Computer builders, help a beginner out.

JahNissi · #1 01-01-2010, 05:33 PM

I'm going to start out by saying that I'm totally new at this. I tried to do as much research as I could going in, but I'm definitely not down with all the lingo.

My 10 year old desktop died a few weeks ago. So with some extra money from the holiday I thought it would be fun/interesting to try to build one. I bought a power supply, mobo, processor, and a HD. I only reused the case and the CD/DVD drives. The case is from and old dell

The parts came in yesterday so I opened up the case, took out the old parts, cleaned the case of dust and went to work installing the new parts.

Everything was going along great until I tried to hook up the power wire/LED light (it connects to the button on the front of the computer that turns the system on)and realized that the wire was no long enough to reach and connect to my mother board.

So my question to all of you is if I can do anything about this? Is there anyway to extend the wires somehow, or do they make a lengthening adapter to fix this?

MJ5150 · #2 01-01-2010, 05:36 PM

What kind of connectors on the wire?

-Mike

UncleFluffy · #3 01-01-2010, 05:42 PM

Could you post a pic of the two ends? I can guess what the connector would be but it'd be better to be sure.

JahNissi · #4 01-01-2010, 05:46 PM

Here is a picture. I appreciate the help. Like I said, I tried to do as much research but I'm sure I've missed things. I'm just trying to learn it all!

UncleFluffy · #5 01-01-2010, 05:51 PM

That might be tricky, as not all cases have the same pinout. You may have to make up your own extender.

Is this a generic case or from a branded (Dell, etc) machine?

edit: I'm guessing from the colour of the plastic that this case is from a Dell machine. If this is true, you might be better off spending the $30-$40 on a generic white box case than trying to fit everything into a Dell case.

edit2: I just re-read your original post. Sorry

It's a Dell.

JahNissi · #6 01-01-2010, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UncleFluffy

That might be tricky, as not all cases have the same pinout. You may have to make up your own extender.

Is this a generic case or from a branded (Dell, etc) machine?

edit: I'm guessing from the colour of the plastic that this case is from a Dell machine. If this is true, you might be better off spending the $30-$40 on a generic white box case than trying to fit everything into a Dell case.

edit2: I just re-read your original post. Sorry

It's a Dell.

I was going to say, you got that from a green piece of plastic!? Man, I've got a lot to learn!

I'll look into new cases. This computer will only be used for writing papers and light surfing of the web so I don't want to spend a ton and get something that has 6 fans and is see through. I don't need all that stuff, but I want to get it right and build something good. Thanks for the help, I appreciate it as I'm trying to learn.

MJ5150 · #7 01-01-2010, 06:13 PM

If it is just going to an LED, I would add a stretch of wire to it myself.

-Mike

UncleFluffy · #8 01-01-2010, 07:10 PM

That connector runs to the front panel controls, usually power sw + reset sw + power led + hd led. There's no guarantee that the pinout is the same as on the motherboard, in fact Dell has a bit of a reputation for mixing stuff up sometimes for no visible reason.

Generic cases usually have a bunch of individual connectors so that you can plug it in to pretty much anything.

(And that green plastic is used in practically every Dell case there, you get used to seeing it after a while).

basssoloist · #9 01-01-2010, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJ5150

If it is just going to an LED, I would add a stretch of wire to it myself.

-Mike

yep. it's called an in service upgrade. just snip it and add a length of roughly same gauge wire, solder it (i would prefer to use heat shrink tube also) and you're good to go. couldn't be easier. but i wonder why a desktop when laptops, notebooks are so inexpensive and are portable. i work for the gov. and that's the way it is going because of the mandate for work at home scenarios. the desktop is dead.......the full tower servers are slowly shrinking down the form factor also (blade servers) the old stuff is called "legacy"..

JahNissi · #10 01-01-2010, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by basssoloist

yep. it's called an in service upgrade. just snip it and add a length of roughly same gauge wire, solder it (i would prefer to use heat shrink tube also) and you're good to go. couldn't be easier. but i wonder why a desktop when laptops, notebooks are so inexpensive and are portable. i work for the gov. and that's the way it is going because of the mandate for work at home scenarios. the desktop is dead.......the full tower servers are slowly shrinking down the form factor also (blade servers) the old stuff is called "legacy"..

Yeah I hear you. I have a laptop that I use 90% of the time. But I'm in gradschool and writing 20 or 30 page papers just doesn't seem as easy on my laptop. Maybe it's psychological. Also, this desktop that just died is 10 years old so I guess I've formed an emotional attachment to it haha.