Hey, to start with I'd like to disclaimer that I'm new to making computers and to these forums. The Apex Community forums were the first to come up in the search about my case/sound card, so I figured I'd ask around. I did some searching on the forums before I posted and couldn't find anything to help me out.

Anyways, onto the technical stuff. I am running this stuff:

LOGISYS Computer XBlade Black ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
Sound Blaster Audigy SE Souund Card
ASUS Crosshair AM2 NVIDIA nForce 590 SLI MCP ATX AMD Motherboard

That is the Case, Sound Card, and Motherboard in that order.

To start with I'd like to say I bought the case from a local store, not off of Newegg, but I'm fairly certain that is the case. Next, you should note that I bought the motherboard open-box. It did not come with the sound card. Since it did not, I went out and bought the sound card I linked (I don't usually shop at BestBuy, but I had a gift card). Anyways, I'm having some trouble hooking up the front panel audio.

The front panel consists of two USB ports and a Microphone/Headphone jack. I have 3 plugs coming from them. Both USBs have a plug that is a 1x4pin with a "side" ground. The Mic/Headset jack has a 2x5 pin connector. One of the pins on this is covered up. My sound card has two different plug-ins on the card itself. One is a 1x4 pin connector (which the USB connector fits that just fine, ironically), and the other is labeled SoundBlaseter and is a 1x10 pin connector. Does anyone have any idea what I am supposed to do? The Case/Motherboard came with no manuals and the Sound Card's manual is about as helpful as a roadmap in a rainforest. Any ideas? Thanks in advance.

EDIT: Since this is my first post I was not allowed to put in links to outside websites, so just message me on AIM if you need them. It is SAOniKami. However, if you go to Newegg you should be able to find the case and motherboard quickly by just putting in what I typed. As for the sound card just go to BestBuy's site and type it in there.

The 4-pin connector is for CD-Audio, which some old games require. Some TV tuner cards also require it.

The 10-pin is the proprietery connector for front panel audio, and yes its existence is questionable in the age of AC'97 and HD-Audio front panel connectors.

The only thing that'll work is an adaptor, here's a link to one: Creative Labs X-Fi/Audigy Sound Card to Front Case Port Adapter Cable Products Model: SB-FP-AC97 [SB-FP-AC97] : Performance-PCs.com, ... sleeve it and they will come

-Yes, $20 for an adapter is expensive.
-Yes, you can add a note during your purchase to adjust the length to your specifications.

Since Hibiki seems to have pretty much taken care of your question(s), let me add the following:

Even if you buy a part in "open box" condition, sans all the accessories that would come with the retail version, you should be able to locate the part number and look up the info on the manufacturer's website pretty easily.

Don't get me wrong, you came to the right place. It's just the case where that approach has saved me some time in the past, when I misplaced my manual for this or that motherboard, and I needed to know which jumper(s) to diddle with to get the desired effect on my system.

I haven't looked at the Asus site for that particular motherboard per se, but just about every mobo maker these days has a digital copy of their product manuals online at their website. If not, you can always Google for it...

Yeh, thanks for your help I'll probably order that.

The manual is available online, however it gives no mention as to where the front panel Audio hooks up to the Motherboard. I went there first and foremost.

Quote: Originally Posted by JediSange Yeh, thanks for your help I'll probably order that. The manual is available online, however it gives no mention as to where the front panel Audio hooks up to the Motherboard. I went there first and foremost.

Jedi,

welcome to PCApex ... T2 is usually around somewhere, he'll hit you with the standard welcome package.

I hope we've helped, and that you'll stick around and learn some more. This is a great community, with a fair mix of hard-core modders and hack technophiles alike ... we don't discriminate based on knowledge level. I've learned a vast amount in the several years I've been here.

-godling

Just to make it clear, if you plug the case connector to the motherboard you'll have to use the motherboard's soundchip and not the Sound Blaster. I don't know if the Crosshair's soundchip is equal or below the Audigy, but if the Audigy has EAX3 and you still use XP, go with the Audigy.

That said, the Crosshair had a sound module that should connect to the topmost slot, near the center heatsink. That card has the front panel jack on it.