This is usually a 9-pin block (2 rows) located near the bottom edge of the board or near the SATA ports.
Layout (Viewed from Top Down):
Pin 1 Pin 2
Pin 3 Pin 4
Pin 5 Pin 6
Pin 7 Pin 8
NC Pin 10
Pinout Functions:
Note: Pin 7 and 9 are often Not Connected (NC) or used for specific HP proprietary functions like "Chassis Intrusion."
Typical Foxconn N15235 front panel header (looking at board with PCIe slots down): foxconn n15235 motherboard front panel connectors updated
PWR_LED+ | PWR_LED- | HDD_LED+ | HDD_LED- | GND
PWR_SW | GND | RESET | GND | NC (or +5V)
There are usually two types of USB headers on this board.
Most online guides for this board are from 2012–2014. Since then, several miswired diagrams have been copied across forums. In 2025, we have verified the correct pinout using original Foxconn engineering schematics and live voltage tests.
The Challenge: Foxconn often reused the N15235 design for OEMs (HP/Compaq) who customized their front panel header pinouts. That means there isn’t just one configuration—there are three. However, the most common version (Rev 1.0 and Rev 1.1) follows a near-universal standard we will detail below.
⚠️ Warning: Do not use generic Intel front panel diagrams. The N15235 has a unique layout where the Power LED uses a single 3-pin block instead of two separate 2-pins. This is usually a 9-pin block (2 rows)
Subject: Foxconn N15235 (G31MX Series) Front Panel Header Configuration
If you own a prebuilt desktop—specifically from brands like HP Pavilion, Compaq Presario, or certain Acer Aspire models from the early 2010s—chances are your system is running on a Foxconn N15235 motherboard. This m-ATX board is reliable and durable, but it presents one major headache for DIY upgraders, PC builders, and repair technicians: Front Panel Connectors.
The pinout diagram for the N15235 is notoriously missing from standard manuals. Using outdated or incorrect pinout information can lead to a dead PC that won't power on, no HDD activity lights, or a reset button that does nothing.
This is an UPDATED guide (2025-compliant) covering the exact pin mapping for the Foxconn N15235, including variants like the N15235-001, N15235-002, and motherboard part number IPM87-MP. Pinout Functions:
While this guide focuses on the power/reset/LED header, the Foxconn N15235 also features:
Do not mix these with the front panel header.
The front audio header (9‑pin, labeled AUDIO or F_AUDIO) follows the Intel AC’97 or HD Audio standard (most N15235 boards use AC’97 by default).
AC’97 pinout (common):
| Pin | Signal | Pin | Signal | |-----|----------------|-----|----------------| | 1 | MIC In | 2 | Ground | | 3 | MIC Power | 4 | +5V Audio | | 5 | Front Out (R) | 6 | Front Out (R) | | 7 | Unused / NC | 8 | Key (no pin) | | 9 | Front Out (L) | 10 | Front Out (L) |
For HD Audio chassis, you may need to set the BIOS option to “AC’97” or use a pin‑mapping adapter. Without this, front mic/headphone may not work.