Question How do I use both ports on a motherboard USB 3.0 header?

[slewin7]

I am currently planning on building a computer. On the motherboard I have been looking at the specifications list that it has one USB 3.0 header which has two USB 3.0 ports; this two ports per header seems to be the same for all motherboards. I am pretty sure with USB 2.0 you can fit two cords into the same USB 2.0 header, but all the 3.0 cords I have seen seem to use all the 19 pins.

I would like to find out how to use both the ports on the USB 3.0 header. I do not know if I need a cable to split or if I am misunderstanding something. I plan on using the USB 3.0 for both the case 3.0 port as well as a front add-on for SD cards and require two USB 3.0 ports. Thank you for your help.

 

[Traditore]

If your case has 2 front usb 3.0 ports - there you have your 1 motherboard header split into 2 ports and that's it for you. Even if case got 1 port, you can't use only one spare port capacity for an add-on card.

You will need an extra PCI-e to USB 3.0 adapter for your add-on card.

 

[slewin7]

Thank you. The case I will be using includes only one USB 3 on the case; the other is USB 2. I know I can get a cable that splits the USB 3 header into two ports. I think that is what I need to use.

 

[JBHapgood]

Thank you. The case I will be using includes only one USB 3 on the case; the other is USB 2. I know I can get a cable that splits the USB 3 header into two ports. I think that is what I need to use.

A cable to connect the front ports usually comes with the case. What sort of cables does your case have?

 

[slewin7]

The case I currently have only contains one USB 3 port. The included cable only fits one port.