Plug-in or leave unplugged?

F4ust · 9 Sep 2012 at 22:42

Hello

Please refer to the attached image of the USB3 internal header leading from my case panel.

As the photo depicts there is a USB2 connector splitting off from the USB3 head. Upon finishing connecting up my PC this morning I was confused about whether I needed to connect this additional USB2 header. I decided in the end to do so but I wonder have I done the wrong thing?

I notice in my device manager there is an 'unknown device' I cannot account for and wonder whether it has anything to do with this USB2 connection.

bremen1874 · 9 Sep 2012 at 22:52

One or the other, not both.

It'll be there to allow the front ports to be used on motherboards that don't have USB 3.0.

F4ust · 9 Sep 2012 at 23:33

thank you for your speedy response - much appreciated -- i'll have to disconnect it after-all.

bremen1874 · 9 Sep 2012 at 23:34

Then check that the USB 3.0 ports still work.

F4ust · 10 Sep 2012 at 00:06

bremen1874 said:
Then check that the USB 3.0 ports still work.

*gulp* because it could be damaged now or because it's just good to?

bremen1874 · 10 Sep 2012 at 00:11

F4ust said:
*gulp* because it could be damaged now or because it's just good to?

Because you've shorted the USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 headers together which can't be a good thing. Hopefully there's enough built-in protection to have prevented any damage.

F4ust · 10 Sep 2012 at 00:36

I've just tested everything and it all seems okay - i tested both case USB3 ports with a memory stick and copied files to it without incident.

Obviously I removed the USB2 connection.

Thank yu for your help.

I checked the Device Manager but I still have an 'unknown device' so it appears it is unrelated which is a pro and a con i suppose.

PhillyDee · 10 Sep 2012 at 01:35

The cables are just adapters, and not devices, so even without the cable, it will still be there.