32

I'm working on building a computer (first time for me). There are several plugs that I need to connect to the motherboard (Power LED, reset switch, etc). Of the two wires, they are either:

  1. Color and white (reset switch, power LED, HDD LED)
  2. red and black (speaker, power switch)

The manual for the motherboard has a nice diagram of where to plug them in, but has them labeled + or -. Which colors are positive, and which are negative?

David Oneill
  • 2,678

2 Answers2

67

In most motherboard cables there is a little triangle that marks the positive side. See the picture below:

Motherboard cable positive side

totymedli
  • 5,324
25

For reset swtich and power switch, it does not matter.

By electrical convention, red is positive, black is negative. For the others, generally I think colour is positive, white is negative.

For the connections you have listed, you will not damage your system if you connect them up backwards; the lights simply won't work.

RJFalconer
  • 10,369