First Build, Cable Questions (W/ Pics!)

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Neiromaru

Neiromaru

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May 12, 2013
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I'm working on assembling my first gaming rig, and I think I have most of the cabling hooked up properly, but I'm left with a few cables that have stumped me, and which aren't explained in any of the manuals I have.

Relevant components:
ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard
Corsair Enthusiast 750W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply
Thermaltake Chaser MK-1 VN300M1W2N Case

First these two cables coming from the case's front panel:
img2809z.jpg

The one on the left is connected to the two main fans, and has both male and female on either side. The fans are supposed to be controllable, with color changing LEDs, from buttons on the front panel. I have no idea where the cable on the right goes, but these two look like they'll plug into each other?

I also have a bunch of these plugs coming out of my PSU:
img2810n.jpg

My theory is that the two cables from the case plug into each other, and also into one of the plugs from the PSU. I kind of thought the fans would be controllable through the mobo, but maybe not?

The case also came with this adapter, which goes from the big chunky 4 pin connectors above to smaller 4 pin plug. I do have a 4 pin fan header on the mobo, but the plastic surrounding it doesn't look like it matches up with this plug.
img2816ee.jpg



Finally, on a different note, I have a 2nd CPU power connector coming out of the PSU:
img2813w.jpg

Is this just an extra? or am I missing a place to plug this in?
 
Solution
marshallbradley
[strike]Nothing, it's just an extender. It's there so you can plug another component into it (e.g. a fan for example). You don't need to do this though, since you have plenty of other female Molex connectors available.

Imagine if your desk lamp had a socket in the base of it which you could plug stuff into, it's exactly the same principle. You can plug stuff into it if you want, but it's not a requirement for the lamp to work, it's just so you have an extra socket available (kinda like an extension cord, but with an appliance in the middle).[/strike]

Sorry was looking at the photo wrong. Basically both should be plugged into female Molex connectors (you might as well do separate ones since you have no lack of them). The male connector probably...
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marshallbradley

marshallbradley

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Sep 24, 2012
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Starting from the first picture, it's got both male and female so that you can "daisy chain" through it. You plug the male into one of the wires in the second picture (these are Molex connectors by the way, and rarely used by components now-days, except very old fans/some CD drives). The female end is then attached to another component in order to continue the "daisy chain". This is often done on low power draw components (such as fan controllers) in order to allow for more components to be connected at the same time. You don't have to worry about it though. Just plug the male from the fan controller into one of the female Molex connectors shown in picture two, and it should work.

You shouldn't have to use the adapter, just leave it in the box.

Yes it's spare, for computers with 2 CPUs. Just tuck it away somewhere.

Hope this helps,

M
 
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Neiromaru

Neiromaru

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May 12, 2013
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Thanks for the quick reply!
So I plug the male/female plug that is connected to the fans (the fan controller?) into the female connectors from the PSU? Then what do I do with the male molex that's on the right in the 1st picture?
 
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marshallbradley

marshallbradley

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Sep 24, 2012
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[strike]Nothing, it's just an extender. It's there so you can plug another component into it (e.g. a fan for example). You don't need to do this though, since you have plenty of other female Molex connectors available.

Imagine if your desk lamp had a socket in the base of it which you could plug stuff into, it's exactly the same principle. You can plug stuff into it if you want, but it's not a requirement for the lamp to work, it's just so you have an extra socket available (kinda like an extension cord, but with an appliance in the middle).[/strike]

Sorry was looking at the photo wrong. Basically both should be plugged into female Molex connectors (you might as well do separate ones since you have no lack of them). The male connector probably powers the fans, while the male AND female plug powers the controller. Confused myself a bit there...

Just make sure none of the pins are anywhere near the back of the motherboard. Uncovered pins can easily short something, which is never a good thing!

M
 
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Solution
Neiromaru

Neiromaru

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May 12, 2013
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Ah sorry I think I was being unclear. The plug on the left has both male and female back to back in that single molded connector. You can't see the male part in the picture because it's facing away from the camera.
The plug on the right is a separate cable coming out of the front panel, but I don't know what it does.

The left plug comes straight out of the fans, so if I plug it into the PSU it'll have power, but I don't see how that allows the buttons on the top of the case to control them.

 
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Neiromaru

Neiromaru

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May 12, 2013
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On closer inspection it looks like the cables from the fans do go up to the front panel before coming back down to the double headed connector, so maybe they're connecting to the buttons up there. Unfortunately the back of the front panel is pretty well hidden so I can't really tell what's going on up there.

I guess I'll just hook it up like you suggested and see what it does.
Thanks so much for the help!
 
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