Front Panel USB Advice - with Future Proofing

freedomj on 23/06/2024 - 23:50
Last edited 24/06/2024 - 08:56 by 1 other user

I'm looking for a USB C port on the front of my desktop ideally in the 3.5in floppy bay.

I have MSI B85-G43 Gaming motherboard which has native USB-3.0, and this expansion card with 19-pin USB-3.0 headers

My understanding is that USB is generally backward and forward compatible where possible, but does this apply to front-panel connectors? If it's not much more, I'd like to get a panel connector that I can use in the future with USB 3.2/4 mobo support, but I'm not sure if any of these will be back-compatible to my current USB 3.0 limitation. Also my case is about my age (between 25-30) and I have no idea if cases have any features I care about these days, and whether 3.5in floppy bay is still a specification

Thanks in advance :)

Edit: You can pay a lot for (profanity) USB panels.

Best I've found $34.16

• Pro: Supports USB 3.2 to Mobo,

• Con: USB 3.0 ports only

E2:
I think I'm fine with aliexpress, but dodgy descriptions (3.2 in title 3.1 in desc.) mean I'd want someone to have vetted it (knowing myself I'm unlikely to test the speeds until a return is way too late)

E3:
Might have usb3.0 for type c and 3.2 for type A, but that seems unlikely. $30.47

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  AustriaBargain on 24/06/2024 - 02:09

  +2

  Don't worry about future proofing, you'll probably want a Thunderbolt dock in a few years anyway anyway.

  • 

    freedomj on 24/06/2024 - 11:56

    Do Mobos like ever come with thunderbolt? I looked into expansion cards and they are $$$

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  apsilon on 24/06/2024 - 08:35

  +2

  If you have a case that's old enough to have a 3.5" floppy bay you may as well just upgrade to a new case that already has whatever USB port you want on the front.

  • 

    freedomj on 24/06/2024 - 11:57

    But I like my case? You're saying a case will come with USB 3.2 connectors and won't cost a multiplication of one expansion slot?

    • 

      apsilon on 24/06/2024 - 15:39

      +1

      Not every case but there's plenty out there that will have USB 3.2 connectors on the front, it's very common. What isn't common are external drive bays. Optical and floppy drives are a thing of the past.

      • 

        freedomj on 24/06/2024 - 16:02

        I still have an optical drive, so that's more reason to not upgrade my case

        • 

          apsilon on 24/06/2024 - 16:51

          @freedomj: You're probably at a point where you need to decide if you want current tech or tech from a couple of decades ago. I don't know what you need an optical drive for but I will say (and I am assuming a bit as I haven't looked for a few years to check they are still available) your best approach may be new case and an external USB optical drive. I still have one stashed away somewhere just in case.

          • 

            freedomj on 25/06/2024 - 08:02

            @apsilon: I get where your coming from, but it’s the direction big tech and entertainment has gone that makes me want an optical drive now more than ever.

            I hate DRM and streaming servers riddled with it, so buy and rip dvds & blu-rays onto my Jellyfin server to liberate your media

            I already have a bluray drive so my old case that fits it makes complete sense to me

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  FW190 on 24/06/2024 - 09:41

  probably the quickest/cheapest/easiest way is to just buy a USB hub with the ports you want/need.

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  outlander on 24/06/2024 - 09:52

  +2

  I have the same problem bud. My current desktop has an el cheapo 'Media Dashboard' (lot cheaper on ali) but I really want some superfast usbc ports. I also find with the cheap ones that the connections are very dodgy. I've measured the power with a powermeter and it's not as stable as it should be, leading to that annoying repeated dropouts (ding doo. Doo-ding!) when you plug in a portable hard drive.

  You can buy all the parts to make extension cables yourself, so for the new computer I'm building I plan to just make up extension cables with high quality cables and mount them myself. It will end up costing a lot more but I favor reliability more these days