Sourcing Parts (Panel Mount USB etc..)

[cakeman]

Hi all..

Just put myself together a new box the other day (or rather a bunch of new components into a nicely built 5+ year old ATX case I got for free) .. and it lacks any front port stuff.. My mobo has 4 or 6 internal USB's and a bunch of other bits n pieces..

Where can I source Panel mount USB ports? Preferrably in pairs or quads on some sort of carrier? Figured eBay would have something.. but it doesnt.. lots of stuff for 3.5" drive bays n the like.. but they all come with the "route the cable through your case and out the back" type connections..

thanks for any suggestions..

Brett

[Bucko]

You could buy some rear mount USB ports that go in a spare PCI Case slot when you remove a blanking plate.
Remove them from the plate and then mount them to a spare drive bay cover, or put a hole in your case somewhere for them.

Oh, and welcome to TBCS!

[Bucko]

Just found a pic.

This sort of thing:

http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/3921/techdscn025974c4b3ry4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[xmastree]

Frontx (www.frontx.com)

[jdbnsn]

These can be a handy way to add USB's to the front along with universal card reading and audio ports. I have one, but not currently using it.

http://www.soyo.com.tw/images/products/album/bayone_extreme/bayone_extreme_800.jpg

[xmastree]

I used to have a similar one, with a removable card reader. The reader never really worked right when docked, but it was fine on the end of a wire.

Strange.

Having said that, that one does look a better option than my suggestion, unless you really need lots of custom stuff in there.

[cakeman]

Bucko - Great idea.. Heck, I think I probably even have a two port or two stuffed in the "great big box of computer cables tied in a giant knot"..

Xmastree... Yeah, Ive used the FrontX system in a box or two in the past.. was thinking Id use the ports I was looking for in a custom 3.5" adaptor .. the only other 3.5" systems Id seen in the past had firewire etc.. in them and I dont need that.. Because FrontX mounts way up in the 5 1/4" bays you've got a ton of cables runnin around.

eh, Ill probably just end up doing frontx again heh.. but thought Id check my options..

thanks for the ideas.. now to go untangle that big box of computer cables..

Brett