JFP1 (Jumper Front Panel 1) is the name for the header that connects a motherboard to the power switch, reset switch, Power LED, and HDD LED of the chassis. The cables can be quite annoying to connect in small cases and the motherboard doesn’t always label them, so I find myself referring to a pinout diagram often, such as the example below.
I dislike the implementation of this connector and I think PC case manufacturers should start using a single connector instead of four or five separate cables.
These cables use “DuPont connectors” to interface with the chassis and motherboard and they seem to be used in a lot of electronics and hobby applications. As an experiment, I ordered a set of 2x5 DuPont connectors to see if I could accomplish this unification myself. Referencing a JFP pinout diagram, I removed the wires from the case’s connectors, attached them all to the new DuPont connector, plugged it into a motherboard, and pressed the power switch.
It worked as expected and I now plan to outfit all of my desktop cases for the next century with this single connector. No more orientation guesswork, no more looking up “PC front panel pinout” or checking manuals. Some motherboard companies have tried to mitigate this problem by using labeled riser cards to make cabling easier, but my solution will permanently fix whatever case I apply it to.
Note: Since writing this section, I have applied these new DuPont connectors to half-a-dozen cases with great success. I will do it to all future cases I own.
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2023-05-25 - original article written 2023-06-08 - revised and updated