How to use the USB 3.0 midboard header?

[sbab123]

Hi guys,

I am currently building a PC and I have been looking at a couple of motherboards. One of them is the ASUS B85M-G. I downloaded the instruction manual from the internet and found in the specs that there are "4 x USB 3.0 ports (2 ports at midboard, 2 ports at back panel)".

From the specs, I was expecting two USB 3.0 headers midboard. However, when I looked at the motherboard layout from the manual, I can see that there is only one USB 3.0 header midboard.

I am guessing that one can use some sort of connection to split this one USB 3.0 header midboard to convert it to two USB 3.0 ports. I have 2 questions regarding this:

1) Can I connect the USB 3.0 header midboard directly to only one USB 3.0 cable connector available from the front panel of a PC case. i.e to get only one USB 3.0 port? The casing has only one USB 3.0 port anyway.

2) Which device should I use if I want to connect the USB 3.0 header midboard such that I get two USB 3.0 ports from it in the front panel of a PC case?

Any inputs would be really appreciated.

Regards

 

[13thmonkey]

1 header feeds two ports at the front, the split is in the cable.

 

[SkyNetRising]

1 USB3 connector on mainboard gives 2 USB3 ports.

 

[sbab123]

TBH, I do not need two USB 3.0 ports in the front of my PC case....Only one is enough in front! There are already two USB 3.0 at the back... I just wanted to know which device should I use to make this possible....

If the USB 3.0 cable connector of the PC case has only one USB 3.0 port (my PC case already has one USB 3.0), can I connect the USB 3.0 header midboard from the motherbord directly to this type of USB 3.0 cable connector?

 

[SkyNetRising]

What is brand/model name of your case?

 

[sbab123]

Cooler Master Force 500:
http://www.coolermaster.com/case/mid-tower/cm-force-500/

 

[SkyNetRising]

Front panel of your case looses one USB3 port somehow.
You'd need something like that adapter in the picture to get both USB3 ports.

 

[sbab123]

What do you mean by "Front panel of your case looses one USB3 port"?

If you mean that I will not be able to use the two USB 3.0 which the motherboard can provide, then fine, because I need only one USB 3.0 in front.....

If I connect the USB 3.0 cable from the PC case, to the motherboard USB 3.0 header, is it ok?

 

[13thmonkey]

if the socket fits you'll be ok. if you only have 1 USb port up front, and you plug that cable into the header, it'll work.

 

[sbab123]

Thanks!