Hooking up Front USB Case to Motherboard

[Oz]

Ok I have a ECS K7S5A motherboard and I'm putting it into a case with front USB ports and mic/headphone jacks. I got the USB part hooked up but the sound part is confusing me and I can't figure out what goes where exactly so here is what Ive got.

The wires on my case read:
MIC IN
MIC BIAS
GROUND
SPKOUTL
SPKOUTR
RETURNL
RETURNR

My USB1 pins on my motherboard read:
PIN ............................PIN
1 AUD_MIC ....................2 AUD_GND
3 AUD_MIC_BIAS.............4 AUD_VCC
5 AUD_FPOUT_R .............6 GND
7 HP_ON........................8 KEY
9 AUD_FPOUT_L..............10 GND

I have never wired up one of these and though I have a clue on where 5 out of the 7 go I don't want to guess it and hopefully someone here can help me out. Thanks alot in advance.

[Fruss Tray Ted]

Hi Oz,

I'll ditto the 'never have wired one up' but, a few '???'

Do you have the link/manual to the mobo? Instructions/sheet on the case? VCC could mean 'video cinema center' for all we know as referrence to a center speaker connection path for a 5.1 system or the likes.

In the 5 and 9 line of the mobo, it looks as if it represents front/rear connections as well as left/right, but somethings amiss in them such that f and r work for front/rear, but F and L don't work for left/right. :confused:

Also, on the case wires, are any in groups such as 2 strands surrounded in a (braided or spiral wound) ground wire? Please group together related wiring per device or jack.

It doesn't 'sound' as if you'll be able to take full advantage of your mobos capabilities though, by first impressions... :(

[deddard]

Unfortunately, a lot of case manufacturers and mobo manufacturers simply don't bother applying standards. There is no difinitive layout for these connectors, but many adopt an identical mobo configuration - the case manufacturers are a serious hindrance to the whole thing.

The right and left return are used to loop back the audio to your soundcard's output - in simple terms, they act like the wiring to a set of headphones, if the headphones are attached - the speakers cut out, if the headphones are removed, the speakers work.
In this case, the 'headphone' part would be the front panel - if you plug headphones in here, it should cut out the speakers, if you remove them, then the speakers work.

Many motherboard manufacturers don't give correct instructions (or even pins) for the adio return.
The normal layout for your system would be:
Case Wires Motherboard
MIC IN 1 AUD_MIC
MIC BIAS 3 AUD_MIC_BIAS
GROUND 6 GND
SPKOUTL 9 AUD_FPOUT_L
SPKOUTR 5 AUD_FPOUT_R
RETURNL Not connected
RETURNR Not connected

The returns are often jumpered on the motherboard, and you may find a referene to the jumpers and how they are used in the motherboard manual. I haven't checked out the manual yet, so I can't say difinitively. What case are you putting this into? some of the manufacturers provide reasonable manuals, so if you can give some details, we can go take a peek.
2 AUD_GND
4 AUD_VCC
6 GND
7 HP_ON
8 KEY
10 GND

[Oz]

The case is a CHEIFMAX 769-2 PL with a 450W PSU. I ordered it from www.3btech.net and you can see exactly which one here (http://www.3btech.net/newch76beand.html). It came with no documentation.

[Fruss Tray Ted]

Definitely, difinitive is not definitive but it is difinetly what you meant to say... :D J/K!

I think Deddard is on the right track with the interupt circuit when headphones or any other 1/8" jack is used in front.

5 AUD_FPOUT_R I am now assuming means #5 pin, Audio front panel output Right channel. But where does this wire lead to? Does it team up with 1 other, or 3 more which would confirm Deddard's idea.

You may need a multimeter to test or maybe post a pic of the jacks and wires?

What will you prefer to do with the front connections? Decide how you want it configured then post it and maybe we can help you set it up. Otherwize some parts/components (jacks) may be unneeded for you setup.

How many 1/8" jacks on the front of the case itself? The weblink is cr*p for details or additional photos.