Front-side usb port screws up?

[glObalist]

Hi,

i just bought a Chieftec Silver Dragon case for my system, and since it has the front-side USB thingies, I plugged the Chieftec-provided cable into my mobo.

Well, I tried to turn on the newly mounted system for the first time, but it just wouldn't respond to the power button. For a whole day I thought I killed my mobo or something in the process of mounting it into the case. Even the store technician said so, though he couldn't confirm...

Well, just for the heck of it I unplugged everything from the board, and it booted fine! Turns out it just won't respond with the front USB cord plugged into it! WTF? Should I RMA the case or what? Or is it an EPoX board problem? Anyone have a similar experince?

P.S. Yes, I do got the epox front-side USB adapter at hand..

_________________
Epox 8RDA+ rev2.1
AthlonXP 2500+ @2800+
2x512MB PC3200(CL2.5) DDR400 @2-2-3-11

MSI GeForceFX 5900XT-VTD128
SoundStorm on-board
8.5GB Maxtor & 80GB Seagate Barracuda HDs

[Aedan]

You might want to check the wiring of the cable, and see that it corrisponds to the pinout in the manual. If they are different, then you can run into all sorts of wierd problems.

[jnansley]

Originally Posted by Áedán

You might want to check the wiring of the cable, and see that it corrisponds to the pinout in the manual. If they are different, then you can run into all sorts of wierd problems.

I had a very similar problem with my sister's computer. Silver Chieftec Dragon case, Abit NF7-M. Except, instead of not booting, the ports just don't work at all. And yes, the pinout does match.

Trying to RMA the case could incur some rather hefty shipping costs, unless you bought it locally. If anyone has a good source for new front bezels, please post the link here. This is the cheapest I've seen:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...6885&CatId=928

But for that price, I'd rather hack something out of another random USB-port device, like those slot covers that come with motherboards for free.

[EPoX Tech]

To add to that - the case isn't RMA'able if there is nothing wrong with it - unnecessary returns kill manufacturers, hence ultimately reducing choice and increasing the amount of junk on sale.

Keep the hardware business alive and thriving by being egnuine and please don't RMA that case!

[Noogen]

i had the problem on my 8rda3+ rev3 I couldn't boot my comp because of the usb was plugged to the board, it wasn't the case beacause my fwend had da exact board and it happened to him as well

[EPoX Tech]

Originally Posted by Noogen

i had the problem on my 8rda3+ rev3 I couldn't boot my comp because of the usb was plugged to the board, it wasn't the case beacause my fwend had da exact board and it happened to him as well

...And it's not the board eiether but a combination of initially un-suited components. Should a persons disregard or lack of application to the subject matter in hand constitute making companies lose money ?

[Repo Man]

You're lucky that it wouldn't power up! You most likely had the USB's 5+ going to ground. Powering it up that way will burn up the USB port, and possibly the entire motherboard.

Take a look at this page, http://www.usbman.com/Guides/BelkinM...e_assembly.htm

My 8K3A+ has a USB header like example D. My Chieftec case has a front USB cable with pinouts for example C. You can see how they are not compatible. The nine pin layout of example C is the one most commonly found. But it obviously isn't the only one. It is up to you to be sure that you are plugging the right cable into the right header (not the case manufacturer, not the motherboard manufacturer). If in doubt, check for the 5+ with a voltmeter. Once you know the pin out, you can rearrange the cable to match.

[glObalist]

Originally Posted by EPoX Tech

...And it's not the board eiether but a combination of initially un-suited components. Should a persons disregard or lack of application to the subject matter in hand constitute making companies lose money ?

Don't worry, I did not RMA the case. Can live with it. But what r u saying, for Christ's sake? Is it me responsible for this mess?

Companies should make their products compatible IN THE FIRST PLACE. I mean, here we have a USB port and a USB connector that don't work together at all. Is it my fault I din't know this from the looks of them?

[Repo Man]

From the linked site:

Improperly wiring a USB port can result in permanent and fatal damage to the motherboard, the USB port and ANY peripheral connected to the motherboard.

It is imperative that the specific USB pin out assignment for your motherboard make and model is obtained from the maker before any attempt is made to connect the cable to the motherboard. Simply knowing which pin is #1 is not enough information to properly wire a USB port. Trial and error will surely result in the destruction of the USB host controller, the computer system and/or any attached peripheral. YOU MUST obtain the exact USB pin out assignment from either the motherboard manual or the manufacturers web site.

USB cable assemblies and motherboard headers are somewhat standardized. But not completely. Once you decide to build your own machine (which I approve of) the responsibility is yours alone. Doing your research, taking your time, and being careful will result in a great working machine for low cost. Doing things by trial and error (by guess and by gosh as some would say) will quickly result in an expensive pile of dead parts.

Take a look at the linked site. It shows how to rearrange the pins in the connector. Find the pinout for your Epox motherboard, and fix your connector. Problem solved.

Epox Tech doesn't need my defense, but I'll offer it anyway. Epox motherboards are no different in this aspect than many other manufacturers. The engineers have their reasons for choosing the USB layout. If you choose to use another manufacturers cabling on their motherboard, you are the one who has to make sure it is compatible.

Just be glad you aren't dealing with AT motherboards anymore. I had to steal some connectors out of a dead CDROM to solder to a Belkin USB assembly for the Chaintech AGM2 baby AT motherboard I used for my cousin's computer. The pins were incredibly tiny, and the Belkin connector was far too large. It was a huge PITA. At least all ATX have two USb ports that work fine no matter what.

[EPoX Tech]

Either the mainboard or chassis are compliant to a specification, you need to align those yourself or take the argument up with Intel!

[glObalist]

[QUOTE=Repo Man]Take a look at the linked site. It shows how to rearrange the pins in the connector. Find the pinout for your Epox motherboard, and fix your connector. Problem solved.QUOTE]

Thanks for all your help, but now I'm getting really sick and tired of all this. After hours of research, all I can come up with is this pinout from my mobo manual here:

httphttp://www.stormclan.sk/globalist/8rda+pinout.jpg

And this lousy chieftec diagram here:

http://www.chieftec.com/images/cad/35-usb-04.pdf

Now, the cables # 1 3 5 7 and 9 in the diagram seem to match the 8rda+ pinout, right? The colours in the diagram are correct too. But how the heck do I know what order is intended for the second row of pins when there's no coulours indicated for them?

Can anyone please help?

[Repo Man]

Go back to the site I linked to. You evidently have a motherboard header like example C.

http://www.usbman.com/Guides/C2.GIF

http://www.usbman.com/Guides/C1.GIF

[glObalist]

Yes I have. But the colors of the Chieftec cables are totally off from anything these and similar FAQs describe. Have you seen a brown, or blue cable in a USB connector? Well, I have. They are in the second row, the one you can't figure out from the chieftec diagram.

Should I just assume now that the second row is wired correctly just as well as the first one seems to be? Why didn't it work then? I still haven't rewired anything. I'm affraid to plug it in again...

[Repo Man]

From USB Man:

Wire Color Code Other
COLOR: CONNECT TO:
RED, ORANGE =POWER, VCC, SVCC, +5V
WHITE, YELLOW=P-, DATA-, SBD-
GREEN, GREY=P+, DATA+, SBD+
BLACK, BLUE, BROWN=GROUND, GRND, GND

[glObalist]

I apologize, but I was really tired last night and didn't get those colors right. In the second row, the cables are in this order (2,4,6,8): brown, orange, green, blue.

Now what do I do with the brown and the blue cable? USB man says these colors are for just one cable, which apparently is not the case for me...

[Repo Man]

If Cheiftec have used non standard colors for the USB cables, then I don't know how you can sort this out other than to contact them directly.

[TonyCarr]

I had this problem ...
I checked the cable over and over with a multimeter , I looked for backed out pins , frays , colors , pin to pin checks , any and everything .. I tried this and that , but when ever that particular usb cable was plugged in my 8RDA+ would not respond ... even though everything checked and measured just fine .
This was happening with an Antec server case front supplied USB cable . Finally one day I tried another front USB cable from another Antec server case and it booted up just fine ?
I have that USB cable on my desk , I look at it from time to time and still wonder why ...

[glObalist]

Originally Posted by TonyCarr

I had this problem ...
I checked the cable over and over with a multimeter , I looked for backed out pins , frays , colors , pin to pin checks , any and everything .. I tried this and that , but when ever that particular usb cable was plugged in my 8RDA+ would not respond ... even though everything checked and measured just fine .
This was happening with an Antec server case front supplied USB cable . Finally one day I tried another front USB cable from another Antec server case and it booted up just fine ?
I have that USB cable on my desk , I look at it from time to time and still wonder why ...

Yeah, I have my Epox cable too, it's just that it's gonna be kinda hard to fit it thru the chieftec front, attach it and stuff... damn!

[glObalist]

Alright, case solved

Just had to remove the violet (over current, s-gnd, whatever) cable from the lot, the store tech said the board doesn't support it.

[sunsys100]

I see the tough new image in ET's photo is reflected in his no-nonsense posts! Perhaps a little more patience is required for the less technicaly minded!