[SOLVED] connecting an internal 5'25" card reader and USB 3 hub into the B450

[builder123]

Hello,

The Fractal Design Focus G (https://www.newegg.ca/black-fractal...-tower/p/N82E16811352069?Item=N82E16811352069 ) has two 5'25" bays and one USB3 header. I want to add USB3 ports and really like the idea of adding a USB3 card reader in one of the bays, such as this one:

https://www.newegg.ca/p/0DS-006V-00054

Its connectors are the following:
Internal usB 3.0 cable: 650mm (for all 4 ports?)
Internal usB 2.0 cable: 650mm (for two charging ports)
Molex power cable: 150mm (to power the reader itself)
SATA power cable: 150mm (for card reader?)

The specs for the B450 (https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/B450-TOMAHAWK/Specification) says it has 2 (Gen1, Type A) front ports. Can I assume that means I use one front port to connect the case header, and then another to connect the ports on the card reader?

 

[Barty1884]

The Molex/SATA are going to be to power the card reader AND to provide more power/charging via some of the USB ports.

With just a single 3.0 header, you're not going to be able to achieve full speed through all four ports concurrently.

Internal usB 3.0 cable: 650mm (for all 4 ports?) -- data/power all 4x USB3 ports (and potentially the card reader)
Internal usB 2.0 cable: 650mm (for two charging ports) -- data/power for the 2x USB2 ports data (and potentially the card reader)
Molex power cable: 150mm (to power the reader itself) -- supplementary power for either the reader &/or powering USB ports.
SATA power cable: 150mm (for card reader?) -- supplementary power for either the reader &/or powering USB ports.

The specs for the B450 (https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/B450-TOMAHAWK/Specification) says it has 2 (Gen1, Type A) front ports. Can I assume that means I use one front port to connect the case header, and then another to connect the ports on the card reader?

The elements to focus on are:

• 2 x USB 3.1 Gen1 (SuperSpeed USB) ports available through the internal USB 3.1 Gen1 connector
• 6 x USB 2.0 (High-speed USB) ports (2 Type-A ports on the back panel, 4 ports available through the internal USB 2.0 connectors)

So, you have 1x USB3.0 header and 2x USB2.0 headers.

If your case has existing 3.0 headers, you're going to have to make a choice between those OR the 5.25" hub.

You have sufficient 2.0 headers for the hub + case 2.0's, if you have any.

 

[builder123]

Ah, damn I see it is one connector. Thank you!

I'm having trouble picturing the system, though. Are the two ports "available" because the board comes with a cable with a connector on one end that splits into two USB female ends? So if I get a case with two USB3 header ports it would come with two short cables that would go into this double-headed end?

 

[Barty1884]

AFAIK, no boards come with cables like that (although now that I say that, there's probably one that does.)
A board has a header, looks like this for 3.0:

and 2.0:

And newer/high end boards have Type-C:

Cases, or hubs etc have the cables from the front panel.

 

[builder123]

Perfect, thank you!