Need help with the Connectors of the MSI H81M-P33 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard

[Saud Khan]

Hi. I am assembling a pc for myself for the first time. Throughout the process I got a lot of help from the forums of tomshardware. So, I deduced this would be the best place for confirmation. I have almost completed setting up the motherboard but want to ask if all the connections are correct so I dont end up frying anything. I am attaching pictures for better explanation. Please let me know If any connection is incorrect or can be done better in any other way. Also kindly bear with me as my comprehension of technical terms is limited. Any help would be greatly appreciated.





In the first image,

1) There is a 4 pin connection on the motherboard that I have marked by ???
I connected the EPS 8 pin cable to it after separating it into two 4 pin cables. Is that ok or should I just not connect it at all since all 8 pins cant be connected?
2) The casing has 2 fans. I connected the bigger one to SYS FAN2 slot and the smaller one to the SYS FAN1 slot. Does it make any difference?

In the second image

1) Connected the SATA1 to my hdd which is Western Digital Caviar Blue 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive.
2) JUSB 1 holds a wire coming from the front panel(mb for usbs in the front panel)
3) Connected the power+- ,reset sw etc to the JFP1
4) Connectedd the HD audio to the JAUD1. The HD audio has another connector on the same wire that has "AC'97" written on it. Where do I connect that one?

Thanks a lot again. Waiting impatiently for your replies.

 

[hapkido]

The critical ones are your motherboard and CPU connections from your PSU, and your CPU fan to your motherboard. Nothing else should cause damage if it's not connected correctly.

Everyone looks ok at a quick glance, but just double-check with your motherboard manual.

 

[jnkweaver]

These 3 sites help alot of ppl

http://www.playtool.com/pages/psuconnectors/connectors.html

http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2011/04/how-to-build-your-own-computer-ask-ars-diy-series-part-i/3/

http://www.pcworld.com/article/254998/motherboard_port_guide_solving_your_connector_mystery.html

For your 2nd image number 4 there are 2 types of audio, HD or AC97. Which one you connect depends on which processor your motherboard has. Take a little extra time with the mb manual for that one.

 

[Calvin7]

Intel High Definition Audio (also called HD Audio or Azalia) refers to the specification released by Intel in 2004 as successor to the AC'97 PC audio.

The MSI H81M-P33:
Audio
• Chip integrated by Realtek® ALC887
- Flexible 8-channel audio with jack sensing
- Compliant with Azalia 1.0 spec

Azalia is Intel HD Audio

 

[Saud Khan]

Thanks for the replies.That clears up most of my queries. The motherboard manual is a piece of paper that doesn't explain much other than the front panel connections for the power and reset switch.
The only think I am a bit concerned about is the EPS cable(the one marked by ??? in the first image) and whether I have put it in the right slot or not. I would be grateful if someone could confirm that.

 

[Saud Khan]

These 3 sites help alot of ppl

http://www.playtool.com/pages/psuconnectors/connectors.html

http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2011/04/how-to-build-your-own-computer-ask-ars-diy-series-part-i/3/

http://www.pcworld.com/article/254998/motherboard_port_guide_solving_your_connector_mystery.html

For your 2nd image number 4 there are 2 types of audio, HD or AC97. Which one you connect depends on which processor your motherboard has. Take a little extra time with the mb manual for that one.

Thankyou for the links. The first one was very informative. In the EPS cable section it says that you can connect only 4 pins if your motherboard doesnt have 8 pins but there is no description beside the 4 pin slot on my motherboard which worries me whether it is actually the right slot or not

 

[Y0GI]

Thankyou for the links. The first one was very informative. In the EPS cable section it says that you can connect only 4 pins if your motherboard doesnt have 8 pins but there is no description beside the 4 pin slot on my motherboard which worries me whether it is actually the right slot or not

Are you saying that the board only has a 4 pin header or that you only used 4 pins and there are 8 pins on the board? If the board only has 4 pins then don't worry about the extra wires from the PSU.

Yogi

 

[Saud Khan]

Thankyou for the links. The first one was very informative. In the EPS cable section it says that you can connect only 4 pins if your motherboard doesnt have 8 pins but there is no description beside the 4 pin slot on my motherboard which worries me whether it is actually the right slot or not

Are you saying that the board only has a 4 pin header or that you only used 4 pins and there are 8 pins on the board? If the board only has 4 pins then don't worry about the extra wires from the PSU.

Yogi

Thanks a lot. That solves the last of my queries. Appreciate all the help from everyone.