HTPC Motherboard w/Onboard USB 3.0

[mightymo77]

I'm going to be building a HTPC soon. I need a motherboard that has onboard USB 3.0 so that I can connect the front USB ports of my case (I want USB 3.0 in the front, not 2.0). All the motherboards I find have USB 3.0 for the back ports, but the onboard is 2.0. Does anyone know of any models?

 

[dreamliner77]

It wouldn't matter. I've yet to see a case that has front USB 3 ports.

 

[LeeJend]

ASUS has had one since last summer and possibly ASROCK (announced in October so it should be available by now).

If the case doesn't support front USB 3 then look for a floppy or HDD bay add on that supports USB 3 connections.

Plan B would be to get a USB port extender that sits on the desk and connect it to the USB 3 in the back. That is what I do since most of my cases don't have USB up front. It's cleaner than cables hanging out the front of the PC and if you trash a connector just replace the extender.

 

[mightymo77]

It wouldn't matter. I've yet to see a case that has front USB 3 ports.

Are you joking? LanLi makes a bunch. Here's another one

 

[dreamliner77]

Well that's a first for me but I also haven't been shopping for a case recently.

Also, in just looking at a few examples, many of them use pass through cables for the front 3.0 port.

 

[mightymo77]

What does pass through cables mean?

 

[LordOfLA]

plug them in to the rear ports to feed the front ports

 

[mightymo77]

I'm going with the Silverstone case:

The front USB ports are connected by a 9-pin assembly right? Is there such thing as a cable to connect that to a normal USB (run it outside the case and plug it into the back USB port)?

LOL if not I'll just skip 3.0 :dead:

 

[Johnny]

Yeah, a pass through is usually how they do it. Just make sure the cable is long enough, there are numerous cases where it is not.

 

[mightymo77]

Can you post a link or two to one of these cables, I can't seem to find any.