Can a single USB 3.0 header be connected to two USB 2.0 headers?
Can a single USB 3.0 header be connected to two USB 2.0 headers?
I recently chose to combine my regular hardware into an HTPC / NAS in order to get the best performance from my gaming setup, but have been dealing with a frustrating issue over the past two weeks.
The 2U case allows horizontal mounting of the GPU and capture card I own. However, it doesn’t work with a USB 2.0 header connected. The capture card is actually sitting on the PCIe slot next to the header, and the RGB monitor I intend to use requires a USB 2.0 header.
Many 90-degree adapters and cables have failed to resolve this problem. Using riser cables isn’t an option since they block the path.
I looked into a M.2 to USB header adapter, but can’t find one that doesn’t need an existing USB port. I also found out that the case listing says its front USB 3.0 ports are compatible with USB 2.0.
The pinout diagrams suggest that two 4-pin connectors could fit into a 9-pin slot. Could it be possible to modify the 20-pin 3.0 header so it works with dual 4-pin or 9-pin 2.0 headers, keeping the front USB ports intact?
It’s not an absolute no-go if I can’t find a perfect fit, but I’d rather avoid it. I’m currently using a wireless USB keyboard/mouse and prefer not to rely on an extension cable from a rear port. A functional pass-through is acceptable as long as it works, though the case presents a tight challenge with limited room for cable organization.
So is it possible to adapt the 20-pin 3.0 header (which will clear) to dual 4-pin or 9-pin 2.0 headers so that the front USB ports can be retained?
You might want to stick to one header on your board splitting to 2 physical ports. Anything beyond that and you're running into stability issues or going beyond spec of the header.
You've written up a lot in your thread's body but you've forgotten to mention the specs to your build. Please list them like so:
CPU:
CPU cooler:
Motherboard:
Ram:
SSD/HDD:
GPU:
PSU:
Chassis:
Here are the details you provided, reformulated for clarity:
The system specifications include a CPU model R5 3600X, a cooling solution ID-COOLING IS-55, a motherboard from Gigabyte B550 Aorus Master, RAM of Patriot Viper Blackout 4 PVS432G320C6K (16x2 DDR4-3200), an SSD/HDD setup with WD Blue SN570 (500GB / 1TB), WD Black HDDs (4TB / 8TB), and Crucial MX500 (2TB), plus a Pioneer BDR212-DBK Blu-Ray drive. The GPU is an Asus Tuf Gaming GTX1650 Super with 4GB OC. Video capture uses ElGato 4K60-Plus MK2 PCIe, and the power supply is a Channel Well Technology GPT500S-A. The chassis is a RackChoice 2U with an unknown model number. RGB lighting and controller are Corsair LS100 / Lighting Node Pro. You mentioned wanting to connect the Corsair Lighting Node Pro with front-panel 3.0 ports, possibly consolidating them, though limiting usage to keyboard and mouse. You also considered adapting a USB 3.0 cable extender for better GPU fan management, possibly using a USB 2.0 to 20-pin adapter, but noted that no such adapter was readily available. You ordered these components in the hope of a quick solution, possibly using a USB 3.0 cable extender to free up space on the motherboard header for the GPU fans, allowing inline installation. You also listed two potential adapters: a USB 3.0 20-Pin Female to Dual 9-pin Male USB 2.0 Header Port Replicator and a USB 2.0 9-Pin Female to 20-pin Male USB 3.0 Adapter.
UPDATE: 20-pin female header to dual 9-pin male USB 2.0 adapter arrived today. Machine is up and running after a bit of a fight with a BIOS version issue.
Thermals look decent considering. 3600X idles around 35-40C, GTX1650S idles about 32-34C. Cranked up BeamNG.drive with about 6 total vehicles on high detail, 3600X peaked around 70, GTX1650S peaked around 75C.
Considering this same 3600X peaked around 60C with a Mugen 5S in a Corsair 4000X, VERY not bad for four 80mms in a 2U case. No prior thermals for the GTX1650S though.
Will have to wait for the other adapter to arrive tomorrow to determine whether I can make my front USB ports work.
And once the second adapter is installed, I'm now utilizing my front USB ports, even though they are restricted to 2.0. These adapters provide a viable option for anyone planning a 2U configuration. Since in such compact setups accessing certain USB headers directly may be challenging, this setup offers a practical workaround.