How To Wire Front Panel I/O in a PC 

Wow, finally a person who builds pcs that shows you this part. Took years but here we have it folks.

just about to build a new pc then see this, extremely needed

Oh, I feel everyone's pain. The hours I've wasted are immeasurable.

this is actually one of the most obscure, but important things in PC building that never got properly addressed in how-to-build videos, leaving beginners scratching their heads. thanks for this, greg!

This was literally my only concern when I built my first PC a few years ago. My first boot I remember thinking "well it didn't blow up so that's a good sign" 🤣😂

Having built more than 20 systems over the years, this is the part that I always swear at, and it gets worse the older you get - darn bifocals don't focus on that tiny print! I always wondered why some of the connectors had the positive/negative labeled, and others did not. And I was afraid of putting them in backwards. The only one I didn't have trouble with was a motherboard that had a block to plug everything into and then you plugged the block into the motherboard. I wish all manufacturers did that! Great video; I appreciate the explanation!

Some wires just have a triangle symbol which signifies 'Positive/plus(+)' while the others dont have a symbol at all which signifies 'negative/minus(-)'.

It took 100 years for someone to release this, you sir are the reason why I've been a fan for years. Also your knowledge on tech had helped me build my first pc =)

Have an NZXT H500 case which have the front panel cables all bundled up from the get go so i wasn't so sure how to connect them individually if i were to change cases. This video was short but concise which is nothing but expected from this channel. Keep up the great work Greg!

This part, and the installation of some non-stock CPU coolers are to me the most difficult parts of building a pc. Also the Sata power connections: I never know which side is the correct, and takes a considerable ammount of force to plug it in. Thanks for making this video :)

It's 2022 and I still needed this video to be sure about the position of the power sw and hdd jumper. Thank you so much greg! You saved the day... again 😁

I helped build two of my friends pc this week and I was entirely confused on it but they both had the H510 from NZXT, so the front panel connectors was all in one piece, so that was good.

They should make some proper plug to replace this absolete and confusing flimsy pins design.

DUDE, I don’t even need this but thank you for being one of the few people to finally make this video. This is going to be great for new users.

Thank you for taking the time to make this video. This really is the most tedious part of PCs building. Glad a lot of case manufactures have combined all those wires together to make connecting easy.

I like these short videos on simple, yet interesting or confusing topics. No one else does this kind of video to my knowledge. Keep it up!

The MSI MB on my previous rig had an accessory block that you could use to connect all the case wiring and then you could just connect the block to the MB like a USB plug making it extremely easy. That MB had two FP header blocks though, the secondary header was for the case speaker/buzzer and other stuff.

What's one thing better than finding a video about front i/o connections - having the video being done on the same board as the one you've purchased 😁😁 Something else that was beneficial - on my old Predator case the front io connectors were grouped together like a plug instead of individually as in this video

I was frustrated with the connectors...tried out many videos but the finer details wer missing and as a first time builder i couldnt get my pc to wswitch on...your video sorted it out ..immense gratitude brother..love from India.

Thank you!! I have the manual of the motherboard but getting a video to help is always welcome!

Did if first try using this tutorial. Helped out more than those videos 10 minute plus long that doesn't get direct to the point. Thanks alot!

another tip is on the backside of the connector there is an arrow that is the positive side

Perfect tutorial. Thanks!

I have finally found someone on the internet that actually knows how to present an instructional video. Thank You!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THIS is what every build video is missing and you just saved me. Liked. Subscribed.

You are the only youtuber that actually knows how to teach, MAD RESPECT!

Jeez this needs to be at the top of the search results, thank you so much. Took me forever to find an actual helpful video

Thanks a mil Greg! This is the video that led me to your Ch. for my first ever build last year around May. Im on my 3rd build now and had to check this vid once more. Much appreciated my G!

Jesus christ thank you I bought a xeon motherboard so it didn't come with a manual and i couldn't figure it out and no "how to build pc toturial" said where to plug them in thank you new sub

Thank you so much. I wasn't able to find info about the power thingy in my manual, saw it said fpanel, so I thought, but nothing about the specific, saw that it was writing on the motherboard, but was small, so thank you for saying where it is. Just a simple video for a simple problem, straight to the point. Thank you.

Finally, someone that actually helped my brain get past this

THANK YOU! Jesus i have been sitting here bring just mad I couldn’t find a video for this

I’ve literally trying to figure out why my fans weren’t Turing on if I didn’t jump my pins, thanks man, this was straight to the point and helped me. Definitely deserves a sub, Thanks!

Finally a person who just gets to the point instead of making a 10-15 min long video on this part

This video saved me lol most “ full pc builds” speed over this spot so I was so lost. Thank ya 🙏🏽

wow, you're such a god, I thought I was going to have to get a brand new PC until I saw this. you've saved me so much money, thank you so much man. its really helped

I love it when cases have a single F_Panel connector, my Lian Li O11D Evo does and it makes things so much easier.

Clearly explained hope you get millions of views.

Thank you much for this video. I spent hours trying to resolve why my PC wouldn't boot and eventually figured out it was the order I connected the panel pins. The instructions I had REALLY didn't make that clear enough for me, this is exactly what I was looking for.

THANK YOU! 14 year old and I building a computer. followed motherboard instructions. computer wouldn’t turn on! told us wrong locations! this worked!!

Very good info. I've had only Macs. This is my first Windows PC. And based on your info, it actually works! (AMD Ryzen CPU, Dual AMD GPUs, Corsair memory, Dual M2 SSDs, 2 WD HDDs). Worked right out of the box. More testing to be done, but I was amazed it simply didn't halt and catch fire... Thanks.

I’m so used to hearing Ryan George saying “it’s the ninetys” with this background music

Read my manual for the case and motherboard, but this video cleared up questions not answered by the manual. Not all manuals are born equal.

DUDE I played around with my pc and I unpugged these and didn’t know how to fix thank you for your vid on the right way they go in a tried to plug them in my self and didn’t turn back on but with your vid showing me the right way your a legend

Thank you! Got a new case and am installing an old motherboard into it to understand it before I get a new motherboard for my new rig. This cleared up all my conusion. (my motherboard is old and I can't even find the manual online) Edit: wohoo! It lights up when I press the power button and all the fans turn on... For a fraction of a second. Good enough for my purposes to show I understand it (I haven't connected a hard drive yet)

Wow this was so helpful, I hate how in all pc building tutorials no one actually shows you where your front panel and other plugs go, thanks brother!

I wasn't sure about polarity of Power and Reset. No markings on the cables, nothing in the manual. So, thank you, sir.

Watched this as a refresher (looked at my manual ahead of time) and it's beyond cool to have a video for reference if need be. Thanks for all you do!

You're a lifesaver. Was confused about the polarity of the switches. Great video!!

I come to this video each time I build a new pc. Thanks dude!

2:35. This is EXACTLY what I was looking for! Thanks so much!

My man, this is going to be the video I send any of my friends for now on! Finally a perfect explanation on screen!

Thank you finally a video that actually shows and explains this with a great view

thank you brother salazar, was SUPER confused whether power sw and reset polarities mattered. again, thank you for clarifying

You're in good company, the only other place I've seen this covered is in Scott Mueller's book "Upgrading and Repairing PCs". Everyone else just lets the inexperienced blunder through this hoping we don't screw it up. Thank you.

It was just today as I disassembled a friend's PC to help him clean it and got in the woods of nine year old motherboard manuals in order to find the correct connection layout so that the PC would work correctly after its long sought-after saturday spa. Apparently there was even a prepinned connector as a part of the package (Asus Q-Connector for the P6X58D-E). Well, some time has passed and the connector was nowhere to be found so it had to be all manual. Pair that with a decade old case and you get a nickname "Longfinger" for the rest of the year. And now I'm watching your video just to make sure I actually did something right with no prior knowledge how to do it feelsgoodman.jpg

Thank you, you’re the only person I could find with a useful guides on how to connect front panel pins, once again thank you, you deserve my sub

Great video Greg! Straight to the point! You are ABSOLUTELY CORRECT!!! this has got to be THE most DIFFICULT part of PC building. I struggled with mine this morning and thought maybe the mobo was defective. I'm returning it (ASUS B550 ROG STRIX) for a brand new one because the one I got was already opened and tampered with who knows...but I've LEARNED A TON from this brief video!!! My question is WHY wouldn't manufacturers produce a mobo with a front panel ALL IN ONE CONNECTOR so you won't have to spend HOURS just trying to figure out how to connect these darn things??? It's f*ing ridiculous....

Thanks Greg you just came in clutch my man!! Love your content even though this is an older video. Thanks 😊

Some older pre-built PC's have a single front panel connector that connects to the motherboard connector. Probably for ease of assembly. Easy plug and play.

G'day Greg, I think you would be getting the "Where do the Front panel plugs go?" question from first time builders with a used motherboard that didn't come with a manual because it was thrown away by a previous owner, For the Reset Switch Plug, If you like OCing your PC & your Motherboard Doesn't have a Clear CMOS switch on the I/O or is hard to get to in the case, Buildzoid recommends connecting the F/Panel Reset Switch to the ClrCMOS Jumper, so you don't need to keep opening the Case you can just use the F/Panel Reset Switch

Another good reason for this video. While the motherboard manual will detail all of the pins, as you said some cases may not bother with some of the cables (like HDD LED), so you're explanation of which ones really matter and which could be left out helps.

If all motherboards standardize their front panel layout orientation, then case manufactures should able to combine the power led, power switch, rest, and hdd light pins into one single connector for ease of installation. NZXT cases has this and comes with splitter for the front panel if you need it.

Excellent video for both first time builders and as a refresher for many of us who have not built a system over a period of years.

someone told me long back, that if you connect these headers wrong you could fry something in pc. So I have developed sorta like phobia throughout years that I recheck my connections several times by reading articles, manuals and videos. Takes me 30 mins to 45 mins everytime just doing this. Also the detachable plugin frontpanel pin thingy that comes with asus boards that allows users to just do connections outisde the case and plug it in the board is such a time saver. I think every board should come with it. sadly msi don't have it.

I began watching this video a week before I did my new build, but turned it off thinking, "I'm not some n00b who can't do the front panel." Turns out I ended up troubleshooting and reseating every part of my new PC until I figured out I did it wrong. I should have watched this video bro. At least I learned my lesson: I'm never too smart to not learn new things.

I've built several PC's and I always have trouble with this step. Thank you for helping understand things a little better.

Nice! I’ve never built my own pc but I’m rocking a prebuild that I will most likely change a couple of components

I was definitely nervous about front io stuff building my first PC. Got it first try though!

For overclockers (non-newb, of course), the common tip from BuildZoid (Actually Hardcore Overclocking channel on RU-vid) would be to connect the reset button/switch to the clear CMOS jumper on the motherboard instead.

Building PCs was the first paying job as a student back in the nineties. Front panel i.o. is the one thing about PC building that has not changed a bit since then. PATA gone, Molex connectors gone, HDDs mostly gone, optical drives gone, sound cards gone, CPU coolers now bigger than the radiators in my living room etc., but front panel i.o. still 100% the same.

An alternative to don't mess up polarity, ensure that the little notches always look to the center of the motherboard. Should have mentioned that there are sometimes 4 speaker pins included on the front i/o ports, either with all the others or separately. It's mostly for debugging and higher end overclocking boards almost always have a debugging segment display making it kinda useless by modern standards.

Great video. I really needed this! This is the one part most youtubers leave out when building a pc.

Thank you SOOOO much for this, Greg!! Some manuals are complete crap when it comes to explaining how to plug in the front i/o. I build my PC's so infrequently (at least the replacing of the mobo part) that I always need reminding on how to plug these in.

GOOD LORD 2 years after this video was posted and a weeks worth of calls to Asus to get some answers on their G10CE motherboard (POS) I finally realized how easy this is and I was making it way to hard… Thanks!

thank you for talking about this. no one ever talks about this in build videos. Of all my builds, this is the only part I dislike.

Thanks so much for this video. I could not make out what was what on the motherboard. Followed the instructions here and it works.

Whenever I build a PC I do Ram>CPU>Cooler>Place inside case>Front Panel IO Wiring, then the rest of the PC with the power supply last. Much easier to connect without huge things in the way or creating shadows.

The hardest part of my PC build was getting the cables to come out of the hole at the top of the motherboard. It was tight as a mofo. I had to get all of my fan cables and the 8-pin CPU power connector through there..WHAT A NIGHTMARE. It was also slightly tricky chopping my Cooler Master Q500L up with aviation shears for some proper ventilation.

Love it bro. Help these kiddos beat their console addiction.

so who decide the text should be facing down or up? what if i plug it facing up? will it fry my motherboard?

I'm really glad you made this I remember first building my pc a while back and I couldn't find any video covering this topic and struggled with it quite a bit, definitely a great topic to cover

Plugging the cables with text facing downward is extremely useful tip.Thank you so much for short informative video :)

finally proper video to show how to do those tricky cable pins for AMD especially mobos :) Tnx!

I think this is the best guide I’ve ever seen just did it in a few seconds your the best!!!!

Wonderful, this is my first-time build and could not understand the manual. You made this easy.

great zoom editing, clearest video on the matter

Building my first pc rn and this video just saved my life ty sm

That ending felt really nostalgic to Phillip DeFranco's videos from way back (unsure if he's still around)

I have spent decades sat in front of, building and messing with computers and now my eyesight isn't as sharp as it used to be. My tip is something that you couldn't do a decade ago but I use now. Take a pic on your mobile phone and zoom in, the pin layouts are usually always printed on the motherboard (I usually take a second pic after so as to check my connections that I had to squint to connect).

All these years and its just THAT simple. Thats embarrassing. Thank you!

I read manuals, and I drive a manual. The motherboard that I got recently didn't come with one of those pin connectors to connect to the motherboard to make it easier, and I already had the graphics card and nvme pcie SSD installed. The struggle was real.

I remember years ago I got a motherboard that had a big jumper that you could connect everything to the jumper then slide the jumper into a foolproof for the most part slot. Every motherboard company should have this!

Huge help. First time doing a build start to finish by myself

This is the best explanation of this subject on you tube,and I've seen a lot of videos thanks a lot.

I have built my and family members' computers for well over 10 years now, and I still always struggle with these damn tiny cables. Doesn't help that a lot of cases have them poorly labeled with no polarity for the LEDs on the connector, and a lot of motherboards jam so much text into a tiny bit of space that you really have to consult the manual to even figure out what goes where. Which makes me wonder why there isn't some kind of stricter standard for these, and maybe an optional connector that separates the tiny little pins into clearly labeled female connectors (so one for PWR LED, one for HDD LED, one for PWR SW, one for RESET SW). I'd even argue that they should standardize those four to just one connector (like HD Audio, or the USB3 header, which have standard pinnings), but I get that theoretically there is the possibility of a case having more than those four pins. Still, though, a way to connect the individual connectors to the right pins more easily would be neat. Maybe have them clip together like a lot of the 6+2 PCIe power connectors do to keep things tidy. I can't imagine what being a bigger guy trying to cram those tiny connectors into the motherboard must feel like. I don't exactly have big hands but I already feel like my fingers are too fat to do it properly.

Watched a few videos like this, this one is the best!

This makes so much sense, I've recently started making my own build and my case only had the Power SW connector and I was so confused

The power and reset switch pins are polarized. Right there in the manual

Could You do a more exhaustive video on Board Pin headers, voltage, usage, purpose etc? I'd like to know how voltage all of the headers use, how to use the diag headers, etc.