Question USB 3.0 Y-Splitter for motherboard in a new case ?

instawookie

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I'm looking for some feedback regarding USB 3.0 Y-splitters, seeing a lot of mixed reviews saying it works and it doesn't work. In a nutshell ordered a Tower 600 case and it has 4 front USB 3.0 I/O ports but my
Aorus Z690 Ultra motherboard only has1 USB 3.0 19/20pin connection point.

So while sifting for solutions I stumbled across some Y-Splitters but the Amazon reviews leads me to believe this isn't gonna work. Not the end of the world if I cant have two additional front USB's working as I have a hub most where most of my things are plugged into anyways. Attached are some links below of what I was looking at.

https://www.moddiy.com/products/20-...tml?revpage=11&tab=ProductReviews#ProductTabs

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CH4HYYT8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Thanks.
 

Aeacus

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Well, it does work. Albeit you will not get 5 Gbps for all 4 ports if you use them at once. At most, 2.5 Gbps per port (USB 2.0) speeds.

As of how well the adapter fits to the cables and how secure the connection is - that depends on the adapter's build quality.

That Y-splitter isn't the only option. Much better would be PCI-E to USB 3.0.
E.g this thing;
amazon: https://www.amazon.com/BEYIMEI-Expansion-Connector-Interface-Ubuntu(2X/dp/B08DFLXVJL

With this, you have the two USB 3.0 internal headers, needed for your PC case + some extra headers/ports.
 

Misgar

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Mar 2, 2023
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If you have a 3.5in front panel bay, Graugear do a range of (expensive) front panel hubs. I have one with type-A and Type-C outputs. Different options are available for 5Gbps/10Gbps/20Gbps Type-C.
https://www.amazon.com/stores/page/...tore_ref=bl_ast_dp_brandLogo_sto&ref_=ast_bln
61hmiqWx4pL._AC_CR0%2C0%2C0%2C0_SX480_SY360_.jpg

I also have a Startech 4-port hub, but I think these are obsolete now.
https://www.startech.com/en-us/usb-hubs/35bayusb3s4

35bayusb3s4.main.jpg

Of course these 3,5in adapters probably wouldn't fit in your Tower 600 case, but I have my doubts as to the quality of those Y-splitter cables, unless they contain "active" powered hubs to buffer the signals. However, they're cheap enough to take a gamble and you could return them to Amazon, etc., if not satisfied.
the Amazon reviews leads me to believe this isn't gonna work
A lot depends on what devices the reviewers were using when they posted negative reviews. Some USB 3.x peripherals are more fussy than others, especially regarding cable length.

I have several Kingston FCR-HS4 card readers, for Compact Flash, Secure Digital and microSD cards. I had problems copying files until I switched to a short 1ft (30cm) Startech USB 3.0 cable. Long USB 3.x cables (1.5ft to 3ft/ 0.5m to 1.0m) are bad news for some devices.

You also have to consider the 1ft6in (50cm) cable run inside the case from the front panel down to the motherboard, which adds extra capacitance and increases crosstalk/distortion. When things don't work on the front panel, I plug them directly into the back of the PC, thereby removing 0.5m of internal cable from the equation.
 

instawookie

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Thanks for the feedback fellas, most likely, I'll try my cables if it works it works, if not I'll send them back, more than likely I'm upgrading from the 14700k z690 combo to AMD anyways in the future just to try something new lol. Possibly a project zero style of board with the back connectors, just have a preference of that debug code reader.