How to use idle USB headers?

[JorgeA]

Hello,

A few months ago, in another thread, the topic of unused USB headers came up.

These headers in my PC are inside the case, not connected to anything. In that thread, dencorso (thank you) suggested that in order to use them, "The new USB ports would be attached either to one (or two) rear bay-bracket(s) or to a front-panel blind drive-placeholder, if there is one such placeholder still free."

Can anyone point me to instructions for doing one or both of these operations, and what are all the new parts/kits I would need to accomplish them? I'm not ready to actually perform either one, but I'd like to get a feel for the operation in case I decide to go ahead (and that info might also assist in the decision).

Thanks!

--JorgeA

[jaclaz]

These headers in my PC are inside the case, not connected to anything. In that thread, dencorso (thank you) suggested that in order to use them, "The new USB ports would be attached either to one (or two) rear bay-bracket(s) or to a front-panel blind drive-placeholder, if there is one such placeholder still free."

There are TWO kind of "headers".

Most are actual USB headers, and all you need is a cable.

Some are actually need some active components (please read as "daughterboard").

If you have the first kind, you simply buy cables similar to these:

http://frontx.com/panel_mount.html

http://www.frontx.com/cpx101_2.html

http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=34_81_250&products_id=1550

http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=34_81_250_150&products_id=269

http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=34_81_250_150&products_id=567

http://cgi.ebay.it/ASUS-Motherboard-USB-Connectors-2-0-Internal-Cable-/230514927731

If you have the second kind, usually you can buy a new motherboard for the price of a stoopid daughterboard from the manufacturer.

jaclaz

[JorgeA]

There are TWO kind of "headers".

Most are actual USB headers, and all you need is a cable.

Some are actually need some active components (please read as "daughterboard").

Thanks, jaclaz, for the info and for the links. You are a fount of useful information!

I'll follow up on them, and no doubt will have follow-up questions.

But before that -- how can I determine whether I have the first (easier to deal with) kind of USB header, or the second (more difficult) one? From the pictures on the linked pages, it looks like they would fit into what I have on the motherboard, but of course I could well be wrong. Do the two types look physically different?

--JorgeA

[puntoMX]

So, what is the model of that motherboard? Let us start there first.

[JorgeA]

So, what is the model of that motherboard? Let us start there first.

Hey puntoMX,

Here's my mobo information.

If the link doesn't work for any reason, it's an IPIBL-LB (Benicia).

The specs state that this mobo has three USB 2.0 headers, but when I opened it there were definitely other USB thingies that were unused (not connected to anything) running along what is the bottom right edge of the picture that you see on that page. If it turns out that they don't work, why would they even bother putting them in there?

--JorgeA

[dencorso]

The Benicia is an Asus board. This means that the headers probably are active, and no daughterboard is needed.

But the type of the headers is unusual... you'll need four individual four pin (or five pin) connectors for the headers, not two double-row (four or) five pin connectors, which are the most common type. See the attached picture for an example.

[JorgeA]

Thanks, dencorso.

Obviously this is a new concept for me. Would any of the products that jaclaz linked to, do the trick? (With my limited knowledge, I would guess not.)

--JorgeA

Edited January 21, 2011 by JorgeA

[JorgeA]

The Benicia is an Asus board. This means that the headers probably are active, and no daughterboard is needed.

But the type of the headers is unusual... you'll need four individual four pin (or five pin) connectors for the headers, not two double-row (four or) five pin connectors, which are the most common type. See the attached picture for an example.

Just spent the last 2 hours scouring the Web for this device. The bottom line is that I don't know what to look for (item name? brand?? model number?). Looked in all manner of known and unknown vendors' sites, and found several bracket devices that resolve four ports into two connectors, but none that had four connectors for four ports.

Without more specific info, it's like looking for a needle in a haystack. Can you provide some more information so that I can look for this more efficiently?

--JorgeA

Edit: I think I may have hit pay dirt with these two:

http://us.startech.com/product/USBPLATELP-2-Port-USB-A-Female-Low-Profile-Slot-Plate-Adapter

http://us.startech.com/product/USBPLATEB-2-Outlet-USB-Plate-in-Blister-Pack

...although I'm not sure what makes the first one a "low profile" adapter and the second one not; they look the same to me.

Two ports instead of two, but is this the right sort of thing I'm looking for?

Edited January 22, 2011 by JorgeA

[dencorso]

You've hit jackpot! The five pin black connector to the motherboard headers is the correct one in both.

The difference is the height of the back-plate. A normal one is about 4.75", while a "low profile" is about 3.14".

The only way of knowing for sure which you should buy is by getting a ruler and measuring the height of any of the back-plates already present in your machine

(the video card is the most obvious one to measure, and if you use a thin flexible plastic (not metal!) ruler, you can measure it precisely enough from the back of the unopened machine, or from the inside, but in any case, don't need to remove the card to measure). Since you want to distinguish 4.75" from 3.14", there's no need for great precison, after all.

[JorgeA]

dencorso, thanks a bunch for the tips. I'll check the size of the back plate in the daylight.

I couldn't find a 4-port bracket like the one that you showed. Maybe it's available only in Brazil! It's a great idea, why wouldn't everybody sell something like this?

Still, two extra USB ports are better than zero extra USB ports. Are there any electrical or power-draw that I need to look into?

--JorgeA

[jaclaz]

A number of motherboards have connectors that are two rows (and then are thickier), like this:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3949897&CatId=511

http://www.tigerdirect.com/include/AddCartfromGallery.asp?EdpNo=3949897&csid=ITD&Sku=ULT40299&imgcart=1&imgcounter=3

The difference is easier to understand comparing this:

http://www.amazon.com/2-Port-Rear-Panel-Bracket-Adapter/dp/B002IWEDSS/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1295689565&sr=1-3

to this:

http://www.amazon.com/SIIG-CB-BR0311-S1-2-PORT-USB-Bracket/dp/B001H3DPMO/ref=sr_1_8?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1295689565&sr=1-8

The "correct" name is "dual headers":

http://cgi.ebay.it/4-Port-USB-2-0-Expansion-Bracket-to-Dual-USB-Headers-/370472863354

Single:

http://frontx.com/con_guide.html

Dual:

http://frontx.com/cpx108_2.html

Four ports to 4 single headers are quite rare.

You can still modify them if you happen to have a few standard 0.1"/2.54 mm pitch in-line 4 or 5 pins connectors (typically from an old case you can find in *any* junkyard but also from unused CD "audio" connection cables, if I recall correctly they are "plain" Molex 70066-G )

http://frontx.com/head_con.html

jaclaz

Edited January 22, 2011 by jaclaz

[JorgeA]

jaclaz,

Those were very informative pages, thank you. Especially the ones discussing the pin arrangements and how to modify them.

Let's hope it won't be necessary to do that, but at least I have some idea now of what's involved.

Getting to use previously untapped resources on my PC's motherboard is very cool. B)

--JorgeA

[dencorso]

In any case, 4-port backplates put the USB ports too close together for my liking (it makes it difficult to use, say, 4 pendrives at the same time). I'd either use two backplates with two USB ports apiece, or one backplate and one front bay plate, preferably a 3.5" one, if there are any unused drive bays available in front.

[JorgeA]

dencorso,

Good point. I have some USB devices with connectors that aren't so wide, so they would fit easily side by side and then I'd be freeing up a bunch of other ports for fat pen drives. But if the 4-port, single-row backplate is just not available on my continent, then it's a moot issue and I'll have to go with 2 per plate.

Now on to the nitty-gritty. Last year we discussed using a multimeter to test these unused USB headers. In your opinion, should we still do that, or can we (safely) dispense with that step? I wouldn't want to end up frying the motherboard. I'm also feeling more up to the task, if necessary.

BTW, I measured the backplates from the outside of the case. They seem to be about 4.5" from one end to the other.

--JorgeA

[jaclaz]

Now on to the nitty-gritty. Last year we discussed using a multimeter to test these unused USB headers. In your opinion, should we still do that, or can we (safely) dispense with that step? I wouldn't want to end up frying the motherboard. I'm also feeling more up to the task, if necessary.

Wait until you have the brackets.

Connect them at random .

Test the voltage on the USB female on the bracket.

(much easier then doing it on the motherboard, inside the case and with the processor fan lowing in your ears )

BTW, I measured the backplates from the outside of the case. They seem to be about 4.5" from one end to the other.

They are standard

http://ptm2.cc.utu.fi/~ptmusta/kuvat/Computers/Technics/PC_kort_braketter.pdf

...but you were accurate enough , since they measure (as seen from the outside) 4.44"

jaclaz