[SOLVED] 3.0 USB on Motherboard

[Ahxakri]

So, my case has 4 USB's on the front, but my motherboard only has one 3.0 USB slot. Which means only 2 of my USB's are currently working. I could have sworn I found a splitter on Amazon, but cannot for the life of me remember what I searched to get the result. I'd like to have a splitter and if I do, a question comes with it. I went to my local MicroCenter and asked about one, but the associate informed me that the splitter would take my USB to speeds comparable to that of 2.0. So, if someone could confirm that before I go through the trouble of even finding and buying a splitter, that'd be much appreciated.

MB: Asus Maximus XI Hero (Wi-Fi)

 

[Math Geek]

why would you think merging 4 ports into a spot designed for 2 would somehow magically double the available bandwidth??

of course you'd decrease the speed for each port in half if you could find such an adapter. this is something you should have considered when picking and buying the parts. it's too late, you get the 2 front ports and that is it from that motherboard.

if you need more, then a quality powered usb hub would be your best option to get more ports in front of the pc.

 

[Ahxakri]

There's no need to be mean about it. Lol. I just asked a question, my dude. There's absolutely zero reason to ask a question that obviously serves no purpose other than to make someone feel dumb. I don't post here to be belittled. I made one oversight on my build's connection. So, kindly take the attitude somewhere else.

Now, I found this if anyone would be kind enough to let me know if this would be a good solution. Instead of a splitter, I found an adapter!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B084D58HB...abc_B013AGKBC86T4AGH02DB?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

 

[Math Geek]

that would allow the front ports to work but you'd still only get 2.0 speeds out of it for those 2 ports since it is plugged into a 2.0 header.

just don't use those 2 ports for any kind of file transfer and it would not be a big deal really. a controller, printer or other such device or just a thumb drive with your homework stored on it won't know the difference in speed.

 

[Ahxakri]

Thank you. It seems this just needs to be something I deal with. Not the biggest of deals, but it was worth trying to figure out.

 

[Paperdoc]

First, I think Math Geek is wrong on the first reply. But part of this is linked, too, to whether you, OP, recognize different USB Type A sockets. You say you have FOUR USB ports (sockets) on your case front. I would assume all are the common rectangular Type A. HOWEVER, the new USB3.2 Gen1 Type A socket usually has a BLUE insert in it, and is DIFFERENT from the older USB2.0 Type A that has a BLACK insert. If you look inside the socket closely, the USB 3.2 Gen 1 sockets (blue) have five extra contacts on the back wall in addition to the four strip contacts on the blue insert. So, are you SURE that all FOUR of your case front sockets are this new type? Do you actually have TWO identical cables from those front panel sockets coming down with blue USB3.2 20-pin female connectors on their ends? If you do, proceed.

Now, I believe what you asked for was a Y-Splitter for the mobo internal USB3.2 Gen1 20-pin socket (which actually provides two USB3.2 Gen 1 ports) to "convert" that into TWO identical headers, so you can run two identical cables from that to the two PAIRS of front panel Type A sockets. If you have such a device, then each mobo USB3.2 Gen1 port would have TWO Type A sockets attached to it, and hence BOTH of those would share the bandwidth of a single normal USB 3.2 port - that's max 5 Gb/s , split two ways. That is still a lot faster than an USB 2.0 ports a 0.48 Gb/s max. Of course, the max power at 5 VDC would still be 0.9 A split between the two devices sharing this one port. So, doing this will NOT give you four USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports all operating simultaneously at full ratings, but it WILL give you four USB 3.2 Gen1 ports with slightly reduced max ratings.

The ADAPTER you found on Amazon will NOT do what you want. It can allow you to connect a pair of front panel USB 3.2 Type A sockets to a mobo USB2 header, so those sockets are really just USB2 sockets, NOT USB 3.2! Math Geek is dead right about that!

What you really want is this from Performance PCs.

https://www.performance-pcs.com/per...-header-y-splitter-cable-12cm-mdy-cab020.html

 

[Ahxakri]

My case is the Asus ROG Helios. It has 2 20 pin connectors. So, if you'd like to look it up and double check my work, it'd be appreciated. And that's the splitter I saw a LONG time ago!! I'll be getting it more than likely.

 

[Paperdoc]

Thanks for the case info. I agree, it ahs two pairs of USB3.2 Gen 1 Type A ports fed by two identical cables, so you do need two USB 3.2 Gen1 mobo headers to connect them. That Splitter will do the job.

You did not ask, but FYI the case also has a different Type C socket on its front for a USB3.2 Gen2 port. It is fed from the mobo by a different cable with a very different connector. That can be plugged into a mobo header called a USB3.2 Type E (aka Key A) header. If you don't have one of thse on your mobo, you cannot use it. But IF you have that, this Gen2 system has a faster max data rate of 10 Mb/s, although there may be no devices on the market yet that will actually move data that fast.