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Power/Reset/LED hookups - single plug ever?

M

McCarthy

Platinum Member
I was just wondering all of a sudden why in an era where we're soon to have hot swapable S-ATA devices, Firewire, USB blah blah down the line we still have....

two rows of a dozen or so vaguely labeled pins to hook up our power switch, reset, speaker, and LEDs

Surely a uniform plug wouldn't be difficult or expensive to implement. That's always the most annoying part of building a system, but I've never stopped to think about it before. Anyone ever heard of a company trying to start this trend? Other than Apple I mean...

--Mc
 
I agree with you
Hate pushing the power button only to get no lights blinking, then having to fiddle with the small wires

I noticed a mark on one side so figured it was 'positive' and looked in my mobo manual to find the correct setting. Didn't work so I guess that mark was nothing.
 
i also agree..

i wouldn't have thought that having a standardised plug would be all that difficult to agree to or implement, and would save a lot of fustration!
 
I don't think I've ever gotten all of those plugs in the right way at the same time...I never even bother with the HDD lights anymore, too much hassle. It's all I can do to connect the power switch!
 
Hehe Guys, that's the really only hard thing left to actually do while building a computer.
Plugging cables into drives and putting cards in sockets isn't hard. The cpu and memory install isn't hard as long as you go by the instructions (pins only really go in one way). If they made a standard plug, then everyone would make their own puter and I wouldn't get paid to build them 😉

I hear ya though, making a standard plug would be nice, as well as one for the USB and Firewire plugs for cases too so that I can actually use the front ports instead of running a cable out the back without some major mods to the wires.
 
oh man, this'd be nice! When I built the computer that I'm on, I put all the little wires on the mobo, and the power/reset/hdd light worked, but the power light didn't work. It took me like 4 months to feel sad about it never having the chance to shine (sorta a pun 🙂), so I took everything apart, tried the HDD light on diff wires which the manual said would work too, but it still didn't work. I finally had to cut the wires from the little platic rectangular holder (you know what I mean 😉) and make my own holder, since it was like red|empty|black, when it should have been red|black|empty. Once I did that, the LED has worked, and has been on for about a month or 2...and will turn off tonight..when I go to a LAN party 😀
 
Would be nice indeed. The problem would be backwards compatibility though...
The diagrams in the manual are almost always easier than the writing on the boards themselves, I find.

My Lian-Li PC60 has a very neat feature with respect to the hookups. It has a connector that splits. It allows you to make all the connections while the motherboard is out of the case (making it much easier due to the extra space) and than plug that into the case with a single d-shaped connector. Which is about as close as it's possible to get nowadays.
 
Originally posted by: Woodchuck2000
Would be nice indeed. The problem would be backwards compatibility though...
The diagrams in the manual are almost always easier than the writing on the boards themselves, I find.

My Lian-Li PC60 has a very neat feature with respect to the hookups. It has a connector that splits. It allows you to make all the connections while the motherboard is out of the case (making it much easier due to the extra space) and than plug that into the case with a single d-shaped connector. Which is about as close as it's possible to get nowadays.
Click to expand...

jerk
😛
man, that sounds really nice.....
 
It's strange that the latest boards from such top-tier manufacturers as Asus and Gigabyte neglect such a simple fact, while my old Dell and Micron 440BX boards have "easy" Power/Reset/LED (albeit proprietary). One questions why this issue hasn't been resolved yet...
rolleye.gif
 
With every case I get there comes a little bag with about 7 types of screws. Most of them are similar, but when I'm done building and start working with the system I hear screws falling out.... Similar screws will hold add-in cards but not drives, motherboards but not side panels. The threads aren't all that different, would it be so hard to use just one uniform thread?

Installing motherboards is also a bitch. If you don't have a removable tray, getting those washers and screws in when the holes don't quite line up is not amusing.
 
Originally posted by: Alphazero
With every case I get there comes a little bag with about 7 types of screws. Most of them are similar, but when I'm done building and start working with the system I hear screws falling out.... Similar screws will hold add-in cards but not drives, motherboards but not side panels. The threads aren't all that different, would it be so hard to use just one uniform thread?

Installing motherboards is also a bitch. If you don't have a removable tray, getting those washers and screws in when the holes don't quite line up is not amusing.
Click to expand...

I know exactly what you mean.

 
Thank you Woodchuck. Also thanks to Lian-Li.
We can get there from here. Picture of the Lian-Li connector. Another picture.

Takes a few minutes of effort on our part though.

Need to badger, bother and berate Enlight, Antec, Chieftec, Enermax, Superpower, down the line to also include such a connector. Thing is, it needs to be the SAME connector with the same pinout, if they come out with a different quick detach we need to write them again and say "That was nice, however". Year from now if all new cases are coming out with a quick detach it'll be viable for a motherboard maker to put a matching plug on their boards. As far as reverse compatability, until the case manufacturers start leaving out the second part of the wire there's no problem, and at that point there will be enough around that if someone wants to put together a retro BH-6 in a 2005 case they can find the appropriate cable or will have a few lying around. The other reverse compatability problem is if someone is still using their old case at the point where motherboards no longer have pins - again easily enough solved by the use of an adapter. It'd have the female side of the plug and instead of the female two pin connectors it'd have to have the male ones. Doesn't currently exist, but would be really cheap and something any retailer selling motherboards wouldn't have a problem holding in their inventory. I don't know that I'd go so far as to say it should be included with motherboards in the future, though the first generation to use the single plug might be well advised to include them. At which point we're back to many people having them lying around and giving away to those who might still need one for their old case.

Again, same connector as Lian-Li is currently using and of course the first part of the wire harness will have to be long enough to reach the corner of the motherboard where the connectors are found, something I'm not sure about with Lian-Li's current wires. Woodchuck could probably tell us that if he's still reading.

Now the hard part, who will join me in some badgering? No fame or glory, just the satisfaction of knowing you did builders around the world a favor if we get the case manufacturers talked into it.

We'll work on the screws later...

Any volunteers? I'll gather (and gladly accept) contact emails if there's support. Let's use the power of the Anandtech Effect for something other than scaring small retailers with links from the Hot Deals forum 🙂.

--Mc




 
I'd be willing to send a few emails asking for a uniform plug. It's just stupid. We get standard backplanes for the ATX spec and such. Why'd they leave this out?

On a side note . . . anybody remember those old AT cases that had the LCD that showed the Mhz of the machine? Now setting those things up right was a true hassle. Most of the systems I built back then just had the power wire going to that monstrousity either disconnected or flat out cut. 🙂
 
I've worked on a gateway machine before that had a nice big plug but it would take a lot for manufacturers to agree on a standard. Is there any associations that establish pc standards right now?
 
I have seen this on some old Packard bell systems, some Dell systems and Gateways.

But yes that would be SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO nice.

It always takes me the longest because the pattern seems different on every different model on a motherboard. Even certain revisions in a model change (I remember the ASUS A7V inputs changed from 1.01 to 1.02).
 
If there is, they're not doing it. Heck even the little plugs we do have aren't standard, some motherboards want the pins side by side, some want pin 1, blank pin, pin 2. So even today with some boards (ECS K7S5A comes to mind) you have to cut up the plugs we have to make it all work.
 
Originally posted by: DanFungus
Originally posted by: Alphazero
With every case I get there comes a little bag with about 7 types of screws. Most of them are similar, but when I'm done building and start working with the system I hear screws falling out.... Similar screws will hold add-in cards but not drives, motherboards but not side panels. The threads aren't all that different, would it be so hard to use just one uniform thread?

Installing motherboards is also a bitch. If you don't have a removable tray, getting those washers and screws in when the holes don't quite line up is not amusing.
Click to expand...

I know exactly what you mean.
Click to expand...

Oh yes! I have taken my motherboard numerous times trying to line up those f***ing holes and to no avail. My pci and agp cards kinda bend to fit in the slot. :frown:

But installing the plug isn't so bad. I have the EP-8KHA+ and I got it right the first time. The manual wasn't that hard to read. 😉
 
amdskip

A few manufacturers collaborate on standards.

In order for this to work it would probably have to be an addendum to the ATX standard... which is Intel, Microsoft and some other companies.

Edit: I spelled addendum right 😉
 
Maybe instead of mass emailing an online petition? Heck I dunno. I do know one email from me is going to do nothing. I know I don't have any buddies on the inside who can magically make things happen. I also know the conversation here will do nothing. What I don't know is how to accomplish something. Actually this is just a minor annoyance topic, but a good one to learn how what works when trying to influence those in control of our toys 🙂

 
LOL... a minor annoyance, but enough to get me annoyed lol.

I say someone here with the right vocab & wording makes a petition over at petitiononline.com 😉


Yvo
 
Indeed.

If somebody starts a petition within the next 14 hours, i'll be a part of it, and i'll send some e-mails too, McCarthy...

If they don't - then I shall start one. But for now, i've finished work, and i'm going home! 😉

I dont think you'll find many people who disagree with the implementation of ATX front-panel connectors as a standard...

Didn't they have a standard for ATX form cards on baby-AT style AT/ATX mainboards? or did it differ from one manufacturer to another?

rolleye.gif


Ph0
 
Again, same connector as Lian-Li is currently using and of course the first part of the wire harness will have to be long enough to reach the corner of the motherboard where the connectors are found, something I'm not sure about with Lian-Li's current wires. Woodchuck could probably tell us that if he's still reading.
Click to expand...
It reaches the bottom corner of a Full-ATX board fine. It'd be very tight using a M/Atx, but then there are probably very few people using M/Atx mainboards in a PC-60 🙂

The only thing is with a uniform connector, some optional pairs like a suspend button or offboard internal speaker would need to be either discarded or included. There'd be a bit of a standards war while people decided what they wanted.
 
I'm not sure who to target the petition TO. Intel seems to play the dominant role in the ATX spec from what I found in a quick look around google, but I'm clear if there's an overall group that sets the specs or what.

Anyway, we'll figure that out. Need something to say to whoever. Suggested text for scrutiny.

______________________________________

Proposal: To create a uniform single plug standard to replace the current multiple plug solution for the power switch, reset switch, internal speaker hookup and indicator LEDS in ATX computer cases.

Problem: In an era of single elegant plug solutions such as 1394 and USB, low pin connectors with S-ATA and general improvements to the form and function of the home computer chassis, the current wiring solution for the circuits above is unnecessarily disorganized and time consuming for system builders and hobbyists.

Solution: Determine a uniform standard and introduce this to both motherboard and chassis manufacturers. In the interim period while the single plug is being adopted, a converter solution such as found in current Lian-Li cases may be implemented. Care should be taken to consider future front panel switches and extra connectors should be included to maintain future compatibility if more than the current number of circuits is anticipated.

Timeframe: With the next ATX specification update. Once a plug standard is decided case manufacturers should be encouraged to immediately adopt it with both the female connector to interface with future motherboards and a short pass through cable with the male end of the uniform plug on one end and the traditional two wire hookups at the other for connecting to existing and intermediate motherboards. Also motherboard manufacturers should adopt the male plug in place of the traditional bare pins, but include an adapter cable with the female receptacal and male two pin connectors to interface with existing ATX cases for the first generation of boards.

Cost: To be determined.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

What would you change about this?

If anyone knows who exactly to target this to, please advise. I'll look around again this evening, just took a brief glance earlier.

Actually after thinking about it more, as NICE as the Lian-Li plug is, if motherboard manufacturers would just use a standard layout for the double rows of pins so a single plug could connect to it that would be even easier to talk them into. That way the oldest cases around would still be able to hook up to new boards without any sort of an adapter. If you have an old case you have to follow the directions and wire the individual plugs yourself like now. If you have a new case and new motherboard you slip one plug on and you're done. Only downside to this, and it's a troublesome one, is if you hook up a new case with a single plug to an older motherboard with a different pinout it wouldn't work and might even cause damage. All in all a lot simpler and cheaper change, but uglier for new cases/old board combos than the other way. Still, with the upsides of it might be a better way to suggest?

--Mc
 
Originally posted by: Woodchuck2000
The only thing is with a uniform connector, some optional pairs like a suspend button or offboard internal speaker would need to be either discarded or included. There'd be a bit of a standards war while people decided what they wanted.
Click to expand...

Not really. If the mobo manufacturer didn't want to include suspend or what not, then just leave spaces where the pins should be and then a universal plug would work cause the plugs don't have to actually plug in to anything for the other plugs to work.

Also, why not make the wire assembly sort of like the Lian Li in respects to being able to connect your wires up out of the case and then attach via a connector in the case, and include both a "universal" plug which would work on new mobos, as well as a set of separated plugs to be used on old mobos. Then it work like it does now (a bit of chaos), or for new mobos of the future. I think that's the key, to include both sets of plugs so that it can be done outside of a case and then with a quick connector, connect it to the case for display. How does that sound?
 
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