14 hours ago, pgde said:

Hey Ryan -- it has been a while since I built my current PC. One of the issues was the connection of the front panel headers. Are they better marked now or have these been made easier and less confusing to install (yes it has been about 5 years since my last build).

Thanks!

I've had one of these that i've used on a few builds now to make it a little easier.  just plug everything into the plug adapter.  Then carefully plug the adapter in.  

2 hours ago, micstatic said:

I've had one of these that i've used on a few builds now to make it a little easier.  just plug everything into the plug adapter.  Then carefully plug the adapter in.  

 

Wow -- what are those called and who sells them? Thanks for the info!

2 minutes ago, pgde said:

Wow -- what are those called and who sells them? Thanks for the info!

They came with one of my asus MB's years ago.  I believe it was the MB I used for the 2600k.  But they still work fine today.  You could probably get on ebay for cheap.  I would search for something like asus front panel adapter.  Something like that?

2 hours ago, micstatic said:

I've had one of these that i've used on a few builds now to make it a little easier

Every Mobo should come with those! Sadly, none of mine ever have.

Looks like the proper name is Asus Q-Connector - definitely available cheaper than £30, on ebay as you say.

Thanks all for the information! Just ordered on on ebay (https://www.ebay.com/p/1303938858) for $7.99. If anybody is interested apparently his stock is low, so order soon 🙂

Have a great weekend!

On 2/26/2022 at 5:29 AM, Tim-HH said:

Thanks Ryan, that sounds good. Are you going to use Win 11 or Win 10? I'm still not sure about that.

Windows 10.  My wife's laptop has 11 and I just don't like it very much.  (And I'm usually doing the tech support lol).  I do like 10 but nothing beats Windows 7 x64 Pro.

This is about as far as I got for the weekend lol

Opened my LGA 1700 compatibility kit for the Noctua cooler...

(It honestly looks used from the way the top screws look lovely...  thanks amazon)

20220227_211254 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Yes, the Q Conector is provided with Asus boards.

Q Conector is useful. Not infallible though. Fired up my PC for the first time a few weeks ago and nothing. Dead. Switch wouldn't work. 

I had the switch connector plugged in wrong way round on the Q Conector.

So still watch out for polarity. The only thing the Q Conector does is allow you to plug into the Q Conctor first rather than the board.

Now wouldn't it be nice if case manufacturers fitted them to the case cables.

Edited February 28, 20224 yr by martin-w

9 hours ago, ryanbatcund said:

It honestly looks used from the way the top screws look lovely...  thanks amazon)

 

Can't really tell from the photo. Yeah not good if Amazon are selling used without telling you. Didn't notice any issues with mine, also from Amazon.

It'll work though, but yes, a bit annoying.

This is one of the BIGGEST lies in PC Building... - YouTube

37 minutes ago, G-RFRY said:

This is one of the BIGGEST lies in PC Building... - YouTube

Says the guy with the big expensive one lol.  If you've read the start of this post you'll know that this is only my second full build in over a decade.  I've acquired some hand me down parts over the years and put some of my own money into upgrades.  I'm happy to part with the cash every so often - plus this isn't even close to top of the line - I could easily spend 2000 more USD (not including the video card).  

4 hours ago, martin-w said:

Yes, the Q Conector is provided some with Asus boards

😉

Not sure which ones have or don't have it but my TUF Gaming didn't so maybe it's only from a certain price level up or (more likely) dependent on the mobo Series.

I made some progress tonight.  Opened a lot of the parts like this interesting Noctua NH-D15S cooler.

20220228_203547 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

It could be an Alien craft!

20220228_203758 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

For install I tend to lay out a small light blanket/towel and place the ESD bag on top of it, and place the board on top of that.  This board is well equipped but not overly fancy...no RGB on the board itself (case has a few fans with RGB though)

20220228_205401 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Always liked up close photos of capacitors hehe

20220228_205435 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

"JFP1" this is the front panel headers (or with the Corsair 5000X, the front panel is actually on the top - it was one item I wasn't very fond of - but liked everything else about the case) - seems like a few of you got a fancy schmancy header simplifier

20220228_205508 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

I've got to admit gents....  I was a little nervous...some of these parts are tiny....like the M.2 mounting screws.  MSI apparently has these dumb plastic swinging arms that sort of lock the drives into place.  I used one of them on the first slot but the second one I decided to not use it.  It was so small and flimsy.  It is still locked in place with the heatsink covers and it is very secure in the board - I'm not worried about it.  I admit I watched a video on if I was doing the install correctly...it was weird having the M.2 drives sort of "spring" off the board at about a 30 degree angle until they are secured.  M.2 is totally new to me and I'm hoping I installed them in the correct slots.  (Slots 1 and 2 is what I went with).  Couldn't find much info on the net about what is advised.  I will of course be only running a single GPU.  Anyway I was expecting them to be the side of a RAM stick....  you can see they are a LOT smaller hehe.

20220228_212306 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

(teeeeny plastic swinging arm shown and on this one I did swing it into place after removing the screw then reseating it so the plastic arm was above the M.2 drive)

20220228_212640 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Finished off the night by putting this puppy on...and carefully put the entire motherboard back in the ESD bag and into the box (I'm sure my boys would love to have some "parts" for their metal collection

20220228_220112 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

 

I still get nervous dropping the CPU into place.  

22 hours ago, 109Sqn said:

😉

Not sure which ones have or don't have it but my TUF Gaming didn't so maybe it's only from a certain price level up or (more likely) dependent on the mobo Series.

 

Oh right, I've not had an Asus board without one. They may be missing them out on some boards. Naughty Asus.