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Thin-Wire Connectors
Most of these other small, thin-wire
connectors are also ambidextrous. The thin-wire connectors typically
include:
- Power Switch (P SW): This can be connected
in either direction to the proper two pins on the mainboard. It turns
the computer on and off.
- Reset Switch (Reset): This can be connected
in either direction to the proper two pins on the mainboard. If Ctrl+Alt+Del
doesn’t work to reboot your hung-up PC, you can always use the
reset switch to restart your computer. There should be a small reset
button on the front of your case. Using the reset switch is more desirable
than turning a PC on and off again rapidly. Always wait a couple of
minutes after turning a PC completely off before turning it on again.
This prevents a surge of current and charge from hitting components
that may not have drained their existing charge yet.
- Power LED: LED stands for Light-Emitting
Diode. These are the little blinky things on the front of your computer
case. LEDs light up when a small current passes through them in the
correct direction. The power LED goes on when the system is powered
up. The small current to light the LED is provided by the mainboard.
- HD LED: This front case panel LED blinks
when the hard drive is active. If this connector is installed in the
wrong direction, your computer will work fine except your hard drive
LED probably won’t light up or it will remain on rather than blinking
with activity. If you notice that it isn’t working, just reorient
the connector.
- Speaker connection: This connects the
small case speaker to the mainboard.
Those front panel connectors that
aren’t ambidextrous (such as the hard drive LED, which lights up
on the front panel to show activity on the hard drive) won’t damage
your system if they are hooked up backward. These thin-wire connectors
to the mainboard aren’t supplying power to the mainboard.
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How to Build Your Own PC (http://www.PCGuide.com/byop/) on PCGuide.com
Version 1.0 - Version Date: May 4, 2005
Adapted with permission from a work created by Charlie Palmer.
PCGuide.com Version © Copyright 2005 Charles M. Kozierok. All Rights Reserved.
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