LEDS - does it matter which way they face?

[dpk777]

I was wondering if it matters which way the LEDS face when you plug them into the mobo.

If it does matter, how do you know which way they face?

I'm getting the MSI KT3 ULTRA2 so I wanna make sure I get it right.

thx,
dpk

 

[bozo1]

Yes it matters. If it doesn't work one way, try it the other. If you have it backwards, no damage, the LED just won't light. Some manuals show you what the positive (+) lead is, some don't. Some case LED leads show you which one is positive, most don't.

 

[Jeff7]

In some instances, the system just won't POST at all if the LED is facing the wrong way (and the LED won't light). Look at the LED's connector - one of the pins should have a tiny triangle pointing at one of the sockets - that usually indicates the "+" connector.

 

[SunnyD]

A little "technical" info for ya.

An LED is a "light emitting diode". Note the diode part - a diode is a device which restricts the flow of electricity to only one direction. This direction is predetermined by the device's manufactured properties. So if you plug an LED in backwards, it will prevent the electric current from flowing through the device at all, and not light up.

Just to contrast, your regular incandessant lightbulb acts like a resistor, in which an electric current can flow in either direction, being resisted in either direction. It will light up in either direction as well.

There... now you know too much.

 

[tritium4ever]

I have the KT3-Ultra2 and the manual does a fantastic job of describing all the headers. It'll tell you which pin is positive and which one is negative so you can't possibly screw up.

 

[dpopiz]

all the recent msi boards also have excellently labeled FP headers, they even have a second FP header that is supposed to follow some spec by intel that let's you just plug in one big block on chassis that support it.