Bought the wrong casing, please recommend me some peripherals

[symbiote28]

hi all,

so i DIY my desktop a few months back and i bought the wrong casing which doesn't allow me to fit a 3.5" drive at the front.

i'm open to suggestions for best bank for buck to use the PCI-E or USB for:

1. PCI-e card for more USB 3 ports
2. Bluetooth
3. Card reader for transferring RAW files frequently from my camera to PC (Most would suggest a USB one)

appreciate all the suggestions as always from HWZ

thanks!

 

[Rashkae]

I haven't used a 3.5" drive bay in years! They're useless!

1. Most casings already have ports at the front, your motherboard also has - why do you need more?

2. Nope, if you use a wireless kb/mouse they'll have an adapter anyway

3. Lost of cheap and good ones - I recommend SanDisk or Transcend

 

[symbiote28]

I haven't used a 3.5" drive bay in years! They're useless!

1. Most casings already have ports at the front, your motherboard also has - why do you need more?

2. Nope, if you use a wireless kb/mouse they'll have an adapter anyway

3. Lost of cheap and good ones - I recommend SanDisk or Transcend

thanks for the reply!

1. front port only has 2. back ports i think about 6 but almost all used up
2. my keyboard and mouse are all using usb (Razer ones) so i might need a bluetooth for other connections
3. i should be looking at a 3.1 specs right to get the most of it?

 

[hellspawn_one]

On usb, i think you need to look for a usb 3.1 (gen 2) spec

Sent from LGE LG-H870DS using GAGT

 

[-Synchronicity-]

How many usb devices you have? 6 back ports, 2 for mouse/keyboard, maybe 1 for Bluetooth dongle. Can't think of much other stuff....

The front ports usually for your thumb drives/portable hdd/card reader etc. Basically you want easy access and they are not permanent. If permanently placed in usb, just plug the back ports.

 

[ZrE0_Cha0s]

Buy a USB hub. Plug all those devices which doesn't require high transfer rates or any transferring to it. There u have a lot of free slots.

 

[xonix]

If you are getting USB hub, I recommend to get one that at least includes USB type C just in case you need one in the future.

 

[Koenig168]

As many have suggested, a USB hub is the way to go. Just note that there is no USB 3.1 Gen 2 hub available. Those that are currently selling and claiming to be USB 3.1 Gen 2 are actually rated up to 5 gbps only.

 

[Entry Level PC]

hi all,

so i DIY my desktop a few months back and i bought the wrong casing which doesn't allow me to fit a 3.5" drive at the front.

i'm open to suggestions for best bank for buck to use the PCI-E or USB for:

1. PCI-e card for more USB 3 ports
2. Bluetooth
3. Card reader for transferring RAW files frequently from my camera to PC (Most would suggest a USB one)

appreciate all the suggestions as always from HWZ

thanks!

Just buy an external USB 3 powered hub.

Of cos downside would be the total bandwidth is limited to 5Gbps (640MBps) in total.

But you won't hit that limit unless you using 2 or more SSD through USB3.

 

[Rashkae]

thanks for the reply!

1. front port only has 2. back ports i think about 6 but almost all used up
2. my keyboard and mouse are all using usb (Razer ones) so i might need a bluetooth for other connections
3. i should be looking at a 3.1 specs right to get the most of it?

What on earth is taking up your back ports?

I can think of:
1. Mouse
2. Keyboard
3. Wireless gaming headset dongle (can use front USB also)
4. USB speakers

As for Bluetooth, generally only mouse / keyboard uses it.

 

[symbiote28]

How many usb devices you have? 6 back ports, 2 for mouse/keyboard, maybe 1 for Bluetooth dongle. Can't think of much other stuff....

The front ports usually for your thumb drives/portable hdd/card reader etc. Basically you want easy access and they are not permanent. If permanently placed in usb, just plug the back ports.

Buy a USB hub. Plug all those devices which doesn't require high transfer rates or any transferring to it. There u have a lot of free slots.

What on earth is taking up your back ports?

I can think of:
1. Mouse
2. Keyboard
3. Wireless gaming headset dongle (can use front USB also)
4. USB speakers

As for Bluetooth, generally only mouse / keyboard uses it.

here's what i'm using for my USB ports at the back:

1. USB powered speakers
2. Lightning cable for my iPad just for syncing it so i just leave it there
3. Micro-USB to charge my Gear S3
4. Keyboard
5. Mouse
6. a bluetooth dongle

for the front one, i usually connect a ext HDD and leave there so i'm left with one more port to swap between card reader or thumbdrive to transfer stuffs.

if i were to purchase a usb hub, i'm thinking of double-siding tape it to mount on the side or top of my casing for easy access. the only thing i want for a fast one would be for transferring my photos and videos.

from what i see, all my devices connected to the back don't require that much speed?

 

[ZrE0_Cha0s]

here's what i'm using for my USB ports at the back:

1. USB powered speakers
2. Lightning cable for my iPad just for syncing it so i just leave it there
3. Micro-USB to charge my Gear S3
4. Keyboard
5. Mouse
6. a bluetooth dongle

for the front one, i usually connect a ext HDD and leave there so i'm left with one more port to swap between card reader or thumbdrive to transfer stuffs.

if i were to purchase a usb hub, i'm thinking of double-siding tape it to mount on the side or top of my casing for easy access. the only thing i want for a fast one would be for transferring my photos and videos.

from what i see, all my devices connected to the back don't require that much speed?

above of that i have bold are those not required usb 3, even 2 is okay.

but for the ipad sync is like depends on u la. and how frequent u using it.

and if your casing does comes with usb 3.1 gen 2 (that will be great) den use that for your card reader. otherwise, just use your back for it.

placement for the hub is sololy under your preferences, so place it anyway as u please.

 

[symbiote28]

above of that i have bold are those not required usb 3, even 2 is okay.

but for the ipad sync is like depends on u la. and how frequent u using it.

and if your casing does comes with usb 3.1 gen 2 (that will be great) den use that for your card reader. otherwise, just use your back for it.

placement for the hub is sololy under your preferences, so place it anyway as u please.

thanks. this is my mobo specs:

my mobo has this specs:

Chipset:
2 x USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-A ports (red) on the back panel
2 x USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports (available through the internal USB header)
5 x USB 2.0/1.1 ports (1 port on the back panel, 4 ports available through the internal USB headers)

CPU:
4 x USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports on the back panel

so the usb hub just connect it to any 3.1 ports then all the ports on the hub will be of the same speed right?

 

[Entry Level PC]

so the usb hub just connect it to any 3.1 ports then all the ports on the hub will be of the same speed right?

No.
Unless it is a 3.1 HUB.
Otherwise the HUB will be capped at USB 3.0 speed.
Also, do get a POWERED HUB.
Otherwise it might not have enough power to run your external HDD.

 

[joshuaho]

Bolded and underlined. Super important.

No.
Unless it is a 3.1 HUB.
Otherwise the HUB will be capped at USB 3.0 speed.
Also, do get a POWERED HUB.
Otherwise it might not have enough power to run your external HDD.

=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•= HardwareZone Forums app

 

[symbiote28]

If i only have one ext HDD and i connect that to the back port, and the hub are mainly for other things and not another ext HDD, do i need a powered one?

No.
Unless it is a 3.1 HUB.
Otherwise the HUB will be capped at USB 3.0 speed.
Also, do get a POWERED HUB.
Otherwise it might not have enough power to run your external HDD.

Posted with HWZ app on Mate 10 HardwareZone Forums app

 

[Entry Level PC]

If i only have one ext HDD and i connect that to the back port, and the hub are mainly for other things and not another ext HDD, do i need a powered one?

Posted with HWZ app on Mate 10 HardwareZone Forums app

Just grab a powered one.
Very important.
Future Proof too.
Not that much expensive either.

 

[symbiote28]

sorry but when you guys say a powered one, meaning that it needs a dedicated power plug for dc current?

 

[ZrE0_Cha0s]

sorry but when you guys say a powered one, meaning that it needs a dedicated power plug for dc current?

yes pretty much that's its usefulness

 

[lifeishard]

TS already said he wants more usb ports...why he still need to justify he has really used up all his ports, so funny. Even if his ports are not used up, some individuals just dun like using ports that are located at the back la.

Sometimes just answer the questions posted la.