Coolermaster Elite 330: Problem with USB bezel

[StarsFan4Life]

I have a problem I can't seem to figure out. I have built three machines, all using the Coolermaster Elite 330 found here:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-115-_-Product

Now, each machine has completely different parts, but all use Gigabyte motherboards (all different models, but all made within the last year to 18 months). Now, I'm no rocket scientist, but I am no idiot either. The case comes with a front bezel for both 2 USB connections and a headphone/microphone jack.

Now, here is the problem. With the machines completely built (no problems at all) and running Windows 7 Ultimate, we have a problem with the front USB connections on each of the cases. While powered up, if I plug ANYTHING usb into the fron USB connections, the power cuts off (like a short) and actually on one machine ended up shorting out the motherboard and Gigabyte was nice enough to replace it.

I contacted Coolemaster about the issue and they said they had never heard about it with this case, but they are sending replacement bezels for each case. The problem is, its basically the same bezel as before.

Now, of course, I did plug the front bezel usb connections into the correct usb connection on the motherboard (pins match up and everything)...and like I said, each motherboard is a different model, but they are all Gigabyte. The PSU's are the same in two of them (Antec Earthwatts 650wt) and the other is a generic PSU for my home server.

Anyone have any ideas?

 

[darom]

Haha, I thought I was crazy myself a few years ago when I build my system with a GA-965P-DS3 motherboard and the included USB back side bezel. If I plugged it in, the motherboard wouldn't power up at all or cause sporadic reboots. I quickly threw that part away - my guess is that the motherboard's pin layout didn't match the USB's ones. Instead, to add more 2.0 USB ports, I bought a separate PCI USB card.

So, to sum it up, we have 2 cases of this happening! 🙂

 

[bloodugly]

I've bought USB devices before that were wired wrong, so it wouldn't be the first time I've heard of it happening. Fortunately, the female pins are easy to remove and relocate.

 

[StarsFan4Life]

Well, after months of dealing with this and unplugging the front USB bezel from the laptop, I thought I would give a new case a try. I got an Antec Three Hundred (which I think is a much better case).

I hooked all the equipment back up the same way I had it and turned the computer on. I booted into Windows 7, tried plugging in a USB flash drive....and the machine shut off. I knew that SOMETHING else was causing this short.

I remembered back on something I added new when I did the original build; a Sony 5.1 receiver and Infinity P362 speakers (4ft 3way tower speakers that freakin rock). This shouldn't have been a problem, other than the way I hooked the PC to the receiver. I used the following cable:

http://www.amazon.com/Monster-THXIMI.../dp/B00006YZ3Y

It's a 3.5mm to RCA cable. I went from the green out on the motherboard to the red/white RCA plugs on the back of the receiver (I used the "DVD" one).

Once I unplugged this, ALL IS FREAKING FINE!

Now, the motherboard I have has an optical out which I think I will utilize using a ToSlink cable to connect the PC to the receiver, instead of the 3.5mm to RCA cable. Will using a ToSlink cable still cause the same shorting problem I currently have?

My setup:

* Antec Three Hundred Case
* Gigabyte GA-MA790X-UD4P motherboard
* AMD Phenom II Quad 940 Black Editon - Stock cooling
* 8GB G-Skill PC2-6400
* XFX Radeon 4870 1GB
* Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB SATA II
* Western Digital Caviar Black 640GB SATAII
* Onboard LAN/HD Audio
* Logitech DiNovo Keyboard
* Logitech MX 518
* 2 X Yate Loon 120mm silent case fans

 

[StarsFan4Life]

Anyone think that switching to a ToSLink cable will help with the shorting problem?

 

[StarsFan4Life]

Anyone?

 

[VirtualLarry]

I built two rigs with CM Elite 330 cases, and Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3R v1.0 mobos, and I never had any issues with the USB ports causing shorts.

Just curious, did your CM 330 cases come with a single integrated header connector for the AC97 audio, or did it come with about 5-7 individual pins? Mine came with individual pins, and it was a royal PITA to get them all installed properly.

 

[Carskick1988]

Sorry to revive an old thread, but I have the exact same issue.

I have built at least 40 computers with the CoolerMaster 330 Elite case. It is a great case to work with for the money, and I have had few issues with it. 99% of the time, I use ASUS motherboards. But one time almost 2 years ago, I built a computer with a Gigabyte motherboard and this case. It is doing exactly as you describe, but only on occasion. 1 out of 50 times, when you plug a USB device in the front, the computer just shuts off or reboots.

It did it to me once while I was working on it long ago, and my customer, who the computer was for, says it has done it to him twice. Other than that, the computer works flawlessly, and has no trouble detecting USB devices. I just received a call from him telling me about the issue. It did happen to me once, but never again when I worked on it, so I figured I shocked it with static electricity or something on the front bezel.

We have added a USB card in the computer to give it more connectors in the rear as well, maybe I'll try hooking the front bezel connector to the USB card internally? Any other thoughts? It's funny, the one time I don't use ASUS, something goes wrong. 🙂

 

[VirtualLarry]

Well, I guess I shouldn't say that I've never had problems. I did once plug an MP3 player in to charge, and the next morning when I went out to disconnect it, I found that the computer was turned off for some reason, or hung with a blank screen, one of the two. But it's not like it rebooted or turned off when I plugged it in.