first build - confused about how to connect some of these wires

[chocoboat]

I have a Gigabyte MicroATX motherboard and an Antec Mini P180 case. I have installed the motherboard, HD, DVDRW etc. and am finishing everything up by connecting all the cables. I have a lot of experience with replacing parts but this is my first time building an entire PC.

I have a few cables I'm not sure how to connect. There are these two loose cables attached to the front panel. The manual says there's a 10-pin cable to connect for the front USB ports, these are two 5-pin cables so I guess that's what these are? pic1

My guess is that they connect to one of these two connectors, but I'm not sure how to connect it. pic2

Would any harm be done by just not connecting them? I also have wires for the front LEDs and an e-SATA connection that are connected to the front of the case, which I'm uncertain how to connect... I don't really need them though. As long as no damage is done by leaving them unconnected it's fine with me.

Here's a picture of the whole PC, minus the video card: pic3 If there are any obvious mistakes, please let me know.

Here is a closeup of the cpu fan. pic4 I see now that this wasn't the optimal placement, it would have been better if rotated 90 degrees clockwise so the wires don't pass over the top of the fan. Is it OK to leave it how it is now though? The wires are well clear of the fan and will never touch it, so I'm hoping it doesn't need to be removed and reconnected.

Any help with this stuff would be much appreciated...

 

[DSF]

Have you read your case and motherboard manuals? It should be explained fairly well where the connectors for LEDs and USB ports go. There should be a diagram in the motherboard manual of which pins are where on the motherboard, and then you just match them to the leads from the case panel. I don't think there's going to be a connection for the eSATA port on that motherboard, so don't worry about it.

You ought to connect the leads for the LEDs though, if for no other reason than you'd be doing a half-assed job if you didn't. Take pride in your first build!

 

[chocoboat]

I figured out the LEDs (the manual didn't explain which way to put them in, I had the positive/negative backwards) but the front USB ports, I still have no idea. The manual seems to not agree with what connections exist on the actual product. Fortunately it seems to work just fine without them for now.

 

[DSF]

It'll work fine without them, you just won't be able to use the front USB ports. I agree, I haven't seen USB headers labeled that way, but they do match the USB pins on the motherboard in a vague way. (Power and ground would be in the right places for example.) I'd email or call Antec and see what they say.

For future reference, black/white wires are generally ground whereas colored wires are generally positive.

 

[VirtualLarry]

The USB plugs on the motherboard, there are two rows of 5 pins, with one pin missing. The side with the missing pin, is either NC or shield ground or OC protection. These days usually NC. Your case wires have shield ground on those pins. So plug in the VCC (red wires) into the opposite side of the plug, with the shield ground wires onto the side of the plug with the missing pin. Both USB wires get plugged in parallel to each other, one on each set of five pins (yes, one will only have four pins).

If the ports don't work, then you are going to need to unplug them, and then remove the shield ground wire from the connector using a pin, and then re-plug them. That only applies if the mobo uses that extra pin (next to the missing pin) for OC protection. (Ideally you would also connect the shield ground pin with another wire to the chassis ground plane.)