Front-panel audio connector pins

Foil · Post by **Foil** » Wed Feb 02, 2011 4:04 pm

I'm building a media PC, and am having trouble establishing the proper connection from the case's front-panel audio to the motherboard.

The motherboard is an MSI 785GT-E63. The manual says it is compliant with the Intel standard, and gives the pins as:

1. MIC L
2. Ground
3. MIC R
4. PRESENCE#
5. Headphone R
6. MIC Detection
7. SENSE_SEND
8. No Pin
9. Headphone L
10. Headphone Detection

The case is a SilverStone LC14, and the pin connectors are all separate, labeled as:

1. R-RET
2. R-OUT
3. L-RET
4. L-OUT
5. GROUND
6. MIC-IN
7. MIC-POWER

I can't find any details on the connector (the manual doesn't have anything relevant), and the information I've seen online is mostly guesswork or contradictory.

If anyone happens to know the proper connections for this, I would appreciate it.

Spidey · Post by **Spidey** » Wed Feb 02, 2011 4:47 pm

1. R-RET ?
2. R-OUT …Headphone R
3. L-RET ?
4. L-OUT …Headphone L
5. GROUND…Ground
6. MIC-IN …MIC R or MIC L (both?) 4 pins?
7. MIC-POWER ? Power for some models of microphones…5 or 12 volts?

When I went looking for some of the unknowns, I see that you are not the only one with this problem.

R-RET & L-RET may actually be separate ground returns for some brands of headphones. A guess.

Most headphones are 3 pin stereo. Left Right Ground

Can I get a peek at the front panel, and a pin number (amount) for each connector?

fliptw · Post by **fliptw** » Wed Feb 02, 2011 4:49 pm

your case's FP is wired for AC'97... so googling for Ac'97 to intel HD may help more.

I'd leave wires 1,3, and 7 unhooked and see what happens.

Grendel · Post by **Grendel** » Wed Feb 02, 2011 4:49 pm

The board probably has an Intel HD Audio connector and the case an old AC'97 connector. Most newer cases have both on the same cable trunk so there should be an adapter out there somewhere..

Edit: this document may help. More.

Foil · Post by **Foil** » Wed Feb 02, 2011 7:08 pm

Ah, of course. I was assuming both were using the Intel standard. Duh.

Thanks, guys!

Foil · Post by **Foil** » Wed Feb 02, 2011 7:32 pm

FYI, for anyone seeing this in the future:

According to the second link Gren posted, the Intel HD port is compatible with AC'97, and can be connected as follows:

Pin 1 -> MIC IN
Pin 2 -> GROUND
Pin 3 -> MIC POWER

Pin 5 -> R OUT
Pin 6 -> R RET

Pin 9 -> L OUT
Pin 10-> L RET