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Old June 10th 18, 01:30 PM posted to alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt
Patrick[_10_]
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Posts: 9
Default Upgrading USB 2 to USB 3 ports on a computer case

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