New Case With No Drive Activity Light

Hello geeks.

Some months ago I bought a Fractal Design Meshify C - Dark
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811352072

Overall, it's a good case.
The power light, which is behind the front filter, functions properly, but there is no indication of drive activity.
I contacted Fractal support and they sent a complete front panel replacement.
The replacement has the same problem - no drive activity indicator light.

I detached the Fractal front panel wire from the motherboard and attached the wire on my previous case, a Cooler Master N200.
The activity light on the Cooler Master worked properly as it always had.
Therefore, I do not think there is a problem with the motherboard.

I just looked over some of the reviews at Newegg and saw that one owner wrote that the power light was not working.
Another owner complained about misaligned and very tight USB ports, which are on the same panel.
I experienced the same, and sometimes the attached flash drive did not appear on the boot menu.
I had to wiggle it a bit and reboot. The replacement panel is a bit better.

I don't know how to proceed from here.
Every case should have a working drive activity light.

I'd like some advise on how to proceed from here to resolve this problem and apparent defect.

Thanks

 

Did you read the manual? This is not a defect, but a design feature.

I have a FD case with this computer. And I have used several FD cases in different builds. Many only come with one LED. But the manual clearly states it can be used as a power on indicator, or a drive activity indicator. It just depends on where on the motherboard's front panel I/O header you connect the two wires. It is your choice.

Not true. It is just a matter of preference. I note the drive activity indicator really does not tell you anything - especially if you have more than one drive installed.

 

Thank you for your response and explanation.

Yes, I did read the manual, both before and during the assembly.

No, it does not.
I do not see any statement like what you describe in the manual that I got with this case.
I have looked for it, but I don't see anything like that.

The light does function as drive activity indicator if only those wires are connected.
It is much dimmer than power indication and is difficult to see behind the foam dust filter.

Well, I think it's an important feature and one that I expected without question.
AFAIK, it has been nearly universal on desktop computers for about thirty years or so.
I don't remember using any desktop that did not have that. Even the floppy drives have an activity light.
True, it does not tell you what the activity is about or which drive is active if there is more than one connected.
However, other than the power light, it is the most basic and visible indication that the computer is 'working' on something.
Excessive drive activity can be the first noticeable indication that something is wrong, or at least, not quite right.
It can be a signal that some unwanted process is running.
No activity can also signal a problem if a process has been started that is expected to cause significant drive access.

So, maybe it can't be considered a design flaw, but I do think it was not a good choice.
Maybe the designers think that a highly visible activity light would mar the appearance.

 

Okay, my apologies. I just downloaded and read the manual to your case. And, sadly, it is pretty vague with only one reference to the HDD LED on page 6. There it shows 3 connectors (6 wires) from the front panel labeled "POWER SW", "POWER LED" and "HDD LED". And apparently all are integrated into one lighted switch. I see no explanation for the functions.

I am not sure how it should work. A power indicator is typically a solid-on. While a drive activity indicator, of course, flashes, showing activity when lit.

So what is supposed to happen if both pairs of wires are connected. Which function takes priority? We don't know.

I think it would be confusing if, as a drive activity indicator, it was displaying a solid "on". I know with separate LEDs, when I see a solid-on drive activity LED I get concerned my drive is getting beaten up with constant activity - perhaps malicious activity.

Are there actually two LEDs in that switch? I don't know! But if only one, I think the drive activity should take priority and it would only flash "on" when there is drive activity. If no current activity, it would be unlit. And of course, if the drive activity LED is flashing, you know there's power.

I guess if me, I would contact FD again and ask them to define the options and how each function is supposed to work if both pairs of LED wires are connected. Then please keep us posted.