Building a PC is so easy

[u/Snorlax_lax]

[u/PCMRBot]

Welcome everyone from r/all! Please remember:

1 - You too can be part of the PCMR! You don't necessarily need a PC. You just have to love PCs! It's not about the hardware in your rig, but the software in your heart! Your age, nationality, race, gender, sexuality, religion (or lack of), political affiliation, economic status and PC specs are irrelevant. If you love PCs or want to learn about them, you can be part of our community! Everyone is welcome!

2 - If you're not a PC gamer because you think doing so is expensive, know that it is possible to build a competent gaming PC for a lower price than you think. Check http://www.pcmasterrace.org for our builds and don't be afraid to create new posts here asking for tips and help!

3 - Consider joining our efforts to get as many PCs worldwide help the folding@home effort, in fighting against Cancer, Covid, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and more. Learn more here: https://pcmasterrace.org/folding

---

Feel free to use this community to post about any kind of doubt you might have about becoming a PC gamer or anything you'd like to know about PCs. That kind of content is not only allowed but welcome here! We also have a Daily Simple Questions Megathread for your simplest questions. No question is too dumb!

Welcome to the PCMR.

[u/FlashWayneArrow02]

I have massive respect for any case manufacturers who simplified the front IO by turning it into a single connector instead of 5 tiny plugs. My H510 has the single one, and it was so easy to build in.

[u/cholz → u/FlashWayneArrow02]

Is the pinout on the mobo standard?

[u/Noxious89123 → u/cholz]

As far as I am aware, no!

And that's why we have this problem. No idea how a case could come with an "all in one" connector.

Turns out there actually is an "Intel standard F_PANEL connector", which is commonly seen on boards made after 2017.

TIL.

[u/Kuritsu243 → u/Noxious89123]

Modern motherboards that aren't OEM tend to follow the standardized F_PANEL header pinout. The H510 for example also includes a breakout connector for the all in one connector so that it can still be connected to mobos with a non standardized header.

[u/Ojitheunseen → u/Noxious89123]

2017 is still embarassingly late for that.

[u/HaylingZar1996 → u/cholz]

Yep

[u/BigBlueDane → u/FlashWayneArrow02]

Why don’t they all do this? I have to assume there’s a reason

[u/chx_ → u/BigBlueDane]

It's mostly standardized by now https://www.pcinq.com/how-to-connect-motherboard-front-panel-headers/

[u/chef_PEPPERONI]

Unplugging 24 pin felt like I was going to break motherboard.

[u/Mypopsecrets → u/chef_PEPPERONI]

To me the USB C cable is the ultimate challenge, it always feels like I'm ripping the socket out of the board

[u/giorivpad → u/Mypopsecrets]

I have damaged a few!!!

[u/Bagafeet → u/giorivpad]

Just bent some mobo pins installing a USB C adapter

[u/Crafty87 → u/Bagafeet]

I destroyed the usb3 header on my z690 the first time I tried to plug it in. Wtf man. I am scared of this particular step since then.

[u/Key-Lifeguard-2952 → u/Crafty87]

Yall learn how to be nimble and delicate with your technologies, you hear me?

[u/Tullius_ → u/Key-Lifeguard-2952]

You gotta be nimble and delicate while also applying 500 lbs of force to get it to clip in

[u/RandomRedditReader → u/Tullius_]

The trick is alignment.

[u/Mixedpopreferences → u/RandomRedditReader]

“It's all in the hips. It's all in the hips. It's all in the hips.”

[u/Incredulous_Toad → u/Mixedpopreferences]

Crickeeeeeettt!!!

[u/ohTHOSEballs → u/Mixedpopreferences]

Ease it on someone else.

[u/Alert-Day2110 → u/RandomRedditReader]

what you're saying is it has to do with the angle of the dangle?

[u/Green-Spread → u/RandomRedditReader]

Sometimes the tolerances between the port and header are just too tight. On my last case swap I had to sand down the internal usb3 head for it to plug in comfortably.

[u/WoodDragonIT → u/Tullius_]

Right? First time I installed RAM back in 1990, I put in the 2 MB sticks being very careful and... nothing. After bringing the RAM back twice I finally brought the whole thing to CompUSA to show their tech. The guy leans in like he's doing CPR and what do you know? It worked.

[u/Bagafeet → u/Crafty87]

Who needs front panel USB anyway? I won't plug anything there for a minimalist clean aesthetic 🙃

[u/saturn_since_day1 → u/Bagafeet]

I don't after trying to reroute it lol. Snap

[u/waterGammaFoxtrot → u/Bagafeet]

thumb drives and card readers.

[u/huffmandidswartin → u/waterGammaFoxtrot]

I hate the term 'thumb' drive. Not as much as I hate 'dongle' though.

[u/thealmightyzfactor → u/huffmandidswartin]

Thumb dongle

[u/baddie_PRO → u/thealmightyzfactor]

thumb my dongle daddy 😩

[u/Distrah → u/thealmightyzfactor]

Thungle

[u/grantrules → u/huffmandidswartin]

My spurs go dingle dangle dongle

[u/moustachedelait → u/huffmandidswartin]

On the other hand, I love "cartridge"

[u/ClankyBat246 → u/moustachedelait]

Classic.

Feels good to say.

Like how they used to advertise 7-up in the 80s.

[u/ZorbaTHut → u/Crafty87]

I totally bent some pins on my current computer trying to do that. Ended up using a set of jeweler's screwdrivers to attempt to bend them back.

Works fine now. I'm frankly surprised.

I am never unplugging that cable again.

[u/-SandorClegane- → u/Bagafeet]

Don't feel bad, you were doing God's work.

I bought a mobo on ebay for 90% off MSRP just because those pins were bent (I didn't even fix, just threw a USB exp card in one of the open PCIe slots.)

Minor mistakes like that can turn into big savings for others on the used market. Paying it forward or something?

[u/thepenis_mightier → u/-SandorClegane-]

just threw a USB exp card in one of the open PCIe slots.

I've done that. Bent the pins of the USB3.0 header on my now-ex-wife's motherboard when I was building it many years ago. Ended up ordering a USB3 PCIE card and forgot about the bent pins entirely. Still worked great through our divorce last year.

[u/-SandorClegane- → u/thepenis_mightier]

Damn...should have tried to claim just the USB card in the divorce just because. I'm a petty person though, that's probably not what a normal, well-adjusted person should do.

[u/thepenis_mightier → u/-SandorClegane-]

Eh, I have enough hardware to my name as it is. It was a 4790k build; pretty high-end at the time, but definitely showing signs of aging as of 2021.

No longer my problem. 🧼🤲

[u/madscientistEE → u/giorivpad]

It seems like half the time, the connector shell comes with the cable. This is especially true on USB3 cards with cheaper connectors.

[u/Rak_S11 → u/Mypopsecrets]

Are you talking about the USB 3.2 type E header on the motherboard?

[u/-GabaGhoul → u/Rak_S11]

USB 3.2 type E header

No he's talking about the original USB 3.0 Front panel header with all the pins.

[u/Djinneral → u/-GabaGhoul]

that one is a grippy mfker

[u/-GabaGhoul → u/Djinneral]

I've pulled the plastic bottom off whilst leaving the pins on the board. Getting it replugged was awful.

[u/unnecessary_kindness → u/Rak_S11]

Yup that must be it. Had to unplug one just this morning and it did not feel like it was a healthy decision for all involved.

[u/phaser125 → u/unnecessary_kindness]

When assembling it feels like you can’t get it to seat / snap in like you assume it should and you’re never quite sure you got it fully on there then if you ever have to remove it it feels like it’s unsafe to do so and you’re gonna break something taking it off .

[u/SoCuteShibe → u/phaser125]

Yeah. Especially if you are pressing down and "searching for the click" by rocking back and forth a little bit.

Hmm no click... rocks... hmmm still no click... rocks ...hmm... maybe if I really... metallic tearing sound... oh.

[u/93708717106342551921 → u/SoCuteShibe]

It will come off too, so you're right to be paranoid. I've done it. Usually the pins stay though.

[u/R0ugeRed → u/Mypopsecrets]

Me and all my homies hate the USB-C header on the mobo

[u/MasterMagneticMirror → u/Mypopsecrets]

it always feels like I'm ripping the socket out of the board

Guess what actually happened while I was building my pc

[u/Tmoore188 → u/MasterMagneticMirror]

I literally had to rip mine out of a motherboard I was replacing. Who fucking designed that pinout?

[u/Rassettaja → u/Mypopsecrets]

I've never had any issues with any other cables but the usb 3 sockets, literally ripped the plastic off with the cable before it came off once.

[u/SuperCool_Saiyan → u/chef_PEPPERONI]

The wiggle trick is the way to go just go up and down with the connector and it comes out alot easier than straight out

[u/Snorlax_lax → u/chef_PEPPERONI]

everytime

[u/IntellectualBurger → u/Snorlax_lax]

Nah. Plugging it IN feels like ur gonna break someone’s ribcage

[u/Anshin → u/IntellectualBurger]

Is it in yet?

push

Is it in yet?

push

Is it in yet?

snap

[u/IntellectualBurger → u/Anshin]

*breaks through the floor into downstairs neighbors living room

It’s in!

[u/Setari → u/IntellectualBurger]

Me, internally: "Ugh finally, okay how do I plug in these tiny plugs into this particular mobo now"

[u/WorldClassShart → u/Setari]

I've had an adapter that came with an old case that I plug everything into, and just plug it in. It's about 20 years old, and has been in about 5 different motherboards. It's my slut plug.

[u/Rooonaldooo99 → u/IntellectualBurger]

"Hey Ron"

"Hey Billy"

....

"That hurt"

[u/Captobvious75 → u/Anshin]

“Did I break it?”

[u/Teknoeh → u/Captobvious75]

“was that a good snap like it’s in place or a bad snap like I broke something?”

[u/Sabata11792 → u/IntellectualBurger]

Getting me to doubt my ability to plug stuff in every time.

[u/Trapped_Mechanic → u/Sabata11792]

I also get unduly paranoid when I lock the CPU in place and quadruple check its alignment and STILL feel terrified pushing that bar down.

[u/Sabata11792 → u/Trapped_Mechanic]

Only a few hundred dollars held in place by a extra thick paperclip.

[u/Tzemiee → u/chef_PEPPERONI]

When I was younger I by accident during cleaning pulled all of them, almost everything worked, reset and start button was switched and reset button light always was turn on, and there was never any light on start button, good times lmao

[u/whitemagicseal → u/chef_PEPPERONI]

I shed a tear everytime

[u/almothafar]

30 minutes to build a PC and 3 hours for cable management, especially if you choose Corsair fans and AIO....

[u/Muffin_Maan → u/almothafar]

I wish my patience for cable management was greater

[u/CSPDTECH → u/Muffin_Maan]

my computer looks like a Lovecraftian nightmare from the void :(

https://preview.redd.it/6j6cc8m21aea1.png?width=2657&format=png&auto=webp&v=enabled&s=fbab8587a790c12186924854aa4a0903c9f393d7

[u/OutragedTux → u/CSPDTECH]

Ehh...no one really has the time to really straighten out those cables, do they? I mean, loads of sata drives, many fans from different brands, stuff like that?

Make it as tidy as makes sense, and don't ever think about it. EVER!

[u/CosmicCyrolator → u/OutragedTux]

I cable managed once. Everything was clean and crisp and straight and all the right length. Then I changed my graphics card and needed a new power supply to power it and had to tear it all out. Never again

[u/CSPDTECH → u/CosmicCyrolator]

same that's why i don't do it lol

[u/mysticfed0ra → u/CSPDTECH]

Having a transcendental eldritch being for a desktop sounds like the way cooler option anyways :)

[u/PriorEnvironmental65 → u/mysticfed0ra]

Mine looks like a lovecraftian horror thats been crapped on by a rainbow shitting unicorn. It just lives under the desk with the side off so I can swap drives and dust it out, while giving a weird 'don't touch me' vibe in lights and AIO ramping noises.

[u/Upbeat-Opinion8519 → u/CSPDTECH]

I did 5 years at a PC shop in my youth. I dont think I ever routed the cables on my own PC. Nor used side panels. I tested w/ and w/o sidepanels many times. No side panel was always cooler, just more dust. So I kept an air compressor nearby lol.

[u/Nochange36 → u/CosmicCyrolator]

This is why you don't cheap on a case or psu, you can usually upgrade everything else with a minimal amount of cable management

[u/Mostly_Aquitted → u/OutragedTux]

Cable management is where you just manage to close the back side of the PC to successfully contain the eldritch horror of a cable nest - as long as the main cavity of the case is nice and tidy? right? guys?

[u/jmon25 → u/CSPDTECH]

My god it's guts are just hanging out!

[u/CSPDTECH → u/jmon25]

I know I feel so bad for it just keeping it disemboweled but eventually I do it justice lol

[u/Tim_Buckrue → u/CSPDTECH]

I bet having all those GPUs makes browsing Reddit real smooth

[u/toddgwynn → u/CSPDTECH]

Why even have a case?

[u/apuckeredanus → u/CSPDTECH]

Lmao completely built my pc and couldn't figure out the damn header panel.

Took it to Fry's electronics and they got it all connected properly and did my cable management for me.

They ended up closing a week later so perfect timing lol

[u/kelddel → u/apuckeredanus]

RIP Fry's electronics

[u/Large_Dr_Pepper → u/CSPDTECH]

Why on earth would you get a small case when you're planning on using all that

[u/EugeneFenster → u/CSPDTECH]

Is that a PC or a crypto miner?

[u/Riftus → u/Muffin_Maan]

I find it as a challenge, it's fun. Like you have an inventory of zip ties and velcro ties, see how clean you can make it

[u/heat13ny → u/Riftus]

I usually start off with it looking extra clean with the zip ties but as I upgrade and move shit around I refuse to rezip anything. Just tuck that new bitch somewhere and call it a day. Results in the front looking gorgeous and the back looking like random stray hairs. Got a case with velcro strap tie-downs and....still refuse to redo any cable ties once it's done.

[u/Snatchbuckler → u/Muffin_Maan]

Just slap the back cover on and you’re good. No one is going to look back there. Not even yourself!

[u/LifeOnMarsden → u/almothafar]

Going RGB-less in my newest build has made cable management so much less hassle

[u/almothafar → u/LifeOnMarsden]

Lian-Li fans system seems to be convenient, there are other manufactures doing some good stuff to make it less hassle but Corsair seems to love cables lol.

For me, if I do next but it is most likely to go with Lian Li fans, unless I see Corsair do something, then it is the matter of which one is better comparing thing.

[u/RaynSideways → u/almothafar]

I really dig the Lian-Li linkable fans. Went from an MSI AIO to a Lian-Li one and it cut my cables by like 2/3rds.

[u/take-money → u/almothafar]

Just built in a Meshify 2 and cable management was quick and easy!

[u/SingularityPrime → u/take-money]

I have a Corsair 5000d and cable management is cake when everything potentially tricky is hidden behind a giant shield

[u/Sota77 → u/almothafar]

I have learned this the hard way going from an RGB build to basically zero RGB where there is almost no cable management. I had Corsair RGB fans and AIO in my old case and it was a nightmare. Now I have a Noctua air cooler, and just plain Phanteks black fans that daisy chain cleanly and there are total of three fan cables that I had to plug in. It almost didn't feel right, because I remember fucking around with the Corsair shit for what felt like half a day, and it took less than 5 minutes with my new set-up.

[u/CaveMacEoin → u/almothafar]

Same. Then I put the glass side facing a wall and turn off all the RGB.

[u/IsMyAccount]

If you haven’t had to set your IRQ settting on your sound card to get your mouse to work , you don’t know how hard building a computer can be

….Shakes fist in old man

[u/scriptmonkey420 → u/IsMyAccount]

Remember when CPUs were NOT keyed? Fun times blowing up CPUs because it was in 90° from the proper orientation.... still have the CPU too. Bent burnt pins and all.

[u/IsMyAccount → u/scriptmonkey420]

Burning plastic … mmmmm

[u/scriptmonkey420 → u/IsMyAccount]

Was a common smell in the basement when I was in Voc School

[u/edit-grammar → u/scriptmonkey420]

I killed my first IDE channel because I didn't know I was supposed to line up the red stripe on the cable with the tiny mark near pin 1

[u/MegabyteMessiah → u/IsMyAccount]

Choose your hard drive geometry wisely in the CMOS

[u/LordGalen → u/MegabyteMessiah]

Only to realize after it won't boot that you forgot to set the jumper correctly.

[u/YouMustveDroppedThis → u/IsMyAccount]

i remember conflicts among different pc parts and manufacturers were a real concern.

[u/IsMyAccount → u/YouMustveDroppedThis]

Oh you are using IRQ 9, better not use 2!

[u/w3sp → u/IsMyAccount]

Almost as bad as games requiring like 500kb expanded memory and you had to go to config.sys etc to disable certain things to gain a few kb 😎

[u/Dash_Rendar425 → u/IsMyAccount]

THIS.

It's so easy nowadays, compared to the shit we had to deal with just to install our new soundblaster 16!

[u/NickMullenTruther → u/Dash_Rendar425]

you can literally go to a website that picks all the parts you need that are compatible then click one button and assemble in an hour lol

[u/spaceman-lurking → u/IsMyAccount]

And then setting IRQ, DMA, and others in the OS.

[u/Rynyann → u/IsMyAccount]

I have very jaded old person feeling everytime I hear one of todays whippersnappers complain about building a PC being hard

[u/chasenmcleod → u/Rynyann]

Building the PC was the easy part. After that you had to install OS, Drivers, Drivers to install Drivers, and countless product keys before finally getting to edit one photo and play one game.

[u/matt82swe → u/IsMyAccount]

Relatable. My knowledge of PC internals stops at around 2000 when I built my last computer.

[u/DK_Notice → u/matt82swe]

It’s much easier. No more jumpers. Fewer annoying molex connectors. Much thinner and more manageable cables, and fewer cables in general. The only annoying thing that still persists are the front panel connectors (power switch, reset switch, etc) but there are fewer of those now (no more speaker generally), and some motherboards come with a nifty thing that allows you to plug them all in in good lighting and then plug the whole thing in at once.

Many devices are now onboard (and don’t suck anymore either), so less cards to install. Possibly, none, unless you install a GPU for gaming. Sound, network, etc are all onboard.

Oh and also your typical PC case is much safer now. They’re no longer made out of razor blades and have nice smooth edges.

[u/Inevitable-March1485]

dont forget the cpu cooler mountin urgh

[u/stefan714 → u/Inevitable-March1485]

The ones with the little metal bracket that needs to be clipped down are the devil's work. My fingers can barely reach and I'm always afraid of breaking something.

[u/lawnicus18 → u/stefan714]

I just built my computer using a Hyper 212 and when I was pushing the black fan holders over the sides of the rad I thought I was gonna bend the shit outta the fins, nerve wracking as hell

[u/dathar → u/lawnicus18]

Aren't you supposed to snap the Hyper 212 fan directly onto the heatsink where it is supposed to end up at instead of sliding it down the groove? It just clips on

[u/TheTigerbite → u/lawnicus18]

I built one computer. 10 years ago when I was 24. I only remember 2 parts I bought for the initial build and that was the i7 2600k CPU and the Hyper 212 Cooling Fan. FUCK THAT THING.

I mean, the computer still runs great today, but because of that one part, I refused to ever build another computer.

[u/Dat_Boi_Aint_Right → u/stefan714]

Then you slip and punch a block of spikey metal.

[u/JoBro_Summer-of-99 → u/Dat_Boi_Aint_Right]

I was installing a new GPU yesterday and whilst I was screwing in the support bracket I slipped and stabbed myself with thescrewdriver, awful stuff

[u/heisenberg15 → u/Dat_Boi_Aint_Right]

I just did that last week trying to plug in my new PSU, still nursing those cuts lol

[u/mossgoblin → u/Inevitable-March1485]

This. This is the one I hate.

[u/Dorkamundo → u/mossgoblin]

Just don't go OEM for your cooler, most quality coolers are easy to install/remove.

[u/fork_yuu → u/Dorkamundo]

Man I was told those AMD Ryzen coolers are the shit too

[u/Survived_Coronavirus → u/fork_yuu]

Wraith cooler fans? They work great unless you're doing extreme overclocking.

People who complain about OEM coolers (or whatever) are not treating their equipment well.

[u/rodaphilia → u/Survived_Coronavirus]

The complaint above was about ease installation, not reliability. Nothing to do with people not treating their equipment well.

[u/cashinyourface → u/Inevitable-March1485]

It's honestly fine if you have a good cooler. The big noctua cooler (I forget the exact model number) has a great mounting system

[u/Inevitable-March1485 → u/cashinyourface]

yes it really depends on the cooler, my current one is a cheapo from bequiet which has just the push pins so convenient

[u/gezafisch → u/cashinyourface]

NH-D15. Even then, it required a lot more pressure to get the screws to engage than I was comfortable with as a first time PC builder.

[u/Robots_Never_Die → u/gezafisch]

Tip for this is to only get two or three threads of engagement on each screw before tightening them down. If you tighten one screw down first the others are harder to start.

[u/Jacksaur → u/cashinyourface]

Be Quiet! has an awesome design too.
I had to swap my motherboard three times last week, and their cooler was the easiest I've ever installed.

[u/InsightfulLemon → u/Jacksaur]

I was rather unimpressed by the Dark Rock Pro coolers' mounting system I just left it attached when I sold my CPU & Mobo

[u/one-joule → u/InsightfulLemon]

The middle fan mounting is such a nightmare.

[u/fellationelsen → u/cashinyourface]

10x easier than the AMD stock cooler.

[u/Forgotpasswordagainl → u/Inevitable-March1485]

IT iS jUsT aDuLt LeGo

Cept if you fuck up you are out hundreds or thousands of dollars.

[u/StrictlyFT → u/Forgotpasswordagainl]

Tbf good Legos are fairly expensive too, it's just harder to brick them.

[u/xanax101010 → u/Inevitable-March1485]

Specially watercoolers, you even have to change the backplate

[u/FattyPepperonicci69 → u/xanax101010]

I built my first PC, and I chose an AIO. Was something else alright. Got it together in the end.

[u/EntDuke → u/Inevitable-March1485]

Christ the default ryzen ones with the backplate on the mobo are a nightmare to get right when you have to mount it properly after just pasting the cpu. I was surprised by how much easier an aftermarket one was, that I prefer to get one of them always now, instead of having to bother with the standard ones ever again if it means not having to deal with the backplate.

[u/jack_avram → u/Inevitable-March1485]

yeah I remember the old school ones requiring a flat head screwdriver to press the latch into place on the mounting tabs - one slip and you stab the mobo

[u/Noa15Lv]

The pc case wires ain't that bad anymore, if your motherboard comes with its manual.

[u/BoomBePiesek → u/Noa15Lv]

Even if it dont u can find one online

[u/SaintPoost → u/[deleted]]

Sometimes they'll come with a little bracket so you can prep them in the bracket and plug them all in at once which is neat. Should be the standard, imo

[u/gym_brah81 → u/SaintPoost]

My mind was blown when I saw someone using that in a youtube video.

[u/TheApolloZ → u/gym_brah81]

Gigabyte calls it G connector.

[u/chef_PEPPERONI → u/Noa15Lv]

Front panel layout is standardised, case manufacturers should make only one cable.

[u/AstacSK → u/chef_PEPPERONI]

And make them all the same length, night new case for brother in Christmas, why was there like 15cm difference between shortest and longest? They are always connected to the same place, had to do more unnecessary cable management because of that

[u/SovietBear666 → u/Noa15Lv]

The picture isn't always clear to me which way the connectors should be facing. Them just being tiny in general makes it tough to get them all into their homes.

[u/ivemademisteaks → u/SovietBear666]

Any connector that is directional will have some sort of key or tab (like the 24 pin mobo power). The single headers for the front panel don't have a direction, they can face anywhere. The headers that are 2 or 3 in a flat line will have a positive (+) and a negative (-), which the diagram in the manual will show how to connect.

[u/luminer03 → u/Noa15Lv]

Say hello to the H510, that has the case headers in one connector but also comes with an adapter to split them in case your Mainboard has the pins in a non-standard layout

[u/tatleoat → u/Noa15Lv]

Lol even then it's still better than what I remember 20 years ago

[u/Great_White_Samurai]

Honestly having built pcs for over 20 years I've wondered why they haven't come up with some better cables at this point.

[u/OutragedTux → u/Great_White_Samurai]

Hey, at least we've moved beyond IDE and molex connectors. That's something, right?

[u/brendan87na → u/OutragedTux]

IDE nightmares...

[u/brendan87na → u/[deleted]]

don't forget about IRQs

[u/FinalArt53 → u/OutragedTux]

For some reason molex cables would become fused together to the point of needing dual plumbers pliers to separate them.

[u/Accomplished_Soil426 → u/OutragedTux]

Having to use jumpers to set your hard drive to master or slave

[u/darkjungle → u/Great_White_Samurai]

Standards are standards. Change the connector you then need to start making adaptors for the 24 pin and hope that everyone follows suit so you have a new standard connector in 10 years.

[u/Noxious89123 → u/Great_White_Samurai]

It's the age old problem of "lets standardise it!" resulting in just another standard existing, that still no one agrees upon.

With that said, there's not a huge number of major players in the space.

Asus, MSI, Gigabyte, ASRock, EVGA, Intel, SuperMicro, Biostar... I think that's all the big ones?

If they could agree on a standard pinout, then everyone else would reasonable want to follow.

[u/Dat_Boi_Aint_Right → u/Great_White_Samurai]

Change a cable and suddenly your product works with nothing else.

[u/almothafar → u/Great_White_Samurai]

Well, there is ATX 3.0 (12VHPWR cables) to be used for motherboards and GPUs, so maybe a few years coming will see this thing become more common used.

The challenge is to have these lower voltages onboard instead of inside PSU, that will result with smaller more efficient and cheaper PSUs and more expensive motherboards.

I think you can google that thing, and it seems it is actually the future.

[u/uselessadmin → u/Great_White_Samurai]

My first build was a 486/66 and I can't believe how much has not changed in the process. Aside from I had received the announcement of a 'computer fair' via fax and went to purchase from vendors in person.

[u/G_man252]

The first time I built a PC I had to call gigabyte to get help connecting all of the little power cables, and the lady I got barely spoke english.

' You connec to PIN by da muthaboard, G_Man, I tell you two time'

In the end she got me up and running though!

[u/theDreamingStar → u/G_man252]

You just revealed that your real life name is G_man

[u/NarutoDragon732 → u/theDreamingStar]

I thought his name was G_man252. Have we been lied to this entire time???

[u/Incred → u/NarutoDragon732]

Yes.

GET HIM.

[u/theDreamingStar → u/NarutoDragon732]

Oh nvm, I forgot about the other 251 G_men

[u/G_man252 → u/theDreamingStar]

Riz an shin pls Mr. Freeman, no slepin on tha job

[u/warrantyvoiderer → u/G_man252]

If you ever get fed up with the CS folks, your mobo manual has a diagram.

Now, whether they use the same lettering on the connectors as is written in the manual is another question... I love the mobo companies that use the adapter and/or color coding.

[u/Kryptonline → u/G_man252]

A Vortigaunt on Tech Support?

[u/RequiemWasTaken]

Needs the usb header on the right also cause fuck that connector

[u/HyperGamers → u/RequiemWasTaken]

Specifically the blue USB 3.0 one, the little USB 2.0 boi is chill

[u/Feenox]

Not to say "back in my day" because it makes me seem old and feeble, but back in my day there were those shitty white plastic molex connectors for IDE HDs and CD-Rom drives. Even with a higher end power supply those fucking molex connecters were the cheapest garbage quality the could possibly be. So easily bent, so easily jammed. Someone bring me the head of Johnny Molex!!

[u/SocketByte]

Unplugging a 24 pin is literal nightmare fuel

[u/CSPDTECH → u/SocketByte]

that's weird I never have an issue with the 24 pin but the stupid little front panel wires kill me, I always guess, and get it wrong, then have to google the board schematic and get out the magnifying glass lol

[u/SocketByte → u/CSPDTECH]

Well I once plugged my front panel IO into a very similar looking USB header just beside the IO pins. Never felt more stupid in my entire life.

[u/OutragedTux → u/CSPDTECH]

that's weird I never have an issue with the 24 pin

I can tell you many stories about dodgy generic PSUs (all we had back in the day) that often had a vice-like grip on the atx power connector on the mobos. To say nothing of bruised fingers from cheap molex power connectors, also from back in the day. They had a really tight grip.

[u/Armadillodillodillo → u/OutragedTux]

Generic? Back in a day? 3 Years ago my Asrock mobo and bequiet psu has formed a death grip. Took a lot of force to get the connector in. I try not to think about the day when I'll have to separate them.

[u/GreatDevourerOfTacos]

Building a PC is VERY easy... until there is a problem.

[u/DethronedPrince]

Man my first build I thought I put everything together fine but couldn’t get it to turn on for the life of me. Ended up sending it to a pc repair shop who fixed it for like $70 but didn’t tell me the issue (I probably forgot to ask). Looked at it when I went home and realized I plugged my all the power switch pins upside down. Felt like an idiot.

[u/Fit-Ad8324]

Once you do it like 2-3x it's literitly like riding a bike.

[u/titaniumjordi]

Plugging in the front panel connectors felt like performing heart surgery inside a full warehouse during an earthquake

[u/NollerReal]

I haven't built a computer for a couple years until 2 weeks ago. New cases are starting to have a single front IO connector which is nice I guess. but no getting around the 24pin.

[u/killersquirel11 → u/NollerReal]

but no getting around the 24pin.

If only ATX12VO would take off

[u/Mentohs → u/NollerReal]

I recently dug thru my old Gigabyte Z170x-gaming 3's box and i actually found a cool connector where its clearly labeled where to put each front panel wire which then sockets into the motherboard. nifty little thing and it made me realize all these years that i never had my drive activity light connected properly.

[u/InTheMorgue]

Ahhh yes the fun mixed with frustration.

[u/_haha_oh_wow_]

Just read the mobo manual?

[u/What_is_a_reddot → u/_haha_oh_wow_]

NO READ

ONLY BUILD

[u/TheWillRogers → u/_haha_oh_wow_]

reading the manual doesn't give me fingers the size of toothpicks and the dexterity of a watch maker to actually get the damn things on though.

[u/_haha_oh_wow_ → u/TheWillRogers]

Convert the manual into tweezers.

[u/fuck__you-- → u/_haha_oh_wow_]

do you realize what sub you are posting on right now?

this is the place where the dumbest of the dumb come to shitpost.

just look at me for proof.

[u/_haha_oh_wow_ → u/fuck__you--]

IDK, you're using complete sentences and punctuation: Are you sure you're the dumbest of the dumb?

[u/Spokker → u/_haha_oh_wow_]

me fail build? that's unpossible

[u/Dag-nabbitt → u/_haha_oh_wow_]

Depending on the case and mobo, plugging in the little front headers correctly can still be really difficult. The detachable hubs are always welcome for me.

[u/CorValidum]

PSU manufacturers and their cabling F*eries!!! Like why the F we don’t have standard (we actually do! They just chose not to use it) that will force them all to use same cable order! But nooo you need cables from Be Quiet for their PSU since otherwise you will fry your components….

[u/Feeling_Cold_1925]

This is why your mobo comes with a manual

[u/nickless09 → u/Feeling_Cold_1925]

I think most redditors here do not read manuals, much easier to come here and make a post about every small thing.

[u/SelfishxMessiah]

The highs and lows of my first pc build have never been matched to this day over a decade later