Anyone out there using a case of any sort that has front usb and speaker hookups? (I just bought an Enermax CS-B031) If so, can you tell me how the connectors get set up on the motherboard and sound card? I know that some say things like 'ground' on them (teeny weeny wires) and I would hate to see them in the wrong slots!

Barring that, anyone know where I can GET this info? And the manufacturer's homepage isn't an option..just shows pretty pics... [img]tongue.gif[/img]

hey cloudy...
is it your first time installing a motherboard into a case?? because all the cases have more or less the same installation procedure when it comes with a motherboard. if it is your first time, i do suggest getting help from a professional first. i tried doing it the first time... and fried the motherboard 3 times (and had it replaced too!! ) before i could get it working. when it comes to soundcard there are two things, built-in and pci sound card (which is it?) if you have a built in sound card, you have to enable it in your pc bios system. if you have a pci sound card, then you have to insert it in a pci slot (the white one). when it comes to connectors and installing the motherboard in the case, it would be too long for me to explain properly... i really suggest letting you go with a expert on that.

you have to worry on...
1. putting the screws on the right position
2. careful being grounded
3. dont dare open the powersupply (unless you know what you are doing)
4. careful not to let your hardware get static and not be able to run it
5. do not invert the connection in the powersupply and mother board
6. careful in putting the processor and the heat sink right.
7. and alot of minor stuff that are too many to say...

How far have you got with it?

The front USB cable will go straight to the USB header on your motherboard. If you have only two of those, youll have to choose which USB ports you want active. I would go for one on the back, ann done on the front, with them clearly labeled so you dont try and plug things into the dead port.

As far as sound goes, I suspect the place to look would be in the soundcard / motherboard manual. Mine only has outputs at the back, whereas if you wanted to put fron panel hookups on youd be wanting internal outputs. I suspect that unless you have a card designed for this, your out of luck.

Harkoliar, I have some very good help [img]smile.gif[/img] My fiance, Nachtrafe got it running (I'm on it now) but we weren't sure how to make the front ports (usb) and spkr connection in the front work. There are bundles of tiny wires and he knows that's what they are for just not the actual places for connecting each. But watching him move things to my new case, I agree! You need someone who knows what' they're doing! :D

Andrewas, that sounds like you understand the problem! I posted last night just because we had no instructions from the case manufacturer. I have a Soundblaster live sound card, does that info help?

The info on the usb port may be helpful, I'll show it to Nacht when we get home from church [img]smile.gif[/img]

One other thing, this case has a front panel on hinges, so it closes and all you see open is the cd rom, then there are louvered openings and a small plastic door that opens for pushing power switch and plugging in speakers/usb. My cd-rom drive seems to stick out just a TINY bit from the case and so if you close the dang door and latch it, the button is constantly depressed...causing the cd rom to act possessed and open/close repeatedly! [img]tongue.gif[/img]

You CAN leave the door open but I think it would get broken off around here eventually...cats like to run... and I might hit it with my knee all the time. I'm guessing it's just my particular drive or the Enermax company wouldn't be in business much with this kind of design! Don't know if there's a fix for this until I buy a new cd rom drive. This case is fantastic, though! Has all rails and clips (no screws).

Move the CDROM back a couple mm, most cases let you do that with no problems.

Lets see if IE will let me finish this time.

Creative site dosent seem to have much on this, but the Sb live! is definately better equipped hat my crappy old SB 128PCI. (hey, it was cheap). Id guess there some kind of header on the card itself.

[ 03-02-2003, 09:40 AM: Message edited by: andrewas ]

We'll try, but it's a screwless case and uses 'rails', so I'm not sure if that will work. Thanks!!

By speaker, I'm assuming you mean the little PC speaker that gives you your POST diagnostic beeps. The connection for that is on your motherboard, usually along side the power, reset, HD light pins etc... It's pretty much motherboard specific, but it should be labeled. Don't worry you won't blow anything up if you reverse them, they're just regular, old speaker connectors.

We'll try, but it's a screwless case and uses 'rails', so I'm not sure if that will work. Thanks!!</font>[/QUOTE]Move the drive rails back 1 notch on the drive.

Animal...*HUG* If it works, you get a smooch... LOL Nacht just smacked his forehead and yelled 'duh'! LOL, we just did an elaborate swap of his for mine and I was going to go buy a new one but now maybe we can get my drive to work without coming on and off like a demented genie is living in there.. [img]graemlins/hehe.gif[/img]

[ 03-02-2003, 11:09 PM: Message edited by: Cloudbringer ]

No, actually it's the port in front to plug your speakers or headphones in. I can still plug them in back as usual, but this case offers you an option to use a front plug and we need to wire that properly.