How does USB actually work?

DTX · February 7, 2020

I am a bit confused with USB2 and it's compatibility with USB3 when it comes to adapters.

I am trying to fit a motherboard with 4 USB2.0 Type A inside a case and I must be able to pass through those USBs to the exterior of the case. The problem is the USB ports are not near the IO shield area but near the middle. Basically trying to put a console mainboard inside a mid ATX case and I need to pass through the 4 USBs and HDMI to the exterior, preferably with supplemental USB power like with a powered HUB. I don't know if they are on 1, 2 or 4 separate lanes so lets assume that two are on one and the other two are on the other one as they are separate connectors. As some models only have 2 ports, it makes sense for them to make them into pairs. They are all USB HUB compatible.

Adapter1: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078LXX3MD/

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Adapter2: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07Q8TC2ZM/

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Dock1: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01IFGFTJ2/

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Card1: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0822FBHDW/

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Option A, the most basic option is to just extend the ports by using 2 of Adapter1 to pass through all 4 USB2.0 to the outside of the case but I would have do drill holes going into the outside of the case and since the original ports are under powered, I would prefer it if they got supplemental power. I am only interested in passing data through them. This would also limit me to 4 USB ports, so I would prefer Option B.

Option B would be to use the 4 USD2.0 ports to connect 7-9 USB ports running at 2.0 speed. There is a version of Adapter2 with only 5 pins or 9 pins with only 5 wired but this version has all 9 pins active and allows me to pass through 2 USB port connections with 1 male header. My understanding is that if I have a case with 2 front USB2.0 ports, they would be transferred on the same USB2 Header cable using all 9 pins. I assume USB3 should be able to carry at least two ports on the same USB3 Header for cases with 2 front USB 3.0 ports. If I buy the MX330 I get two USB3 and two USB2.0 where all 9 pins are active, if I get the MX330-X for the metal panel, I only get 1 of each. Either way there are 2 Header cables coming from the front panel, USB2 and USB3 Headers. If I have the MX330 case, the USB2 header cable would have 9 active pins and I would be able to pass those to my 2 internal USB ports separately if I understand correctly by using Adapter2. I plan to use Card1 in the back. The SATA port on the inside is just for Power which I prefer to avoid drawing power from my internal USB ports, it has 5 USB3 ports in the back and the internal 19 pin header is actually an input so I can plug my front panel 19 pin USB3 Header in there. I will connect the front panel USB3 Header by using a USB3 to USB2.0 Header adapter(Not sure if both ports still work in this case if I start with 2). Card1 comes with a male USB3 to 19 pin female USB3 Header that is supposed to get plugged into the inside USB3.0 port and the motherboard. If I use a USB3 to USB2.0 Header adapter here, I'm not sure if I lose some or all of the ports.

The plan is to use Adapter2 to connect Card1 to two of my USB ports. I would grab the 19 pins coming out of the card, reduce them to 9 pins with an adapter and use Adapter2 to plug it into 2 USB ports. This should pass the 5 back USB ports to two internal USB ports?

For the front panel, I would plug the 9 pin USB2.0 Header and the 19 pin USB3 Header (Adapted to 9 pins) into Dock1. Then connect Dock1 to Adapter2 coming off the other two USB ports to complete the connection to the internal USB ports. Dock1 would provide supplemental power to anything plugged in upstream from it so my front USB ports should now be powered by the PSU. If I plug them in right, I should be passing the two USB3 front ports to 1 of the internal ports and the two USB2.0 ports to the other internal port since I assume the cable coming out of Dock1 will use all 9 pins for more bandwidth?

There are many sketchy reviews about Dock1 short circuiting and breaking the USBs. My setup definitely doesn't help. Would Dock2 be a better alternative? Would Adapter3 be of any use as an addition or replacement anywhere? Anyone know a more elegant way to pass through the HDMI other than making a hole and sticking Adapter4 through it? Anyone know where I can find solid black back I/O covers? I need to close the hole where the Shield goes. Will gluing many of Sink1 to a hot metal plate help dissipate heat faster, given adequate airflow?

Adapter3: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07KK8HP5P/

Dock2: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07QS5S1DV/

Adapter4: https://www.amazon.com/BATIGE-Extension-Motorcycle-Dashboard-Mounting/dp/B01LX1FQPE/

Sink1:https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07DGWPVST/