/b ( a GA-7IXE4 ) and , among other
improvements , I would like to have the ability to plug peripherals
into the front of the case instead of continuously having to get
around to the back of the PC to perform this activity.

I notice that almost all the current PC cases have the these outlets
as standard

However , in reading the various m/b reviews , I also notice that not
all mention the facilty to wire these outlets to the front of the case
.

Is this lack of mention here due to the fact that this is a standard
feature of moden m/b's these days and is , therefore , not worth a
special mention or are there m/b's being produced without this facilty
?
If there are m/b's lacking this feature , would it be an easy task to
connect these ports to the outlets provided on modern cases ?

B.N.
--
Click to expand...

OK, the main kind of "outlets" you would want on the front are USB2.0,
IEEE1394 (firewire) and maybe some audio connectors. To use the audio
connectors, your sound card must have the right connectors to use them.

As for USB and firewire, your main stumbling block here is going to be the
CASE. USB and Firewire headers on motherboards are quite common now. To
find the right motherboard, don't rely on just the reviews. Just go to the
motherboard manufacturer's web page and look up the specifications. You
might see something like "8 X USB 2.0 (4 rear)". This would mean that the
mainboard has four USB headers, and also four USB ports built in (to stick
out the back of the case when the mainboard is installed)

What you need to worry about next (after finding a motherboard with your
chosen peripheral headers on it) is to find a CASE that has wiring to match
those headers. You need a case that has wires with INDIVIDUAL connectors
for each header pin. Either that, or the connector on the case must match
the pinout of the mainboard header EXACTLY. The only way you'll be able to
verify this is to find a motherboard and case with a downloadable manual.
(get one in PDF format off the manufacturer's web site) It should not be a
problem to find an online downloadable manual for just about any major brand
of mainboard. I don't know about the major brands of cases, if you can find
manuals for them online or not.

In the worst case, find the right motherboard, download the manual, then
post the pinout here and ask if your chosen case will match it. I'm sure
someone in this ng has built with whatever case you plan to use. -Dave
 
As for USB and firewire, your main stumbling block here is going to be the
CASE. USB and Firewire headers on motherboards are quite common now.
Click to expand...

True, it's best to find a case that has the ability to connect to these mobo
USB and FW headers, BUT, if you don't want to get a new case, there are
devices that fit into the 5" or 3.5" drive bays that contain USB and FW
ports, that you can connect to those headers if your case doesn't support
them.

For example:
http://www.silverstonetek.com/products-fp31.htm
and here is a retailer for it:
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=13-999-354&depa=1
 
Take a look at www.frontx.com .
You can choose a case you like, and with the use of a drive bay have
the connectors you want- either by use of motherboard pinouts or rear
panel connectors that will move them to the front. They are modular, so you
can add exactly what you want. They are good quality (unlike a lot of the
front panel adaptors that come with some cases), and reasonably priced.
I am using them in two computers for front panel audio and firewire and have
never had a problem with them.

Good Luck,
Fitz
 
Hi,

Many new mbs have connectors for USB, firewire and front Audio, but you
should be sure to see them listed as part of the specs of the board.
Sometimes they're not listed but when reading the mb's manual schematic
will show where they are. Additionally the case needs to have the
corresponding connectors. If the case doesn't one can buy a module that will
fit into either a 5 1/2" bay or as small as a floppy drive bay (try
Cyberguys to see a variety ). If the mb doesn't have the front connectors
one can additionally use the rear connectors
 
OK, the main kind of "outlets" you would want on the front are USB2.0,
IEEE1394 (firewire) and maybe some audio connectors. To use the audio
connectors, your sound card must have the right connectors to use them.
Click to expand...

Got that thanks
As for USB and firewire, your main stumbling block here is going to be the
CASE. USB and Firewire headers on motherboards are quite common now.
Click to expand...

OK , I've found such a case.

A question here :-

You , ( and others I've already noticed ) , refer to " headers " on
the m/b . What exactly are these ? Are they connection receptacles
built in to the m/b to receive one end of the wires whose other end
goes to the corresponding connections on the front face of a suitably
equpped case?


To
find the right motherboard, don't rely on just the reviews. Just go to the
motherboard manufacturer's web page and look up the specifications.
Click to expand...

Point taken.
What you need to worry about next (after finding a motherboard with your
chosen peripheral headers on it) is to find a CASE that has wiring to match
those headers.
Click to expand...

See my comment above

You need a case that has wires with INDIVIDUAL connectors
for each header pin. Either that, or the connector on the case must match
the pinout of the mainboard header EXACTLY. The only way you'll be able to
verify this is to find a motherboard and case with a downloadable manual.
(get one in PDF format off the manufacturer's web site) It should not be a
problem to find an online downloadable manual for just about any major brand
of mainboard.
Click to expand...

O.K I'll follw your advice here .


I don't know about the major brands of cases, if you can find
manuals for them online or not.

In the worst case, find the right motherboard, download the manual, then
post the pinout here and ask if your chosen case will match it. I'm sure
someone in this ng has built with whatever case you plan to use. -Dave
Click to expand...

Thanks for the help both to you and the other responders,

B.N.
 
You , ( and others I've already noticed ) , refer to " headers " on
the m/b . What exactly are these ? Are they connection receptacles
built in to the m/b to receive one end of the wires whose other end
goes to the corresponding connections on the front face of a suitably
equpped case?
Click to expand...

When you look at a USB wire, it is somewhat hollow shaped with 4 thin metal
strips, 2 on either side. Now look at a USB port on your computer, it is a
rectangular opening with a center piece, and that center piece has 2 metal
strips on the top and 2 on the bottom. This is the USB standard - 4
individual connections from one device to another.

These connections are:
- data "in"
- data "out"
- power
- ground

The size and shape of USB ports I am guessing were mostly chosen for ease of
use. Something too big is bulky and awkward, something too small is easily
bent or broken.

It is different on a motherboard. Instead of a USB "port", you have pins.
These pins are the same 4 connections as the USB ports have, just in a small
form that sits on a "header". Generally, a header is just a collection of
pins, and you have to consult your motherboard for the pin layout
definitions. The mobo manufacturer will tell you exactly what each pin is
for.

USB headers tend to look like this:
o o o o o
o o o o

There are two rows of data-in / data-out / power / ground, with an extra
ground on one row (not needed for anything, it's there so you know which end
is which). Any case with front USB will have internal wires connected to
the front USB port, and each individual wire will have a female end that
slides onto one of the pins of the USB header, and each should have a label
(probably a small piece of tape around the end of the wire, saying which one
it is).

You can look at a mobo at a store, or in a picture on the web (hard unless
it's a very big picture), and see the USB headers, if you know what you're
looking at. The mobo should have "USB" printed right on the board next to
the headers. In general all headers have some label next to them for
convenience.

Hope that helps.
 
Hi,

Many new mbs have connectors for USB, firewire and front Audio, but you
should be sure to see them listed as part of the specs of the board.
Sometimes they're not listed but when reading the mb's manual schematic
will show where they are. Additionally the case needs to have the
corresponding connectors. If the case doesn't one can buy a module that will
fit into either a 5 1/2" bay or as small as a floppy drive bay (try
Cyberguys to see a variety ). If the mb doesn't have the front connectors
one can additionally use the rear connectors
Click to expand...

Got all that - much obliged .

B.N.
 
David Besack said:
When you look at a USB wire, it is somewhat hollow shaped with 4 thin metal
strips, 2 on either side. Now look at a USB port on your computer, it is a
rectangular opening with a center piece, and that center piece has 2 metal
strips on the top and 2 on the bottom. This is the USB standard - 4
individual connections from one device to another.

These connections are:
- data "in"
- data "out"
- power
- ground

The size and shape of USB ports I am guessing were mostly chosen for ease of
use. Something too big is bulky and awkward, something too small is easily
bent or broken.

It is different on a motherboard. Instead of a USB "port", you have pins.
These pins are the same 4 connections as the USB ports have, just in a small
form that sits on a "header". Generally, a header is just a collection of
pins, and you have to consult your motherboard for the pin layout
definitions. The mobo manufacturer will tell you exactly what each pin is
for.

USB headers tend to look like this:
o o o o o
o o o o

There are two rows of data-in / data-out / power / ground, with an extra
ground on one row
Click to expand...

(snip)

Thanks, David. I think you answered that pretty well, which saved me the
trouble. :)

-The other David
 
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