For years, my custom-built PC tower sat proudly on my desk, a monolith of blinking lights and whirring fans. But as my setup evolved, adding dual monitors and a pair of bulky bookshelf speakers, desk real estate became a precious commodity. The solution was obvious: tuck the tower away, out of sight and out of mind, behind the monitors. The result was a clean, minimalist workspace, but it introduced a new, daily frustration. Every morning, I’d have to perform an awkward reach-around, fumbling blindly behind screens and cables just to find the small, flush power button. It was a minor inconvenience, but one that grated on me day after day. This is a surprisingly common problem for enthusiasts with complex setups, under-desk mounts, or for those who simply prefer a cleaner aesthetic. The alternative—leaving the PC accessible—clutters the workspace and ruins the very setup you’ve worked so hard to perfect.
- ★ External Desktop PC Power Switch: controlling your computer from the comfort place in the room using the power button with long cable. Even your computer in a hard to reach place, this power...
- ★ 2 Meter Long Cable PC Power Switch Control: this power switch adapter comes with 2M long power sw cable, keep the enough range for you.
- ★ Easy to install: the package comes with installation instructions. Just connect the POWER SW and +HDD- connectors with motherboard and stick the adhesive plate in the right place.
What to Consider Before Buying an External PC Power Switch
An external PC power switch is more than just a button on a wire; it’s a key solution for ergonomics, accessibility, and even system protection. For those of us with PCs tucked under desks, hidden in cabinets, or positioned awkwardly due to space constraints, these devices are a godsend. They eliminate the physical barrier between you and your machine, turning a daily annoyance into a satisfying, one-touch action. Beyond convenience, they serve unique purposes: safeguarding against accidental shutdowns from curious pets or toddlers, or providing a necessary interface for custom builds like arcade cabinets where the original case button is inaccessible. It’s a simple upgrade that can fundamentally change how you interact with your primary computing device.
The ideal customer for this type of product is someone facing a physical accessibility issue with their PC tower. This includes gamers with elaborate multi-monitor setups, professionals who keep their tower under the desk for a cleaner workspace, parents of young children, pet owners, and DIY builders creating custom enclosures. It’s a problem-solver. However, it might not be suitable for those who have easy, unobstructed access to their PC’s power button or for users who are completely uncomfortable with opening their PC case and locating motherboard headers. For those individuals, sticking with the case’s default button is perfectly fine. The alternative is simply to rearrange your entire desk, which is often not a practical solution.
Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:
- Cable Length & Flexibility: The primary purpose of this device is to extend your reach. A short cable defeats the entire purpose. Measure the distance from your motherboard’s front panel headers to your desired button location on your desk, ensuring you have enough slack to route the cable cleanly and avoid tension. The 2-meter length of the DKE model is generous and should suffice for most setups.
- Installation & Compatibility: This is not a USB plug-and-play device. It connects directly to the POWER SW and HDD LED pins on your motherboard’s front panel header. You must be comfortable opening your PC case and identifying these small pins. While straightforward for most builders, it can be intimidating for beginners. Check if the product includes a splitter, which allows both the external button and your original case button to remain functional simultaneously.
- Build Quality & Feel: You’ll be pressing this button daily, so its physical feel matters. Look for a button with a satisfying, tactile click. The materials should feel durable, not like cheap, hollow plastic. Furthermore, consider the quality of the included adhesive; a weak sticker will lead to the button falling off your desk, creating a new annoyance.
- Features & Aesthetics: Beyond the basic on/off function, consider extra features. Does it have an LED indicator for power status or hard drive activity? Is the LED subtle or distractingly bright? The design should ideally complement your existing desk setup. Some buttons are purely functional, while others, like the DKE PC Power Button with 2m Cables, attempt a more aesthetic approach with a light-up ring.
Keeping these factors in mind, the DKE PC Power Button with 2m Cables stands out in several areas, particularly its generous cable length and simple functionality. You can explore its detailed specifications here.
While the DKE PC Power Button with 2m Cables is an excellent choice for adding convenience, it’s part of a larger ecosystem of PC power components. For a broader look at the core components that deliver power to your high-end system, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:
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First Impressions: Simple, Effective, and Ready to Go
The DKE PC Power Button with 2m Cables arrived in simple, no-frills packaging—a clear plastic bag containing the button itself and a small Y-splitter cable. There’s no hefty manual or elaborate unboxing experience, which is perfectly fine for a device this straightforward. Our immediate impression was of its lightness and compact size. The button housing is a small, black plastic disc, about 1.5cm thick, with a satisfyingly tactile push-button mechanism surrounded by a translucent blue ring. It doesn’t feel overly premium, but as one user noted, it “doesn’t feel cheap” either. The 2-meter cable is the star of the show, thin yet seemingly durable enough for its purpose, offering an incredible amount of flexibility for placement. It terminates in two small standard motherboard connectors labeled “POWER SW” and “+HDD-“, leaving no ambiguity about their function. The inclusion of the Power SW splitter cable was a thoughtful touch, confirming that we wouldn’t have to sacrifice the functionality of our case’s original power button.
Key Benefits
- Extremely simple and fast installation for anyone familiar with PC building.
- Generous 2-meter cable length provides excellent placement flexibility.
- Solves common accessibility issues for under-desk or hidden PCs.
- Includes a Power SW splitter to keep the original case button functional.
- Strong adhesive backing for secure mounting.
Drawbacks
- LED light ring is unevenly lit by only a few LEDs, affecting aesthetics.
- Reports of the LED failing after a short period of use.
- Cable wires are quite thin, raising some long-term durability concerns for a few users.
A Deep Dive into the DKE PC Power Button’s Performance
A simple button might not seem to warrant a deep dive, but its impact on daily workflow and quality of life can be significant. We evaluated the DKE PC Power Button with 2m Cables based on the critical factors that determine its success: the ease of installation, its physical design and build, its core functionality in real-world scenarios, and the quality of its aesthetic features like the LED ring.
Installation and Setup: A Painless Process for Most
For anyone who has ever built a PC or even just swapped out a component, installing this button is a breeze. We had it up and running in under 10 minutes. The process is identical to connecting a standard case’s front panel I/O. After opening our test bench’s side panel, we located the front panel header block on the bottom edge of the motherboard. The tiny text printed on the circuit board clearly marked the pins for “PWRSW” and “HDD_LED”. The connectors on the DKE’s cable are clearly labeled, making it a simple matter of sliding them onto the corresponding pins. We appreciated that the HDD LED connector was split into individual pins, as this provides compatibility with motherboards that have non-standard spacing.
The included Y-splitter is a critical and highly welcome feature. By plugging the splitter into the motherboard’s POWER SW pins, we could then connect both the DKE button and the original case’s power button cable to the splitter. This dual-control setup is fantastic, offering redundancy and flexibility. We confirmed this works perfectly; both buttons could now turn the PC on and off. This feature addresses a key concern for users who might worry about losing the case button’s function. As one user who was rebuilding their PC and struggling with the case’s wiring put it, “this thing was a savior. It’s extremely easy to install and it works perfectly.” This sentiment was echoed by many who found the installation to be a simple, one-time task that immediately paid dividends in convenience. For absolute beginners, the only hurdle is identifying the correct pins, but a quick search for their motherboard’s manual online will provide a clear diagram.
Design, Ergonomics, and Build Quality
The core of the product is the button itself, and DKE made some good choices here. The button has a pleasant, tactile feel with an audible click. It’s not mushy or vague; you know when you’ve pressed it. This positive feedback is important for a primary interface you use every day. The unit is incredibly lightweight at just over 28 grams, and its slim profile means it doesn’t take up much space on the desk. The real hero of the design, however, is the 2-meter (roughly 6.5 feet) cable. This generous length is the key to the product’s utility. We were able to route the cable from the motherboard, out a rear PCI slot, down the back of the desk, and up to the front edge with plenty of slack to spare. This length empowers users to place their PC tower virtually anywhere in the vicinity of their desk without worrying about accessibility.
The build quality is functional and in line with its price point. While the plastic housing isn’t premium, it feels solid enough for its intended purpose. One area we were particularly impressed with, a sentiment shared by other users, was the adhesive pad on the bottom. We were skeptical at first, but after cleaning a spot on the underside of a wooden monitor stand and sticking the button in place, it held firm. One user noted, “I am most impressed with how well the sticky tape works! I figured it would have fell off in like a day, but it’s still nice and tight after a month or so.” This reliability is crucial; a button that constantly falls off is more trouble than it’s worth. While a few users found the wires to be very thin and expressed concern, we experienced no issues during installation or testing, and they seem adequate for the low-voltage signaling they carry.
Functionality in Real-World Scenarios: Solving Niche Problems
This is where the DKE PC Power Button with 2m Cables truly shines. It’s a quintessential “problem-solver” product. Our initial test case of a PC hidden behind monitors was the perfect application. It transformed the morning routine from an awkward fumble to a simple, satisfying press of a button right at our fingertips. But user experiences reveal an even wider range of applications. One of the most common is pet-proofing a setup. As one owner shared, their “cat likes to sit on my PC and would hit the shutdown every time… now she can’t reach it!” By disabling the case button (by simply unplugging it from the motherboard) and relying solely on the remote DKE button, this problem is completely eliminated.
The same logic applies to toddler-proofing. A user with a home server explained, “My toddler apparently finds the power button on my server case incredibly interesting. After she turned it off a number of times I finally found this gadget.” This is a brilliant use case that prevents data loss or interruption from curious little hands. Beyond home and office desks, the button has found a home in the DIY and modding community. One builder used it for an arcade cabinet project: “I stuck this on the inside of a Retro Raccoons arcade cabinet to turn on a second pc… It works perfectly!” For any custom enclosure where a standard PC case isn’t used, a reliable external switch like this is not just a convenience—it’s an essential component. It also serves as a quick and easy diagnostic tool or replacement for a broken case button, as one person noted: “My case boot button just suddenly stopped working, grabbed this and easily installed it on my PC and it solved my problem.” For all these scenarios, the device performs its core function flawlessly. You can see if this simple solution fits your unique setup here.
The LED Conundrum: Illumination and Its Imperfections
If there is one area where the DKE PC Power Button with 2m Cables falters, it’s the implementation of its signature blue LED ring. The concept is excellent: a visual indicator for power and HDD activity right on your desk. The “HDD-” connector plugs into the motherboard’s HDD LED pins, causing the ring to flicker with disk activity, while the “POWER SW” connection seems to provide the constant power for the “on” state illumination. However, the execution is disappointing. Across our testing and corroborated by numerous user accounts, the lighting is not a uniform ring. Instead, it’s clearly powered by just one or two small LEDs inside the housing. This results in a “cheap” look, with two bright spots and the rest of the ring dimly and unevenly lit. As one user bluntly put it, the “led ring inst completely lit.”
More concerning are the reports of the LED failing entirely. One reviewer loved the button’s function but stated, “the light konked out two weeks after purchase… nothing I have tried has allowed me to get the light working again.” Another called the light “super faint” and suggested some LEDs were burned out upon arrival. This inconsistency is the product’s biggest weakness. While the core switching function remains perfect even if the light fails, the flawed aesthetic feature is a significant letdown. For users who prioritize function over form, this is a minor issue. But for those attracted to the idea of a slick, illuminated button on their desk, the reality may not meet expectations. It’s a functional success but an aesthetic misstep.
What Other Users Are Saying
Overall sentiment for the DKE PC Power Button with 2m Cables is overwhelmingly positive, with users praising it as a simple, effective, and affordable solution to a common problem. Many reviews highlight the sheer convenience it adds, with one user succinctly stating, “Nice cheap and easy little upgrade to your pc setup if your power button is a reach.” The ease of installation is another frequently mentioned positive, with many, like one Spanish-speaking user, noting that with a basic tutorial on front panel connectors, anyone can install it without issue (“Es bastante práctico y muy fácil de instalar”).
However, the praise is not universal, and the criticisms are remarkably consistent. The most prevalent complaint, by far, revolves around the LED light ring. A user who was otherwise happy with the button noted, “the light just did not last,” while another was more critical of the design itself, saying, “Very thin wires and the light ring is cheep with one led and does not light the whole ring up.” Another minor but notable issue mentioned by a user was the occasional absence of the advertised splitter cable, which forced them to choose between the case button and the external one, rather than using both. This seems to be a packaging inconsistency rather than a design flaw, but it’s a valid point of frustration for those affected.
How Does the DKE PC Power Button Compare to Alternatives?
It’s important to clarify the DKE PC Power Button with 2m Cables‘s place in the market. It is a control *accessory* for a PC’s power system, not a power supply unit (PSU) itself. The alternatives listed below are actual power supplies that deliver electricity to your computer’s components. You need a PSU for your computer to function at all; the DKE button is an optional add-on for convenience. Therefore, the comparison is less about direct competition and more about understanding their different roles in a PC build.
1. iUniker 20W USB-C Power Supply
This product serves a completely different niche. It’s a dedicated 20W power adapter for single-board computers like the Raspberry Pi or Orange Pi. It features a USB-C connector and an in-line on/off switch, which provides a similar convenience to the DKE button but for a different class of device. You would choose the iUniker supply if you are building or powering a project with one of these specific mini-computers. It cannot be used to power a standard desktop PC, just as the DKE button cannot power a Raspberry Pi. They are mutually exclusive solutions for different hardware ecosystems.
2. Apevia ATX-PR600W 600W 80+ Gold Gaming Power Supply
The Apevia ATX-PR600W is a proper ATX Power Supply Unit, the component responsible for converting wall outlet AC power into the various DC voltages your PC components need. With a 600W capacity and an 80+ Gold efficiency rating, this is a solid choice for a mid-range gaming or productivity PC. A user would buy this when building a new computer or upgrading an older, less powerful, or failing PSU. It is a core, essential component. The DKE button would be an accessory you might purchase *in addition* to this PSU to make turning the finished PC on and off more convenient.
3. Apevia VENUS450W 450W Power Supply
Similar to the 600W model, the Apevia VENUS450W is another ATX PSU, but with a lower power output of 450W. This makes it suitable for more budget-conscious builds, office computers, or systems without a power-hungry dedicated graphics card. The choice between this and the 600W model would come down entirely to the power requirements of your specific PC components (CPU, GPU, etc.). Again, this is a fundamental part of the computer’s architecture, whereas the DKE button is an external, ergonomic enhancement that connects to the motherboard controlled by that PSU.
Our Final Verdict: A Must-Have for the Right Niche
After extensive testing and poring over user feedback, our verdict on the DKE PC Power Button with 2m Cables is clear: it is an outstandingly useful and affordable gadget that brilliantly solves a very specific set of problems. Its primary strengths are its simplicity, generous cable length, and flawless execution of its core function. For anyone with a PC that’s difficult to reach, for parents and pet owners, or for custom builders, this small device is less of a gadget and more of an essential upgrade that removes a daily point of friction.
The product is not without its flaws, namely the poorly implemented and sometimes unreliable LED light ring. If you are buying this primarily for a cool, evenly lit aesthetic element on your desk, you will likely be disappointed. However, if you view the light as a secondary bonus feature and prioritize the convenience of a remote power button above all else, then its shortcomings are easy to overlook. It does its main job perfectly, every single time. We wholeheartedly recommend it for anyone who has ever sighed in frustration while reaching for their PC’s power button.
If you’ve decided the DKE PC Power Button with 2m Cables is the right fit, you can check its current price and purchase it here.
Last update on 2025-11-08 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API