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Old June 10th 18, 05:15 PM posted to alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt
Yes[_2_]
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Default Upgrading USB 2 to USB 3 ports on a computer case

Patrick wrote:

On 10/06/2018 08:18, Yes wrote:
VanguardLH wrote:

Yes wrote:

I have an Antec 300 Illusion case. There are two USB 2.0
connector ports on the front. I'm thinking that I may want to
upgrade them to USB 3.0.

Has anyone upgraded USB 2 ports on a chassis to USB 3? I'd
like to get some idea of what would need to be done. I could,
of course, add a USB 3.0 hub instead, but it'd be nice to keep
down the amount of clutter on my desk.

The problem is getting the case mounting ports that fit that case.
The USB port may not have its own bracket with tangs to snap into
a hole in the case. Rather it will be soldered onto a PCB that is
positioned behind the case.

http://i53.tinypic.com/2ik886t.jpg
My guess (since I couldn't find an inside view of that spot
inside the case) is there is one PCB that has the USB ports,
audio jacks, and LED soldered onto it and the wires run from the
PCB.

Do you have any spare drive bays? If so, you can get a drive bay
hub that has one, or more, USB3 ports, like:

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...82E16820223120
That adds 2 USB3 ports, 4 USB2 ports, an eSATA connection, and a
card reader. This one only had an average rating so you might
want to hunt around for other choices. If you have no spare SATA
ports on the mobo then the eSATA connector in this drive hub
would be dead. Same if you don't have any spare USB2 headers on
the mobo.

Sometimes there are USB2 headers on the mobo that are unused. You
could connect those to this drive bay hub along with the USB3
header on the mobo. If your mobo only has USB2 headers then the
mobo has no USB3 support which means you'll have to add a USB3
daughtercard. Some USB3 cards have an internal USB3 connector
you could use to go to the USB drive hub; however, often the
internal USB connector is shared with one of the external USB
ports on that card.

You mention the case but not the motherboard, so no idea what
you'll have to do to add USB3 support. No mention of what USB
headers are already used on the mobo. If the mobo has it, run an
unused USB3 header on the mobo to the USB drive hub. If not,
you'll have to add a USB3 daughtercard which will already give
you USB3 external ports on the backside. If you get one with a
USB3 internal port then you can move one of the backside (shared)
USB3 ports to the front-facing USB drive hub.


I have an ASUS M4A89GTD PRO USB3 mobo. It has two USB 3 ports and
an eSATA connector on the back side of the case plus USB and SATA
connectors on the mobo.

The above board does not have an internal USB3 connector, if it had
you would have been able to simply plug in the likes of this;

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/UK-USB-3-...oAAOSwc-tY2QfW

A PCIe card could be acquired to implement the missing Internal USB3
connector, example;

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CHIC-Dual...sAAOSwnHda4Zyl

However the above being quite a bit of cost, other options are;
1, Buy a USB3 Hub, example;

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4-Ports-U...rbls z7jtLFzA

2, Simply buy a USB3 extension cable, eg;

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/G-Shield-...tQ--tgyT2XAjKA

Yes, option 1 is what I was talking about in my OP. Option 2 is one I
had forgotten about. I'm already using a USB 2.0 extender on my other
computer.

John