USB Ports for the Front a System

[thegreatjeff]

I'm building a computer and wanted to know if there's anyway I can get something to put on the front (like in a drive bay) that will let me connect USB stuff to it. My mobo supports this and I have plenty of open drive bays. I think I saw one of these a while back but I can't find it any more...help someone?

 

[mlumz]

I think you can get a usb port and maybe a housing kit to fit on a spare floppy bay on your front cover. I'm not exactly sure about this, but i was also thinking about tryting to get one on the front of my computer. You may want to check out local computer stores (not best buy but one that builds computers) and see if they have or know any info about this.

 

[jfall]

I know there is some type of a bracket that is sold to do what your talking about.. I think they were like 20-30+ dollars though. Sorry, I don't have a link to one though. I can't see it being that hard to make one, you may want to give that a try first

 

[lonewolfz28]

There is a panel like you descibe made by Asus called the ipanel. Saw it on a web site but they said the USB port model wouldn't be out until this month. Don't remember which site it was, went through a lot of them that night. Sorry. You might want to try the Asus site and see if they have a listing, though.

 

[Rand]

The IPanel does quite a bit more than merely allows USB devices to connet through it. It also read the system temperature among other things. A rather nice addition IMHO. I tonly works with Asus MB's though, and only the newer Asus boards.

 

[lonewolfz28]

Ah, didn't catch the "only works on Asus boards" when I was skimming through. Need to be more careful. I had wanted to get one eventually. Takin' it off the wishlist .

 

[lonewolfz28]

Found another setup for front USB. Expensive though $88.00. Look here

Cheaper $58.00 Here

or there's a 5 port pretty much same thing on this page here

 

[LostBoy]

These work pretty well and the price isn't to bad.

http://www.cablesnmor.com/internal-usb-hub.html

http://www.thetechzone.com/reviews/usb/2004f/

 

[MichaelD]

Oh yeah! Fabrication; my forte! How pretty this ends up looking is entirely up to you and your patience and skills. Hopefully you have a soldering iron/gun, some shrink tubing, and at least a hand-held drill/screw gun.

1. You said your mobo supports an additional USB header, so that's problem #1 out of the way.

2. You'll need to measure the distance from the USB expansion header on the mobo to the bay that you're going to use for your front-panel USB hookup. You'll need to lengthen the wire appropriately. Oh yeah, first, you need the USB jobbie! See step #2.

2. You will need to purchase the additional header w/the two USB ports that would normally go into a PCI slot (they dont actually plug into the slot, the just sit in the bay, screwed to the case like a card) Where youd get this I dunno. But one came w/my Abit KT7-RAID mobo, so I know they are out there.

3. Take one of the 5.25 bay plastic covers that cover up the bay if it's unoccupied. Cut out a neat hole to fit the USB expansion jobbie.

4. You will need to rig it so that the USB thingee can be sturdily affixed to the bay cover. This will probably involve drilling two small holes in both the cover and the little USB thingee.

5. Two small bolts/washers/screws should be used to bolt the two pieces together. Bolt the USB jobbie to the panel. Snap panel into expansion bay. Plug header into mobo. Viola! Instant front-panel USB access!

Truthfully, my mobo supports this as well, and as we speak, I'm using the USB header on the rear panel. It's a pain in the butt to have to pull the pc out of my computer desk to hook/unhook stuff. I my take my own advice. Thanks for the idea, man!

 

[thegreatjeff]

Sorry guys, but...
I kinda wanted one that I didn't have to solder etc...I like good looks. Also I wanted one that was all internal--no USB cord coming out the back. Sorry, guess I'll just have to keep looking.

 

[chuckieland]

ipanel look cool

 

[MrDudeMan]

ask mike warrior...he knows how to do this stuff

 

[GT2k]

There will be a upgrade for the $20 FrontX MM Ports that gives you front USB. The upgrade will be out in March costing $8.50, the FrontX itself maps all your sound ports in front, takes up a 5 1/2 drive bay, and costs only $20 at http://www.highspeedpc.com
The FrontX website is at www.frontx.com

 

[j24u]

Too bad you bought your case. Monarch Computer has a Mid Tower ATX w/ 300 PS and USB, Sound and Joystick ports on front of face plate.
Click on components in upper left of their home page - click on Cases - part #'s 1000015 and 1000017 - not bad for $48 - except that the PS in not Athlon approved

 

[thegreatjeff]

Actually I haven't got a case yet...was thinking about buying this one. I'll check into that though...thanx!

 

[WAZ]

Dammit, MichaelD, you beat me to it!

I was going to do that exact same thing for myself, using the slot headers that came with my KT7-RAID. If you're still planning on doing it, here's an idea that you may want to consider while doing it...

In addition to cutting holes in the plastic bay cover for the USB header, I'm also going to drill four 1/4" holes... one for each of my SB Live inputs (front and rear speakers, line in, and mic). Then I'm taking speaker extension wires and attaching them to the back of the bay cover so the connectors line up with the holes (same way as with the USB). Then I'll take the wires along the bottom of my case and out the bottom PCI slot opening, and plug them in to the soundcard inputs there. Then, all in one bay, I'll have 2 USB inputs and all of my sound inputs (which is great for me, since I interchange speakers and headphones all the time).

I know this is like the FrontX, and for some people it may be less expensive to just buy that. But for me, I already have the USB header, the plastic bay cover, and 2 of the 4 speaker extension wires that I'll need (the other two will be about $2 each). So instead of paying $25 for the FrontX and another $10 when the USB add-ons are released, I'll be able to build the same thing for about $4.

Just a little something for MichaelD (and anyone else out there interested in frontal inputs)!

WAZ

 

[johnjk]

bump, I'm looking too.

 

[Quad]

yea dudes, i agree with Mr.DudeMan if u want the best advice, ask mikewarrior. i saw the pics of his case and he did something just like u want. except he ran a usb extension cable from the back of his comp (from one of the two existing ports in the back) and brought it through the comp to the front. then drilled a flat opening in one of the existing bay plates. then put the usb extention through the bay plate and sealed it there. voila, now u got a usb port on the front. all this requires is probably a plain old drill and some glue. but pm and look at it yurself. he's got a whole guide on how to do this particular project.

have fun
quad