PC case question

[jamesy]

Essentially i have all the components i need for my pc atm, going to be getting a new case and psu just. I tried setting it all up just to check if it would run. Clearly it didn't. Before I get too worried can i assume this is because all the front panel connections weren't connected to a case front panel?
I don't wanna go buyin a new case/psu for it still not to work. Thanks.

[briareos_kerensky]

Have you connected an old PSU? If everything's fine you should at least see a LED on the motherboard turning on. The make everything run (fan running, PSU powering all systems, motherboard running POST etc etc) you'll need to spark a contact on the "ON" pins on the motherboard's front panel connector.
And, remember that the lower part of the motherboard shouldn't touch anything, especially metal objects, use something to rise the whole thing by placing them under the screw holes.

[jamesy]

hmm this is worrying. Nothing at all is happening. I assumed this was because the front panel power connector wasn't connected. I'm not sure what you mean by sparking a contact on the "on" pins. How would i do that? cheers.

[Dazzyman]

You can put the wrong leads on the board from powerswitch from case same with LED etc.. Ive done it loads when I built machines as some ATX cases have different pin setups. Will tell you in mboard manual where to place em.

[briareos_kerensky]

How would i do that? cheers.

Ah, then I wouldn't do it without someone knowing how to do it.
Although you won't be handling enough voltage to burn something it's better not to risk anything.
Any ATX case will do, front panel contact have never changed: even without assembling the mobo into the case, plug on switch on the "ON" jumper and see what happens. It' s something I always forget, but the white (sometimes black) cable should be -, the colored cable should be +.

[jamesy]

Thanks for the help guys. I've got another case that i will try out tonight just for a test run. No doubt i'll be back askin more questions. :P

[jamesy]

YAYHOO! hooked up the front panel things and after some messing about with different cables and changin the gfx card (old psu didn't have enough power to run it properly) i got it to work. Thanks again!
Now just wondering what sort of case/psu i should get. Any advice on this? I hope to be running a 8800gt and q6600 cpu or maybe something a little better depending on what comes out within the next few months for a round the same prices.
I was thinkin a sonata III case with the antec earthwatts 500w psu would get the job done. Not sure tho. If not i'm thinkin i'll spend a little more and go for the antec 900 and some other psu. If anyone has any other suggestions i'd appreciate it too.

[briareos_kerensky]

I'm partial to Lian Li cases and Tagan PSUs, but they don't exactly come off cheap...the Sonata III is a good case though I'd buy a more powerful PSU (around 600W), but since it's included with the case it could be a good deal