Front Panel on a Pre built Mobo

[PizzaPenguin]

Helping my friend add a new psu to his pre built computer but I don't know which front panel connectors go where and there is no motherboard manual. I've tried a thousand different orientations of the power switch but nothing turns the computer on. Help!

 

[avenseth12]

The power switch has a positive and negative. The cable will identify the positive with an arrow or mark of some kind. Make sure the positive is plugged to the positive and negative to negative.

 

[USAFRet]

but I don't know which front panel connectors go where and there is no motherboard manual.quotemsg]

It's online somewhere. Go to the manufacturers website and look.

 

[PizzaPenguin]

I know it has a positive and a negative but there are no indicators on the motherboard as to which pins are which.

 

[USAFRet]

I know it has a positive and a negative but there are no indicators on the motherboard as to which pins are which.

Find the user manual.

 

[PizzaPenguin]

There are no user manuals online for the Dell xps 8300 motherboard as far as I can tell

 

[USAFRet]

There are no user manuals online for the Dell xps 8300 motherboard as far as I can tell

OK, now we're (sort of) getting somewhere. We have a make and model.

If you're just swapping the PSU, why are you messing with the front panel connectors?

Anyway, the service manual...
http://downloads.dell.com/Manuals/all-products/esuprt_desktop/esuprt_xps_desktop/xps-8300_service%20manual_en-us.pdf
pg 10 and 11.

 

[PizzaPenguin]

It's also in a new case. The service manual doesn't help because it doesn't tell where the Power SW cable goes on the front panel pins and I've tried dozens of orientations to no avail

 

[USAFRet]

It's also in a new case. The service manual doesn't help because it doesn't tell where the Power SW cable goes on the front panel pins and I've tried dozens of orientations to no avail

More info upfront is always a good thing.

So it's not just a new PSU, but a new case as well.

So....drag out the old Dell case.
There is presumably a single multi pin plug from the front panel to that single pin block (#12 on page 11 of the above link)
Now drag out your multimeter. You have one of those, right?
Trace the pins from the motherboard block, to what actual wires go to the front panel power and reset buttons.

Connect accordingly.


And don't keep just trying random pins. You might short something out before you find the right combination.

 

[PizzaPenguin]

It's also in a new case. The service manual doesn't help because it doesn't tell where the Power SW cable goes on the front panel pins and I've tried dozens of orientations to no avail

More info upfront is always a good thing.

So it's not just a new PSU, but a new case as well.

So....drag out the old Dell case.
There is presumably a single multi pin plug from the front panel to that single pin block (#12 on page 11 of the above link)
Now drag out your multimeter. You have one of those, right?
Trace the pins from the motherboard block, to what actual wires go to the front panel power and reset buttons.

Connect accordingly.


And don't keep just trying random pins. You might short something out before you find the right combination.

I apologize for the vague information, I was typing all of that on my phone while at my friend's house, and for me, it's tedious to type a lot on such a small keyboard. Anyways, I'm not there now, so anything suggested to me I'll have to try tomorrow. I do not have a multimeter, and I don't really understand what you were saying. Do you mind clarifying?

 

[Kisianik]

I know what has happened, I went through this.
What you need - old case, I hope you still have it!
Take a look at power button, it is connected to long bunch of wires, which ends with large connector, remove all untouched from the case.
Next you are going to read this post http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/desktop/f/3514/t/19500950

After all get ready to cut above mentioned connector from power button and connect new case wires to corresponding wires.
I have done this using Frys parts to attach wires to each other. Overall, it is not piece of cake, but it can be done.