First-time PC building, pin connection concerns.

[samedifference]

I'm almost done building my own PC for the first time, and while I was generally able to figure out how to connect everything internally (HDDs, PSU, etc.) I noticed that there are individual pin connections the power button, reset switch, HDD light, and a few other things. I think I connected this correctly, but I wanted to double check, as it's at a bit of a weird angle. Could connecting these inputs to the incorrect pins wreck my hardware?

 

[Pedeadstrian]

I'm almost done building my own PC for the first time, and while I was generally able to figure out how to connect everything internally (HDDs, PSU, etc.) I noticed that there are individual pin connections the power button, reset switch, HDD light, and a few other things. I think I connected this correctly, but I wanted to double check, as it's at a bit of a weird angle. Could connecting these inputs to the incorrect pins wreck my hardware?

I'm not computer scientist, but afaik they're the same connections. They're just labeled that way so you don't have crisscrossing wires, ie they all line up correctly. If it's at a weird angle then yes, you most likely put them in wrong. Doesn't hurt to check, and only takes a minute. Better safe than sorry.

 

[Originality]

You can always take a picture to show us. Also you can get more skilled help from the Computing section of the forums than through the OT Chat section.

 

[samedifference]

Does this look okay?

These are the best angles I could get, but the inputs are properly aligned.

 

[Pedeadstrian]

It's hard to read with the glare and angle... but there's names of the ports on the males and the names next to the females (actually that's backwards since the motherboard has the pins, not the PSU, but whatevs). Just make sure they all correspond.

 

[Astral_]

I never got why this particular bunch of pins is not standardized, so that case makers can provide a nice connector instead of that mess of individual wires. It's been this way for 20 years...

Anyway you'll find it easier to check your installation against the motherboard's manual, as when those pins are placed you don't have visibility.

 

[Youkai]

usually you would want to use the mainboards manuall for this ...

someone told me that with some bad luck you could damage some stuff but I doubt it as I made some mistakes too in the last few years XD

 

[raulpica]

These connections are SO low voltage that you can't break anything. In the worst case, stuff won't light up and the power/reset buttons won't work.

 

[samedifference]

Thanks for the helpful information. I just wanted to make sure it wouldn't break anything if I did it wrong. After having double-checked along with checking out the included manual, everything seems to be fine.

 

[Pedeadstrian]

Thanks for the helpful information. I just wanted to make sure it wouldn't break anything if I did it wrong. After having double-checked along with checking out the included manual, everything seems to be fine.

It's understandable to be nervous when dealing with hundreds (if not 1000+) dollars worth of electronics, especially when it's your first time. But, like a lot of people say, a PC is basically an adult LEGO set. Each piece has its place. With practice it'll be second nature to you.

 

[samedifference]

Bumping this thread, as all my parts have arrived and I've assembled my machine. There doesn't seem to be any video output from either the integrated graphics, or the video card. After double checking the instructions, and checking a few guides online, I can't figure out what the problem is. Here's some photos of the setup: http://imgur.com/a/3rok3

A few things to note:
-When I turn the system on, the fans start and everything lights up, stuff stays on for like 30 seconds, goes off, and then comes back on (and stays on afterwards).
-Everything is connected to power, the fans are running, cd drive spins, HDD is running, and GPU is connected to the PSU.
-The PC contains the following: Intel - Core i5-7400 3.0GHz Quad-Core Processor, ASRock - B250M-HDV Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard, 2 Crucial branded DDR4-2133 Memory RAM sticks (one 4gb, the other 8gb), EVGA - GeForce GTX 1060 6GB 6GB SC GAMING Video Card, SeaSonic - S12II 520W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply (520-650W).
-I've tried the HDMI ports, and VGA port. I haven't tried the DVI-D ports since I don't have the appropriate hardware.

 

[Joe88]

Bumping this thread, as all my parts have arrived and I've assembled my machine. There doesn't seem to be any video output from either the integrated graphics, or the video card. After double checking the instructions, and checking a few guides online, I can't figure out what the problem is. Here's some photos of the setup: http://imgur.com/a/3rok3

A few things to note:
-When I turn the system on, the fans start and everything lights up, stuff stays on for like 30 seconds, goes off, and then comes back on (and stays on afterwards).
-Everything is connected to power, the fans are running, cd drive spins, HDD is running, and GPU is connected to the PSU.
-The PC contains the following: Intel - Core i5-7400 3.0GHz Quad-Core Processor, ASRock - B250M-HDV Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard, 2 Crucial branded DDR4-2133 Memory RAM sticks (one 4gb, the other 8gb), EVGA - GeForce GTX 1060 6GB 6GB SC GAMING Video Card, SeaSonic - S12II 520W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply (520-650W).
-I've tried the HDMI ports, and VGA port. I haven't tried the DVI-D ports since I don't have the appropriate hardware.

You need to plug in the cpu power connector
its right above the top left push pin of the heatsink (4 pin connector, says ATX12V)

 

[samedifference]

It seems that the neither the PSU or the motherboard came with an appropriate cable for that.

 

[Joe88]

It seems that the neither the PSU or the motherboard came with an appropriate cable for that.

it most likely came as an 8 pin connector, you simply slide the connectors away from each other to get the 4 pin, its keyed so it can only go in one way

 

[Pedeadstrian]

It seems that the neither the PSU or the motherboard came with an appropriate cable for that.

Right... the PSU does.

 

[samedifference]

Okay, I was able to connect the 8-pin connector to the CPU power slot, but the cable ends like this:

I can't find any open slots for this.

 

[Armadillo]

Okay, I was able to connect the 8-pin connector to the CPU power slot, but the cable ends like this:

I can't find any open slots for this.

That's the FDD cable.

The other end is keyed to the psu, so not sure how you got it in the cpu slot (I supposed it could be keyed the same).

You want the second cable down on this list

https://seasonic.com/product/s12ii-520/#tab-product_editor_306_tab

Edit:

Wait a sec, just looked at your pics, you have a Corsair CX550M?, not a Seasonic like you listed in the post. The 550M is semi modular. The 4/8pin for the cpu is permanatly attached the psu, there should be a second cable coming out of the same place the 24pin connector is.

 

[Pedeadstrian]

Okay, I was able to connect the 8-pin connector to the CPU power slot, but the cable ends like this:

I can't find any open slots for this.

You're not going to need every single cable that was attached to your PSU. Some are unnecessary, unless of course you have a floppy drive, in which case you may need to use that cable.

 

[samedifference]

I just realized there was another cable directly from the PSU that wasn't connected to anything, I was able to connect it to the CPU power connector. The computer still starts up with no picture, unfortunately. I have a PS/2 keyboard connected along with an installation disc in the CD drive. Neither seem to be doing anything.

Edit: I've tried 3 separate monitors and there's still no picture.

Edit 2: I tried disassembling the entire computer to put it back together once again. Still getting the same results.

Edit 3: I'm assuming I should just count my losses at this point? I've tried every possible combination short of going out of the way to order a DVI adapter (which I'm doubtful of). I even almost put the RAM in backwards at one point because I thought I might've put it in wrong. Thankfully, it didn't go in all the way. Still, if it wasn't screwed up before, it probably is now.