RANT- front panel connectors are a crime against pc builders/users

[_roman_]

OKAY

Now I also post some random stuff. This is a daisy flower

This is somehow related to I do not know computers.

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Can we please keep it somehow related to Cables / Connectors / computer parts. Thank you.

and see thousand complain after burning out a fan port from running 10 fans on a single connection.

I'm not sure. I think a single Arctic Fan has somehow 3 Watts what I remember for P12 or P14 Arctic Fans.

Proper Mainboards do have 2 Amps @ 12 VDC = 24 Watts per PWM Fan ports.

I always see those usb-C cables advertised for cheap cables for around 120Watt or such. It should be possible for a certain amount of fans with certain amount of standard Wattage.

 

[Splinterdog]

HP/Compaq were fitting a block connector for the front panel connectors, but those usually only fitted the mobos specially made for their PCs, like those from ECS for example.
However, if you needed to change the mobo, you needed to rearrange the pins in the block or even cut the block to fit the new mobo. I've done that loads of times.
But what really bugs me is the crap quality of the USB/audio connectors that are in the front façade. Bloody awful most of the time, as per this thread.

 

[lilhasselhoffer]

I should have left out the plumbing bit because this is about computers; your hands are not to big to work on computers. And as we're going to extremes here, and please take this as the joke it is intended as, I suggest use your dick to trigger the gun.

I think the better joke might be that your gun is too small...maybe you should buy something that doesn't come out of a vending machine as a children's toy.

Oohhh....better yet, the actual size when properly scaled to the actual size of the gun would be something like Andre the Giant trying to use a pistol. I'm sure we can add something about stopping power, and being incapable of anything more than a flesh wound.



Joking aside, they make these wonderful tools called pliers and roach clips (or hemostats, whatever you know them as). The former can be used to guide a connector onto a socket. The later can actually lock onto a plug and make guiding it on absolutely simplistic. Monkeys can figure out how to get ants out of an ant colony...you're telling me that you cannot figure out how to build something that is about 95% likely to be one and done? I remember the wonderful days before rounded metal plates, where building a PC usually meant donating at least a little blood a few times before everything was setup, and that was if you were careful. Sheet metal cuts deep.


Back to the joking to round this out...the solution to a "skill" problem is to extend another plastic block out, to another connector, to connect your connectors to a different connector. It's Matroshka connections. It's almost like the bolt in board NZXT used for their phantom series. It had a circuit board screwed into the connector area, that was always one screw (and a large blob of hot glue) away from being replaced. That said, the replacement boards were priced almost like a new case...and it does beg the question of why not just build your own if it's too difficult to align the connectors....beyond the obvious insane cost?

 

[Ruru]

The fat USB 3 connector is worse, IMO. it's kind of a matter of when and not if one if the pins will break off making the header

100% agree on that one. Broke a pin twice and the other connector on the case has gone silent after that. Also it's not that rare having the plastic on the header coming off from the motherboard.

 

[Splinterdog]

100% agree on that one. Broke a pin twice and the other connector on the case has gone silent after that. Also it's not that rare having the plastic on the header coming off from the motherboard.

Ever tried removing the blue USB 3.0 from the mobo? I had one completely come off yet still stuck in the black plastic, thus exposing the mobo pins. Fortunately I was able to fix it, but it was a bit scary for a moment.

 

[Veseleil]

I understand your sentiment, and could agree that a front panel motherboard connectors should be positioned elsewhere, not on the very bottom. Somewhere below 24-pin and above SATA ports would be nice.

But I like my front panel cables and plugs separated. Each one.
Because I don't want to plug in HDD LEDs (annoying), power LEDs (I know when my PC is on, ty), and I prefer the choice to use reset or RGB switch for a clear CMOS function.
So effectively in most cases, the only thing that I struggle to plug into that PITA place is the power switch, two wires, usually unified plug end.

24-pin is harder to pull out than to plug in. USB3 is a pain and the cable thickness makes it even more painful. And plug not being 90 degrees (majority) makes it even more more painful.

 

[Princess Garnet]

Ive never seen it but I heard theres an "easier middle plug you connect fpc to and then into the mb. cool, make a standard connector.

This is all they need to do. My LGA 1155 motherboard had one, but none before or since have had it. It seems like motherboard manufacturers have either stopped including it, or left it solely to the very expensive/premium motherboards.

I'm neutral on making the connector standard since all I ever connect is the power connector. I don't want power LED, HDD LED, reset, or so on connected; literally all I connect is the power switch, so what happens if you want finer control of what doe/doesn't get plugged in? Would you still be able to do that without pulling out/cutting wires? I might also be indifferent because I so seldomly change motherboard or case that it doesn't bother me.

 

[inquisitor1]

This is all they need to do. My LGA 1155 motherboard had one, but none before or since have had it. It seems like motherboard manufacturers have either stopped including it, or left it solely to the very expensive/premium motherboards.

I'm neutral on making the connector standard since all I ever connect is the power connector. I don't want power LED, HDD LED, reset, or so on connected; literally all I connect is the power switch, so what happens if you want finer control of what doe/doesn't get plugged in? Would you still be able to do that without pulling out/cutting wires? I might also be indifferent because I so seldomly change motherboard or case that it doesn't bother me.

standard which means keep all the plugs the same on all boards. where you connect this or that would be the same on all boards. dont change the pins of one connector for which they do. then you dont need to look at the manual.. its not difficult to implement.

"hey, us mfr's are all douchebags for using this primitive small pin FPC. how about we try to "ok" with the pc community and at least try to standardize the component layout of the pins and include the 22 cent mid connector in all mb instead of only including it for a $600 mb?" asus: nah because if were not douchebags, our reputation is gone.

that way anyone can start making the middle plug and it would be less stress to connect. the whole process of building a pc is enjoyable ....till you get to the front panel connectors then it becomes a pita

 

[Ruru]

Ever tried removing the blue USB 3.0 from the mobo? I had one completely come off yet still stuck in the black plastic, thus exposing the mobo pins. Fortunately I was able to fix it, but it was a bit scary for a moment.

Yeah, that was exactly what I meant. And usually the pins get also bent when that happens. Hella hate that connector.

 

[Bill_Bright]

I'm neutral on making the connector standard since all I ever connect is the power connector. I don't want power LED, HDD LED, reset, or so on connected; literally all I connect is the power switch, so what happens if you want finer control of what doe/doesn't get plugged in? Would you still be able to do that without pulling out/cutting wires? I might also be indifferent because I so seldomly change motherboard or case that it doesn't bother me.

I think this is an unusual practice, but nevertheless, an excellent point.

I say unusual, because if the case has a Reset button, I think most users would want to connect it. That said, many cases these days don't have a Reset button. I suspect because the power button can be configured to Reset with a momentary press, and powered off with a long (4+ second) press.

Regardless, I agree with the Princess and users should have the option. So at the very least, if they do standardize the connector, IMO, it should be more like an adaptor - that is, not hardwired (soldered or permanently crimped) with the wires leading to the front panel, but uses connectors on the "top" side so, if someone does not want the HD LED connected, they simply leave that pair of wires disconnected.

Cutting the wire should not be the user's only option.

 

[Princess Garnet]

standard which means keep all the plugs the same on all boards. where you connect this or that would be the same on all boards. dont change the pins of one connector for which they do. then you dont need to look at the manual.. its not difficult to implement.

"hey, us mfr's are all douchebags for using this primitive small pin FPC. how about we try to "ok" with the pc community and at least try to standardize the component layout of the pins and include the 22 cent mid connector in all mb instead of only including it for a $600 mb?" asus: nah because if were not douchebags, our reputation is gone.

that way anyone can start making the middle plug and it would be less stress to connect. the whole process of building a pc is enjoyable ....till you get to the front panel connectors then it becomes a pita

Yeah, I know what standardizing it means.

My point is that the if the motherboard headers and case connectors were standardized, you'd probably end up with a single case connector and you would often be forced to have everything connected. I don't want a light to let me know my PC is powered, nor a blinking light for storage drive access. What happens if I don't want those in a standardized world? Do I have to cut or pull wires out of connectors? Or would cases have to start implementing a chip with firmware to expose options for disabling these things to the motherboard BIOS or OS? That all starts getting more costly and complicated.

The easy answer is for motherboard manufacturers to start including those "in-between connectors" that they used to as standard for all motherboards. This takes care of the "I can't plug them in easily" complaints while leaving the option of choosing what gets connected.

 

[Bill_Bright]

Yeah, I know what standardizing it means.

Yeah, pretty sure everyone does. Not sure why the explanation - it sure was not needed.

I agree with the concept of the "in-between connector". That seems to make the most sense and provide the most flexibility for users that may not want to connect all the wires.

If they do want to standardize, and I am not against that, then I reiterate what I said before the individual wires from the front panel must NOT be hard wired in to that plug. User must be able to leave them disconnected.

I will point out another example why that is essential. On many, perhaps 2 dozen or more, occasions, computers have come into the shop where the front panel power button was broken. It seems to be pretty common that the mounting mechanism to hold that switch is place is poorly designed and weak so after a few years of use, the mounting mechanism breaks. A super easy fix we often perform and I have recommended here is to simply move the 2 wires from the Reset switch (assuming the case has one) to where the power button wires typically connect to that motherboard header. Then the user can simply use the Reset button from then on. This workaround takes seconds to implement and cost $0.00 in parts and results in happy customer.

If that connector was standardized and hardwired, the work around would require cutting and splicing wires. If done by a hired tech, I know I would probably charge 1/2 hour labor. Other techs, charge 1 hour minimum.

 

[eidairaman1]

Do some of yall have baby hands or something?

 

[Assimilator]

Do some of yall have baby hands or something?

Fat fingers... same thing really.

 

[Bill_Bright]

Do some of yall have baby hands or something?

Fat fingers... same thing really.

I was told when I was a boy I would either make a great baseball pitcher or piano player because I had and have large hands but with long skinny fingers. I was neither a great pitcher and never learned to play the piano. In any case, my problem with these connectors is not really my hands. I'm actually quite dexterous. Even still at my advanced age, my hands are steady, do what I tell them to do (most of the time) and are relatively arthritis-free.

My problems is, even with good eyes and great lighting, I cannot see through my hands and arms when they are reaching in to a case. They seem to always be in and blocking my field of vision when working inside a case. So when possible, I always connect the motherboard as much as possible before mounting the board inside the case, where I can hold the board up in the open to see what I am doing. That is where those in-between connectors really demonstrate their worth.

For sure, if you only assemble a computer once in a blue moon, or once every few years, this is no big deal. But if you assemble computers frequently, being able to eyeball the entire cable-end connector and the motherboard connector at the same time to determine the key location and proper orientation, then just plug it in like we can with the 24-pin main power connector (instead of messing with individual wires) that would be a huge benefit in terms of ease of assembly, and time too. Plus, it would help eliminate mistakes.