USB-C Mismatch - Best Solution ?

RahRahRand on 14/07/2024 - 08:42

Hello

I have a Gigabyte Z690 Aorus PRO DDR4 motherboard; with 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2x2.
I use one out the front of the pc case, and one out the back.

However, I've only just realised that my BeQuiet! Silent Base 802 case; says that those 2x ports on the case are limited to USB 3.2 Gen 2. From what I've read - that's really only USB 3.2 Gen 2x1.

So I'm not getting the full USB speed available.
As I use these ports a lot, I really want to fix this.

Is there anyway that I can upgrade those 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2x1 ports on the case (front and back); to 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 ?
Or is my only option; to get a PCIe USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 card instead (stuck with ports out the rear of the case then) ?

BTW, if I had to do the latter, I'd like to know…

What is the maximum USB-C cable length you can have before the speed/power decreases (I know it's supposed to be really short)?
I mean total length - whether it's just one cable, or a short extension cable, and a normal cable (to make it easier to use ports on the rear of the case ?

BTW, slightly different related question….

If I wanted to have more than 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 for my PC… would the PCIe USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 card mentioned; be able to increase the total number available at that full speed ?

If it could, how?

Would it just do it via taking from the PCIe bandwidth, or plug into SATA or something?
That would steal from all available PCIe bandwidth right, so even from PCIe NVME's, and the GPU too ?

Is there a chart somewhere that shows the total cost from PCIe or SATA or something else, per different USB speed type?
I've never done this, so I just don't know how it works?

The other idea i had; was a USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Hub - which I could put on top of the case (easier to access than rear PCIe etc).
But can you get Hubs that are true 1 to 1, so that you don't end up dividing each of the Hub's ports' bandwidth every time you plug in another device?

So, any ideas as to what I should do?

Thank you for your help

Computing Computer Desktop Computer

Comments

  • boomramada on 14/07/2024 - 08:56
    +3

    So I'm not getting the full USB speed available.

    How its affecting your daily life?

  • Paul Atreides on 14/07/2024 - 09:46

    throw the whole PC away and start from scratch

  • Mikinoz on 14/07/2024 - 09:48
    +2

    I suggest you reassess your life up until this point

  • elusive on 14/07/2024 - 10:36
    +3

    those 2x ports on the case are limited to USB 3.2 Gen 2. From what I've read - that's really only USB 3.2 Gen 2x1

    Er, no.

    Gen 2 is the speed/frequency.

    x2 is the number of lanes in operation.

    A to-spec header and port should have all lanes wired anyway. So it probably does do 2x2.

    But here's the other question: what devices are you using that support 2x2? That's vanishingly rare, at those speeds devices tend to use TB instead.

    • Switchblade88 on 14/07/2024 - 17:00

      Exactly this. The motherboard header is a basic cable so case's specs are likely not validated to 2x2, but not likely to be an issue.

  • pharkurnell on 14/07/2024 - 10:59

    TLDR version?

    • boomramada on 14/07/2024 - 11:29

      Is there anyway that I can upgrade those 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2x1 ports on the case (front and back); to 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 ?

  • ihfree on 14/07/2024 - 11:48
    +1

    2x2 looks to be USB-C only.

    You could get the Dremel out and replace the usb-a ports. There are a few people who have documented what they've done.

    You'll likely need a pcie expansion card depending on your motherboard.

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