Case and Motherboard Front USB 3.0 Compatibility

[Apoorva Kumar Srivastava]

So, I was going to build a ryzen build.
Now, this is my first time building a pc, so I was a little confused.
I am going for a Corsair Spec Alpha and the Asus Prime X370 Pro
When I checked Asus's website for front USB 3.0, I could find only one whereas my case has 2 of them, I want to fully utilize the 2 front USB 3 ports on the case So please help.

https://www.asus.com/Motherboards/PRIME-X370-PRO/specifications/

 

[harrisjb78]

It connects into one header on the board and runs both off of that.
Do you have the case? It should only be the one connector.

 

[boosted1g]

USB needs 1 header for 2 ports.
Thus the single USB 3.0 header on Asus board provides data for 2 usb 3.0 ports on your case.

 

[raisonjohn]

So, I was going to build a ryzen build.
Now, this is my first time building a pc, so I was a little confused.
I am going for a Corsair Spec Alpha and the Asus Prime X370 Pro
When I checked Asus's website for front USB 3.0, I could find only one whereas my case has 2 of them, I want to fully utilize the 2 front USB 3 ports on the case So please help.

https://www.asus.com/Motherboards/PRIME-X370-PRO/specifications/

That Asus motherboard will be able to support those 2 front USB 3.0 ports of your Spec Alpha.

From the Asus website:
"1 x USB 3.0 connector(s) support(s) additional 2 USB 3.0 port(s) (19-pin)"

The 1x USB 3.0 connector (19-pin) means an internal header found on your motherboard that looks something like this (it may be black instead of blue):

The case should have a cable that looks like this:

Notice the cable splits into two. Those are the wires connecting the 2 front USB 3.0 ports.

Just plug the cable into the 1x USB 3.0 header to power your 2x USB 3.0 ports.

 

[Apoorva Kumar Srivastava]

Thanks one more thing..
I noticed on the spec sheet of the board
AMD X370 chipset :
1 x USB 3.1 front panel connector port(s) (As 3.1 is backward compatible so it should do)
AMD X370 chipset :
4 x USB 3.0 port(s) (2 at back panel, blue, Type-A + Type-C, 2 at mid-board) (that midboard Type A should also do the trick)

 

[Apoorva Kumar Srivastava]

And which is better between Corsair Spec Alpha and Cooler Master Master Box 5?

 

[raisonjohn]

Thanks one more thing..
I noticed on the spec sheet of the board
AMD X370 chipset :
1 x USB 3.1 front panel connector port(s) (As 3.1 is backward compatible so it should do)
AMD X370 chipset :
4 x USB 3.0 port(s) (2 at back panel, blue, Type-A + Type-C, 2 at mid-board) (that midboard Type A should also do the trick)

You're welcome!

The USB3.1 header has a different pinout and not similar to the USB3.0 (19-pin) header. Though the USB3.1 and USB3.0 (as well as USB2.0) are all backward-compatible, you might have a hard time finding a USB3.1 internal header-adapter-to-USB3.0 internal header (I have yet to see one myself).

On the "4 x USB 3.0 port(s) (2 at back panel, blue, Type-A + Type-C, 2 at mid-board)", the "Type-A + Type C" pertains to the 2 back panel USB 3.0 ports which the Type A port is coded blue. The "2 at mid-board" actually pertains to the 1x USB3.0 header I've shown above (which supports 2x ports).

 

[Apoorva Kumar Srivastava]

Thanks!!!

 

[raisonjohn]

And which is better between Corsair Spec Alpha and Cooler Master Master Box 5?

Honestly, it really depends on your needs (and wants). It is hard not to be subjective when choosing between cases (especially the looks).

Objectively, you find the "better" case if such case would cater to your spatial requirements, budget, aesthetic preferences, connectivity, component mounting options, and built.

You can eliminate one or the other by checking the specs with your personal requirements: How many 2.5" SSD's will you install? How many 3.5" HDD's will you use? Do you need external 5.25" drive bays? What is your CPU Air Cooler height or what radiator size will your CPU Liquid Cooler is? What is the length of your GPU? What is the size of your motherboard? What color do you prefer your case to be? How much space do you have for the case (on your table, below your table, on a shelf, etc.)?