View Single Post
  #3  
Old June 8th 18, 10:31 PM posted to alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt
VanguardLH[_2_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 1,453
Default Upgrading USB 2 to USB 3 ports on a computer case

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.