Broken USB Slot on Motherboard, do I need to replace if I don't need it.

[Judon]

Hello I was putting everything together for my first pc build ever and I figured out that I most likely bent or broke off a few pieces to the big usb 3.0 slot on my motherboard. I also have a usb 3.0 plug from the case itself, I was wondering since I don't actually need usb 3.0 if this will negatively affect any other experience on the computer or case. The case comes with certain audio, restart, and led light wires, plus a fan wire, will usb 3.0 on my motherboard affect that if it is broken? I'm guessing no, but I just want to make sure, it is a bummer because I would like everything to be perfect, but since I have never used usb 3.0 before and don't plan to now I just want to know if it is vital for me to replace motherboard?

This may seem like a silly question, but this was my first time and I didn't realize how delicate I had to be with some things.

 

[bootcher]

It will not matter for the rest of the system if the port goes unused, as long as its bent/broken pins do not make contact with any other metal part of the motherboard, which could cause a short circuit. If it is a new motherboard you can try to RMA, but you'll have to wait for them to return it to you, or they might not accept it.

 

[JackNaylorPE]

You don't need USB 3 for mice, KBs, phone chargers etc.... but using external HDs, USB sticks on USB 2 is excrutiatigly slow

 

[jsmithepa]

Don't worry about it. Think of storage, hard drive, memory etc. Do you know on every such device there are always some BAD BITS? Think about it. a GIGA-bytes is actually a very large number, it's almost impossible to have every single bit in working order, so they have built-in mechanisms to mark those bits as bad and the system knows not to use them, it all happens behind your back so to speak. So, our PC are already imperfect as they are.

 

[JackNaylorPE]

A HD is still usable with a few damaged sectors....if you lose all your front case ports is quite inconvenient .... when using USB Thumb drives, external HDs, headphones, Microphones, etc that may not be connected 24/7/365.

I would suggest buying a USB 3.0 Hub, plugging it on on the back of the machine and rubberbanding it to your monitor stand so it is more easily accessed. Losing ports might not matter depending upon how many things you have to plug in; asterisked items benefit from USB3

Mouse
Keyboard
Headmouse
Joystick (A-10 Thustmaster Flight System)
Thruster (A-10 Thustmaster Flight System)
Printer
BlacX HD Docking Station *
Thumbdrive *
Headphones
Thumb Drive*
Phone *
Camera *
Fan Controller

 

[Judon]

Hello everyone, thanks for all the help and suggestions. I will add that I will probably come back in a few days and update once I get the rest of my parts which will complete my computer. Basically I used a bobby pin which I don't know if that would damage the computer or not so I can't suggest that to others, but I used a bobby pin to straighten out the bent usb 3.0 pins and it worked, but in a couple of days after installing the rest of the parts I have coming I will tell you guys if it works just for the people out there that might be needing help with this problem in the future.

Once again thanks for all the answers.


UPDATE: Everything seems to work, I am actually typing from my new computer, I haven't used the usb 3 port yet, but lets just say the bobby pins for sure straightened the broken pins and the computer works just fine.