custom cables

mrsim · 19 Jan 2017 at 22:32

hello everyone...happy new year as this is my first post since the turn of the year
am looking for some advice from the knowledge base here i currently have a msi z170a krait gaming (ms-7984) mother board and the issue i have i recently purchased a custom backplate for my 980ti GPU which attaches with 4 magnets to the backplate screws after attaching the new custom backplate it will not sit correctly as it is now touching the cables for the front panel usb 3.1 slots
so my questions are this...are there different types of modded cables i can use which have a smaller form factor for this connection to the motherboard for my front panel usb connections
or am i better off disconnecting these instead and just using the connections at the back of the case and my usb hub and not worry about the front connected usb ports
or can i just drop the GPU down to the second slot and still be a happy bunny i rarely use the p.c. for gaming it's more for productivity

your answers and expertise will be greatlt appreciated

mattyfez · 20 Jan 2017 at 08:54

Any chance of a picture, I'm struggling to visualize what the problem is.

Temujin · 20 Jan 2017 at 09:27

If the PCI slots on your motherboard are both the same speed, and moving the card there won't obstruct any other ports then you probably won't see any problems.

Regarding cables, you might be able to get one with a 90 degree connector, as you can with sata cables, but i would think they may be hard to find!

mrsim · 20 Jan 2017 at 11:25

orry guys totally forgot to upload the pics

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mrsim · 20 Jan 2017 at 11:27

sorry about the pic size...i do not know why they are uploading at so large a size if any moderators could reduct the size that would be awesome thank you

Confused Stu · 20 Jan 2017 at 11:36

mrsim said:
sorry about the pic size...i do not know why they are uploading at so large a size if any moderators could reduct the size that would be awesome thank you

Might be worth putting SPOILER tags around the images, mate.

I had fouling issues between my GPU cooler and my motherboard's USB3 port. In the end, I ordered a cable from modDIY which just about bends enough to clear my GPU cooler and allows me to plug in my front panel.
https://www.moddiy.com/products/USB...der-Ribbon-Cable-(Low-Profile-Connector).html
(Hoping the mods don't count this as a competitor as OcUK don't sell this kind of specialist almost home made cable).

mrsim · 20 Jan 2017 at 11:42

stu thank you for the quick reply...i managed to modify the images ok....well this cable you posted it seems different from the ones on my case...mine are thick whereas yours are very thin and there are quite a few of them...this cable will still work the same...?

Confused Stu · 20 Jan 2017 at 12:02

mrsim said:
stu thank you for the quick reply...i managed to modify the images ok....well this cable you posted it seems different from the ones on my case...mine are thick whereas yours are very thin and there are quite a few of them...this cable will still work the same...?

Absolutely. The USB3 cable is actually made up of individual cables that link the pins on the motherboard to the pins on the USB port. On most cables they're bound together in a nice, thick cable for looks, robustness and easier cable management, but on the linked cable they're separate purely to make the cable easier to bend.

If you were to actually cut your existing thick cable (don't actually try this!) you'd find a thick outer plastic coating with lots of individually plastic coated thin wires inside, just like a cable for a light fighting in your home is one cable that inside is actually three separate cables (live, neutral, earth).

mrsim · 20 Jan 2017 at 12:22

also may i ask this cable you linked seems a little short at 12cm to reach the front usb 3 ports from the MB mine seems more like 12+ inches,also as you can see from the pics i posted it's the thick/fat end which seems to be the problem as this is the one connected to the MB

Tealc · 20 Jan 2017 at 12:48

The cable linked looks like an extension to me. Plug your existing cable into it. Bags of length then..

Confused Stu · 20 Jan 2017 at 15:10

mrsim said:
also may i ask this cable you linked seems a little short at 12cm to reach the front usb 3 ports from the MB mine seems more like 12+ inches,also as you can see from the pics i posted it's the thick/fat end which seems to be the problem as this is the one connected to the MB

Tealc said:
The cable linked looks like an extension to me. Plug your existing cable into it. Bags of length then..

Exactly as Tealc said, it's an extension cable. You unplug your existing cable from your motherboard, plug the male end of the little flexible cable into the port on your motherboard, bend it round the GPU backplate (or other obstruction) to get the female end of the cable into a position you have room to plug your existing cable into.

I'm sure other options are available, but I couldn't find any when I was looking a year or two ago, and I don't have any spare PCI-E slots to use something like this instead:
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/silv...i-e-controller-card-sst-ec01-p-ca-126-sv.html

mrsim · 20 Jan 2017 at 16:58

Confused Stu said:
Exactly as Tealc said, it's an extension cable. You unplug your existing cable from your motherboard, plug the male end of the little flexible cable into the port on your motherboard, bend it round the GPU backplate (or other obstruction) to get the female end of the cable into a position you have room to plug your existing cable into.

I'm sure other options are available, but I couldn't find any when I was looking a year or two ago, and I don't have any spare PCI-E slots to use something like this instead:
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/silv...i-e-controller-card-sst-ec01-p-ca-126-sv.html

awesome...i like the look of that PCI-E extension for the usb 3 connections but that means i will never get to SLI my graphics cards...so it's one or the other...ok i will attemp the xtension cable first maybe that will give me the clearance...guys i cannot thank you enough for all your help and advice...what an awesome forum