Best way to get USB3 ports to front of a non USB3 case/motherboard (HAF 922/bloomfield)

413x · 23 Dec 2012 at 19:12

Seeing as im looking to go USB 3.0 (im going to be getting a USB 3 pen drive due to my previous one dying) i thought i may as well add it to my main rig.

The problem being the pc does not have native USB 3 in either the front USB ports or the motherboards

does this require a pci/pci-e card and a front 5-1/2 inch bay plate?

how effective are these?

my HTPC is sandy bridge and therefore has them natively

Neme · 23 Dec 2012 at 22:41

As you suggest, if you have no native USB3 then you will need a PCI-e card, from there the easiest way to get it to the front will be some kind of drive bay assuming you have the space for one.

Something along the lines of the link below would do the trick, though this is honestly just the first hit i got on google.

http://www.everythingusb.com/siig-superspeed-usb-3.0-bay-hub-host-kit-20573.html

Might be worth checking around for anything similar and reading some reviews.

Doomedspeed · 23 Dec 2012 at 22:46

Is this the sort of thing your asking for.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CM-023-AK

413x · 23 Dec 2012 at 23:37

Yes. Just like those.

I just done a bit of looking. This one doesn't need a separate pci card.

Worth a risk?

usb_3_0_pci_e_to_usb3_0_internal_combo_usb3_0_internal_hub_usb2_0_all_in_one_card_reader.jpg

Neme · 23 Dec 2012 at 23:37

Doomedspeed said:
Is this the sort of thing your asking for.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CM-023-AK

Problem is that is just a hub, so wont give USB3 speeds unless you have a USB 3 port to hook it up to

Neme · 23 Dec 2012 at 23:40

al4x said:
Yes. Just like those.

I just done a bit of looking. This one doesn't need a separate pci card.

Worth a risk?

Hmm, interesting, im guessing that edge connector is for a PCI-e slot? so kinda does have a seperate PCI card in a way.

Got a link to any details?

413x · 24 Dec 2012 at 00:39

Model is this by looks of it
BW-P0056A

yep, pci card is in the hub. took me a little while to realise it was a pci 1x connector!

Neme · 24 Dec 2012 at 01:24

Assuming you have the pci-e slot and drive bay available, i would say that would do nicely and is going to be the easiest way to get the job done.

413x · 24 Dec 2012 at 01:39

Neme said:
Assuming you have the pci-e slot and drive bay available, i would say that would do nicely and is going to be the easiest way to get the job done.

plenty of bays and a pci-1x slot free. think ill give it a go,

Neme · 24 Dec 2012 at 11:59

Let us know how you get on

413x · 24 Dec 2012 at 15:34

Neme said:
Let us know how you get on

Will do. Just need to pick out a new flash drive now. :-)