Replacement Internal USB "Cable"

[DraconisMaximus]

I'm in the same boat @bulkchart32 was in this post https://linustechtips.com/topic/1625976-help-finding-parts-for-my-old-cooler-master-stormtrooper-2-case/ with an old Cooler Master Storm Trooper case with a damaged USB 3 port.

 

I managed to safely remove the "cable" and it definitely seems to be non standard.

 

 

 

 

I'm not opposed to using using an aftermarket cable and just gluing it or making my own fastener but the design of the original cable gives me pause. It screws into a plastic armature to make it fit at the top of the case an then has these secondary ground wires that screw into the metal body of the main case. They even added standard green ground marks to them.

 

I have not found any aftermarket cables with a similar design. Is it necessary or normal for USB ports to be grounded to the case? Do you think it is safe to use an ungrounded replacement?

 

Also, as a side question, is there a proper name for this type of cable as I think that may aid in my search for parts.

[jaslion]

47 minutes ago, DraconisMaximus said:

Is it necessary or normal for USB ports to be grounded to the case? D

This is more a overengineering thing than anything else haha. The storm is old and this was probably a marketing feature like "Grounded usb for the most stable connection" or some shit.

 

Just get a half decent usb whatever to usb a female port, glue it in or whatever and call it good.

[OddOod]

The outer shell of a USB plug should be a direct path to ground. 
That looks like a standard female-female cable with a silly mod.
Jalison is correct, any replacement should do. 
I'm mostly curious what it connects.

[jaslion]

6 minutes ago, OddOod said:

The outer shell of a USB plug should be a direct path to ground. 
That looks like a standard female-female cable with a silly mod.
Jalison is correct, any replacement should do. 
I'm mostly curious what it connects.

Should just be the normal front panel cables that go to board but they are connected by ground togheter

[OddOod]

4 minutes ago, jaslion said:

Should just be the normal front panel cables that go to board but they are connected by ground togheter

That's wild. The entire case should be third pin ground via PSU

[jaslion]

Just now, OddOod said:

That's wild. The entire case should be third pin ground via PSU

Pretty tame really for these older high end cases. Antecs og nine hundres had potentiometers for all of its 3 pin fans as well as optional extra ground connectors for each hdd case. Why? Who knows!

 

Or other wacky stuff like my zalman z9 using the case for ground of its molex fans  also had a fan controller for its molex fan for some reason

[DraconisMaximus]

On 4/21/2026 at 7:38 AM, OddOod said:

The outer shell of a USB plug should be a direct path to ground. 

That's what I thought. Thanks for confirming.

 

In a normal case that would probably be the end of it. This is not a normal case though.

 

The ground wires connect to screws on the metal frame of the case. The mount that the ports attach to (screw into) is entirely plastic so it doesn't provide grounding like in a normal setup. I guess instead of extending the metal frame slightly to encase the I/O the decided it was a better option to have custom cables made with a secondary grounding wire.

I'll probably just add aftermarket grounding leads to the fasteners on the aftermarket cable and attach them to the original grounding points.
 

I think if I say "ground" a few more times I win a prize so here goes: Ground! Ground! Ground! Ground! Ground!

[OddOod]

6 hours ago, DraconisMaximus said:

is entirely plastic so it doesn't provide grounding like in a normal setup

What does the other end plug into? Because if it's a USB male head, that should also ground through the hood.

[DraconisMaximus]

On 4/23/2026 at 7:57 AM, OddOod said:

What does the other end plug into? Because if it's a USB male head, that should also ground through the hood.

I'm not sure what you mean here. It plugs into the motherboard like any other case USB.

[OddOod]

On 4/24/2026 at 6:42 PM, DraconisMaximus said:

I'm not sure what you mean here. It plugs into the motherboard like any other case USB.

I'm used to exposed pins so I.... wait! OH!
I thought you were showing a pic of both ends of a single cable, but this is just a squid, isn't it? The other end has a normal mobo USB plug doesn't it?