Front Panel USB accessory

[SickBoy]

Hey everyone,

I am looking for a front panel USB thingy (don't know the technical term) that would fit in a 5 1/4" bay or even a 3 1/2" bay.

I have seen several models of such a device around except I have one issue with them - they use a clodgy loopback cable setup that occupies the back USB ports. I don't want that. I want a setup that will plug in to my additional USB headers on the motherboard, so that I don't lose the rear USB ports. This is critical since I use a USB Keyboard and mouse - those kind of things don't belong in a front USB port. I want the front ports for my digital camera and for game pads....

Preferably I'd also like something that would have audio connectors as well, or a temp sensor or some other type of gadgetry, but the USB thing is no-compromise - it needs to work as I have just described.

Any recommendations? Links would be great if ya got 'em....

sb

[Wa11y]

Thus far, I have yet to find any that don't use the cable to loop around. I just bought one, and hacked the cable to fit onto the mobo headers. Works just fine for me.

[Penguin4x4]

There are numerous products. Chieftec's 5.25 and 3.5 covers and bays (http://www.chieftec.com/products/USB/usb.htm), Soyo's Sigma Box (http://www.soyousa.com/products/select.php?producttype=Sigma%20Box), and ABIT's Media XP (http://www.abit.com.tw/abitweb/webjsp/english/pt_main_back.jsp?pPRODUCT_TYPE=Others&pMODEL_NAME=Media+XP)
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[macklin01]

I use Antec's EasyUSB and am very happy with it. It uses the mobo headers and also provides space for a hdd mounting (or fanbus mounting. (http://www.math.umn.edu/~macklin/fanbus/) :)

Lately, I've seen teh part for sale at Best Buy.

Here's the [http://www.bestbuy.com/Detail.asp?m=488&cat=552&scat=&e=11082224]link[/URL]

Here are the specs at antec: specs (http://www.antec-inc.com/easyusb.html)

Hope this helps! -- Paul

[SickBoy]

I've seen that Antec unit.... it really doesn't tickle my fancy too much. It's simple, and I'll nab it if it's all I can find.

Hey Penguin4x4, are those Abit and Soyo units motherboard specific? I will be getting 2 of these type of things, one will be going in a box with a KT7A raid and one in my MSI K7D Master box. That Soyo looks cool... it'd be nice to have a built in compactflash reader, if it works with my mobo.

sb

[Penguin4x4]

Universal
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[SickBoy]

Originally posted by Penguin4x4
Universal

You sure? I am guessing that the Soyo unit with the CF reader is spendy... I don't want to blow my $$$ on something that would be useless to me... (and/or I'd have to return it later and pay a restocking fee)

If anyone is using the Soyo unit with the CF reader on a non-Soyo board could they post? (same goes for that Abit unit I s'pose...)

[Penguin4x4]

The card readers run of USB header. A USB Header is a USB Header.
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[Silversinksam]

I opted to not use a 5.25 slot and instead decided on a Monitor USB extension.....they are pretty cool provided you can find one for your monitor

I bought this one (http://www.monitoroutlet.com/976750.html)

[Xaotic]

One thing to be careful about is the power level offerred on the motherboard headers. There are both high and low powered outputs. Typically the rear mounted plugs are the high power outlets, while the other plugs will be low power. We have some new USB 2.0 HDD enclosures running laptop drives and the front mounted plugs do not have enough power to run the drive.

[JDXNC]

I used an asus USB board which sits in one of your expantion slots on the rear... I simply removed the braket from it... made a nice little hole near the bottom on the front of my case and mounted it there. It was pretty easy and it barely visible but VERY handy. These things can be found on ebay for $5 + shipping, I've bought 2 so far.