repair - Broken front USB port
2014-07
Chris Nicholson
I have the following case, a Cooler Master Sileo 500
I had a USB dongle in one of the ports on the front which unfortunately I caught and broke the plastic bit inside. It worked on for a time until the prongs became too bent out of shape, so now it's essentially useless.
Is this fixable? I can't possibly imagine a whole new case is required just to repair the front. I'm fairly skilled with a soldering iron so assuming I could get to the PCB could I replace it myself? That's assuming I am able to get the female USB part somewhere.
ultrasawblade
Open up your case and look at it. Typically USB ports are connected to a standard 9-pin header on the motherboard, and replacements are available. So even though you damaged the front facing connectors, the motherboard should be OK and you can likely just replace the front panel.
In your case, just briefly looking, the front USB ports seem to fit in a standard 3.5" "floppy-drive" size space. Go to a computer parts site such as tigerdirect.com or newegg.com, and search for something like "3.5 USB front panel" - you'll have a lot of choices. You might want to get in touch with the manufacturer of your case if you want something that matches it exactly.
Questioner
My new mobo has USB 2 but the old case has USB 1.1 sockets. At least, that's what the software tells me. Each time I plug in my stick, I'm reminded that the device will work quicker if I use USB 2. I know some recommend a new USB PCI card but I want to connect through the casing front sockets (to the mobo). If there's a small replacement USB PCB with connectors available, I can't find it. I'm toying with the thought that it's the actual socket which announces what version will run. The Wikipedia entry for USB is too difficult for me but it does state some impedance values. I remember Impedance from school and I remember also that was my last memory before I gave up learning. Maplin sells both versions (strangely, for the same price) and they do look different. So I'm thinking of changing the socket on the board. Any ideas?
quack quixote
Here's that Wikipedia link; the interesting bit is in the Signaling section. As others have noted, there is no difference in the connectors.
Now, the problem you're having could be due to a few things; possible corrosion on the old connectors seems most likely, though cheap wiring between the case's connectors and the motherboard could be picking up interference and not allowing the USB2 handshake to succeed. If you're up for the case modding, replacing the case's front sockets and interior cabling should fix both possibilities.
The only other potential source of the problem (that I can think of) is that the front sockets may be part of a small PCB which includes a USB 1.1 controller. If that's the case you should be able to remove it without much trouble, and install USB sockets that wire directly to the motherboard.
pjemmert
ALL USB 1.1 connectors and full-speed cables are capable of connecting to, and running at, USB 2.0 specifications.
In other words, you are only limited by the USB controller physically mounted either on your motherboard, or in a peripheral slot.
So, yes, those ports on the front of your case WILL convert to USB 2.0 ports as long as they are connected to a USB 2.0 controller.
To make the best possible match, ensure that you have proper cables for your task:
full-speed cables = 12Mb/s
low-speed cable = 1.5Mb/s
I hope this helped.
Nighthawk
What sort of case do you have? Most cases that I've seen that have front USB ports connect them to the motherboard via a cable. Do you have some sort of case where the front ports are hardwired to your motherboard?
USB functionality is provided by a controller chip of some sort. There is no physical difference between USB 1.1 and 2.0 sockets that I've ever encountered.