PCI-E x1 Card Bracket won't align with case

[Xander314]

I just bought this USB PCI-E x1 expansion card
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Uspeed-SuperSpeed-express-power-connector/dp/B006FPU71Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1338403453&sr=8-1

When I mount it in the PCI-E x1 slot, the bracket does not line up with the back of the case. In fact it is a few millimetres too high and a few millimeters off the side of the case. I wondered if the card was simply badly designed, but I found the dimensions of another PCI-E USB controller and it was exactly the same size.

What can I do about this? Should I just try and force the card in?

 

[bucknutty]

The cards can normally lean a bit in either direction so that the screw on top of the bracket can be installed to mount it to the case.

There is a little metal slot on the mother board tray or the back of the case that the tab on mounting plate of the card slides into. Use a flash light, maybe you can see where the tab is binding. Many times the metal tab needs to be bent a touch to slide into the slot on the case. You can normally bend that tab a tiny bit with your fingers.

 

[mcnumpty23]

sometimes its the case thats out of line

and pushing on the back of the case as you put the card in will line it up to get the screw in

 

[Xander314]

Thanks for the advice. This time I took more care that the bracket slid into the slot in the case and it just about fit.

One other question - the USB ports are quite close to the top of the opening on the back of the case. Therefore it seems a significant possibility that the metal exterior of a USB plug will at some point accidentally touch the metal case. Would that matter? Is this part of the plug attached to anything inside the USB device?

 

[bucknutty]

If you have trouble plugging things in you may be able to losen the screw a tiny bit and lean the usb card a bit to make more room for the usb connectors.

All of the metal on the outside of a usb connector is attached to the ground wire. This helps to makes sure that you cant have a short or anything like that when your plugging and unplugging.

The metal on the out side is completely safe to touch with your hands or the metal case.

 

[Xander314]

If you have trouble plugging things in you may be able to losen the screw a tiny bit and lean the usb card a bit to make more room for the usb connectors.

No, they fit in okay, I was just worried about some kind of short.

All of the metal on the outside of a usb connector is attached to the ground wire.

The metal on the out side is completely safe to touch with your hands or the metal case.

That's what I was hoping to hear 😉 Thanks again for your help.