Front panel audio header cable adapter/extender?

frau kaleun · 11-30-09, 10:16 PM

Motherboard: Asus M3A78-EM
Card: Asus Xonar DX

The audio FP header cable is as you described - one connector marked HD, the other AC'97. The original connection had the the HD connector plugged into the motherboard and the AC'97 connector free (which is how it is now). The card has an "optional" FP pinout that the documentation said you could connect up to the FP cable in order to use the FP headphone and mic jacks after installing the card and disabling the onboard audio.

When I first put in the card I just tried moving the HD connector from the board to the card but IIRC when I did that I got no sound at all, so I moved the HD connector back to the board and assumed that the FP pinout on the card was for the second connector on the cable and I would have to connect both of them if I wanted to use the FP jacks in conjunction with the sound card. Since I couldn't do that with the cable I had, I just plugged the HD connector back into the motherboard and left the card's FP pinout unconnected. I get fine sound from the speakers plugged directly into the card, but the FP jacks are useless.

This system is the first one I've had where I added a sound card that didn't come with it, so I'm learning all this stuff as I go - as per usual, since I can't resist the temptation to tinker - and maybe I'm completely misunderstanding how things *should* be hooked up, lol. I assumed that since there was also an FP pinout on the card, it meant I could use both connectors and run the cable to the card and the board whereas it could be I only have a choice of one or the other.

Anyway - if there is a way this should/could be hooked up that will give me the use of the front jacks, I'm all ears. But it's no biggie now, since I added newer speakers yesterday and found that there's a headphone jack on the control thingie which will be kept somewhere handy anyway, so as it turns out I do have a more convenient working option for headphone use. It's just that the "tinker gene" makes it almost impossible not to drive yourself crazy trying to make something work even after you don't absolutely need it work any more... just knowing that there's a feature that *might* work if I knew how to hook it up right is enough to keep me up nights, ya know?

11-30-09, 10:16 PM	#9
frau kaleun Rear Admiral Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Skyri--oh who are we kidding, I'm probably at Lowe's. Again. Posts: 12,706 Downloads: 168 Uploads: 0	Motherboard: Asus M3A78-EM Card: Asus Xonar DX The audio FP header cable is as you described - one connector marked HD, the other AC'97. The original connection had the the HD connector plugged into the motherboard and the AC'97 connector free (which is how it is now). The card has an "optional" FP pinout that the documentation said you could connect up to the FP cable in order to use the FP headphone and mic jacks after installing the card and disabling the onboard audio. When I first put in the card I just tried moving the HD connector from the board to the card but IIRC when I did that I got no sound at all, so I moved the HD connector back to the board and assumed that the FP pinout on the card was for the second connector on the cable and I would have to connect both of them if I wanted to use the FP jacks in conjunction with the sound card. Since I couldn't do that with the cable I had, I just plugged the HD connector back into the motherboard and left the card's FP pinout unconnected. I get fine sound from the speakers plugged directly into the card, but the FP jacks are useless. This system is the first one I've had where I added a sound card that didn't come with it, so I'm learning all this stuff as I go - as per usual, since I can't resist the temptation to tinker - and maybe I'm completely misunderstanding how things should be hooked up, lol. I assumed that since there was also an FP pinout on the card, it meant I could use both connectors and run the cable to the card and the board whereas it could be I only have a choice of one or the other. Anyway - if there is a way this should/could be hooked up that will give me the use of the front jacks, I'm all ears. But it's no biggie now, since I added newer speakers yesterday and found that there's a headphone jack on the control thingie which will be kept somewhere handy anyway, so as it turns out I do have a more convenient working option for headphone use. It's just that the "tinker gene" makes it almost impossible not to drive yourself crazy trying to make something work even after you don't absolutely need it work any more... just knowing that there's a feature that might work if I knew how to hook it up right is enough to keep me up nights, ya know?