Case with 1x20GB Type C; 2x5GB Type A; 2xUSB2.0 Type A on Front Panel?

[MnsoonMally]

Potentially looking at buying the MSI Z890 Ace motherboard, so am looking to ID a decent case that supports the USB connectivity on the Front Panel.

This is 1 x 20GB Type C; 2 x 5GB Type A; 2 x USB2.0 Type A.

Motherboard is ATX, though I'm not against a Case that also supports E-ATX.

Anyone else have the same configuration requirements, that can recommend such a case? I'd really rather connect all that is available, as I have several USB items to connect.

 

[Toothless]

Only case that comes to mind are the massive Phanteks cases that support two systems. Why not just use a PCI slot header that connects straight to the board?

 

[MnsoonMally]

Yes, I'm going to have to look at options, but would prefer something native.

A lot of the Cases I see support a single Type-C and a single Type-A. I've asked co-pilot to recommend mid-Tower, but don't get the answers I want.

Probably an idea I check out a list of the 'top-10' Cases of 2024 on Google or something, and see what options there are out there, as well as look on here if anyone had/has the same config issue.

My old CoolerMaster Cosmos full Tower from 14 years ago has about 10 USB ports on the front, all Type-A and from back in the day....but can't recycle this as a different PSU is needed for modern motherboards.

 

[kapone32]

Good luck Case manufacturers do not like to list the Specs of their USB C front ports.

 

[Vario]

You can use a PCI slot adapter that runs to your case headers.

Or get a case with 5.25 bays and get the analogous bay adapters.

 

[bonehead123]

Not many cases out there that have 4x USB-A ports (of any spec) + a C-type on the front I/O...

Also, when looking at USB ports, you have to consider what you want/need from them, in terms of power & bandwidth...as the older Gen 2/early Gen 3 ports aren't suitable for charging or transferring large amounts of data to/from today's high-powered devices, and some of that will depend on the mobo connectors too, but I would imagine a Z890 series would have the higher-capacity one as shown in that 3rd pic above

 

[LabRat 891]

Any front-bay or modded-in USB-C female w/ a 'Type-E' for the mobo on the other end 'should' support the maximum speed the mobo header supplies.

I have a 5.25 bay device that *nearly* meets your needs. This style, would fit precisely:

USB 3.1 Front Panel for Desktop 5.25" ROM Bay USB3.0/3.1 19Pin USB2.0 | eBay

Product use: With the popularity of USB3.0, more and more motherboards have a USB3.0 19pin, not have a front USB3.0 port, you can use this panel, as long as through the panel A 19PIN, 9pin and TypeE is into the mainboard, which to 2Port USB3.0, 2 Port USB2.0 and USB3.1 TypeC and is installed in.

www.ebay.com

(at which point, you'd just need to pick out a 5.25 bay-supporting case, to your liking)

 

[MnsoonMally]

Yes, I'm looking for the C-Type to be able to charge things, placed on top of my case/desk, so front-panel access is needed.

I'd also like the option of all 4 USB ports at the front, too.

This motherboard has plenty of USB connections at the rear, for most items, but I want easy access too, at the front.

 

[Ferrum Master]

You simply cannot have due to signal integrity. It will not happen, no charging either. PD 25W+ through two additional headers and poor quality cable? It is a fire hazard.

Short traces from the controller leaves it only viable to have at the back as the only reasonable choice. It is mother nature and laws of physics. It is a design choice and case manufacturers have engineers thinking the same, the only ones that will not care are China makers, they will make anything for you, they don't care if it works, same applies for those extension bays.

 

[MnsoonMally]

I'm not sure of the point you're trying to make. You seem to have gone off at quite some tangent......

There are numerous cases, from lots of different manufacturers (from everywhere), that support the Type-C port that I want - for charging devices, both from the front and back panels.

The MSI Z890 Ace supports 1 x 20GB via the front-panel.

My point is.....I want this, AND, support for 4 other 'standard' USB at 5GB and USB2.0, too.

There are cases that do both of what I want, but I'm looking for the best choices.........many seem to offer 1 x Type C and 1 x Type A, as if that was all the consumer may want. I'd like a few more lower speed ones, too.

 

[Ferrum Master]

If you look at the connector, it looks the same, but it carries different type of generations. The latest high speed ones ie 5GHz is a no go i nreality. People will try to use for things it does not, especially regards to charging devices, 5V is already a joke for that and you put more loss into it.

You are free to read up about USB3 signal integrity and throttling mechanisms that will cripple the device performance upon bad signaling. The other thing using this you create a antenna that does cause interference with wifi devices or vice versa and even interacting with each other, what's more important to you.

What I am trying to tell you here, it is a design choice based not only on the looks and as a coincidence all major case makers have made the same conclusions it is an engineering choice.

You are telling few exceptions, like some ROG case, they have incorporated a dedicated charging circuitry there, basically making it at the price of the case itself, there is now way around it. Add a sum of 60W PD charger there, for all 3 people that does want it there. That's not an extension bracket anymore.

 

[MnsoonMally]

I think we're talking at cross purposes.

I'm looking for a case that supports my requirement, for which numerous exist. I'm looking to ID the better ones.

I'm 56 years old, have spend 40 years of it in technology, some 9 of it working on Radar......so I know a lot about signals, power, etc etc.

Getting 5 USB ports onto a front-panel? Is not a technical issue. Ask yourself, if it was, why would double that (or more), be an issue, for the back panel??

Would you like to recommend to me, a Case, that meets my requirements?

 

[_roman_]

Maybe a start for joo

This is a german site where shops pay to be listed for various goods.

A quick and dirty reply. I think they have polish and united kingdom website too. (skinflint.co.uk)

Gehäuse PC-Gehäuse mit USB-A: ab 6x Preisvergleich Geizhals Österreich

Preisvergleich und Bewertungen für Gehäuse PC-Gehäuse mit USB-A: ab 6x

geizhals.at

May I ask to check it out yourself, in that area:

Anschlüsse Front -> fronside connectors

Anschlüsse Front:	Anschlüsse Front überspringenUSB-C(126) USB-A(267) USB 3.2(27) USB 3.1(85) USB 3.0(264) USB-C 3.1(85) USB-C 3.0(14) USB-A 3.0(264) USB-C 2.0(3) USB-A 2.0(199) eSATA(1) 3.5mm Klinke (Line-Out, Kopfhörer)(222) 3.5mm Klinke (Line-In, Mikrofon)(223) 3.5mm Klinke (Line-In/Out, Mikrofon/Kopfhörer)(36) HDMI(2)
	20-Pin Key-A-Header (USB-C):	20-Pin Key-A-Header (USB-C) überspringen1x(92) 2x(45) USB-C 3.0 (5Gb/s)(1) USB-C 3.1 (10Gb/s)(71) USB-C 3.2 (20Gb/s)(24) Schnellladefunktion 60W(3)
	USB 3.2:	USB 3.2 überspringenunter 1x(240) ab 1x(27)
	USB 3.1:	USB 3.1 überspringenunter 1x(182) ab 1x(85) ab 2x(4)
	USB 3.0:	USB 3.0 überspringenunter 1x(3) ab 2x(264) ab 3x(81) ab 4x(71) ab 5x(4)
	USB 2.0:	USB 2.0 überspringenunter 1x(68) ab 2x(199) ab 3x(6) ab 4x(3)
	USB-C:	USB-C überspringenunter 1x(141) ab 1x(126) ab 2x(7)
	USB-A:	USB-A überspringenab 4x(267) ab 6x(3) Alle

 

[MnsoonMally]

Thanks Roman - I'll give it a look.

 

[TheLostSwede]

Yes, I'm looking for the C-Type to be able to charge things, placed on top of my case/desk, so front-panel access is needed.

Not all motherboards support that and not all motherboards have a 20 Gbps front USB Type-C header.
I haven't seen any motherboards that deliver more than 60 W (mainly Asus), some do 30 W and most appear to do 15-17 W.
As such, you would be able to charge a phone or a tablet, but nothing more powerful than that.

Also note that 20 Gbps USB has a max cable length of 1 metre, which means the part from the motherboard to the connector on the case has to be taken into account when it comes to the length of cables you can use if you want to plug in external devices other than USB flash drives with the expectation of getting 20 Gbps speeds.

 

[MnsoonMally]

Not all motherboards support that and not all motherboards have a 20 Gbps front USB Type-C header.
I haven't seen any motherboards that deliver more than 60 W (mainly Asus), some do 30 W and most appear to do 15-17 W.
As such, you would be able to charge a phone or a tablet, but nothing more powerful than that.

So are you able to recommend me a Case?

 

[TheLostSwede]

So are you able to recommend me a Case?

Not with your requirements, no, as I can't say I have seen such a combination of ports. Most have one Type-C and two Type-A ports.
Also note the part about cable lengths I added above, so you don't get disappointed that your devices don't work at 20 Gbps.

This one has four USB 3.0 ports and one Type-C, but the latter is only 10 Gbps, like most cases. It's about as close as you'll get.

DARK BASE PRO 901 | Black silent high-end PC cases from be quiet!

Outstanding versatility, performance and silence

www.bequiet.com

 

[MnsoonMally]

Not with your requirements, no, as I can't say I have seen such a combination of ports. Most have one Type-C and two Type-A ports.
Also note the part about cable lengths I added above, so you don't get disappointed that your devices don't work at 20 Gbps.

This one has four USB 3.0 ports and one Type-C, but the latter is only 10 Gbps, like most cases.

DARK BASE PRO 901 | Black silent high-end PC cases from be quiet!

Outstanding versatility, performance and silence

www.bequiet.com

Yes, the speed isn't that much of an issue - anywhere near 20GB would be great.

It's also not often I'll be using it to power anything anyway....that's what I have mains cables and power extensions for.

My point being, if the motherboard has this capability, I might as well have a Case that can make use of them, rather than not having the connections made at all.

If the motherboard kicks out 5 USB ports, various types to the Front-Panel.......then have a Case that accepts this amount and type, should I decide I want to use them.

 

[TheLostSwede]

Yes, the speed isn't that much of an issue - anywhere near 20GB would be great.

It's also not often I'll be using it to power anything anyway....that's what I have mains cables and power extensions for.

My point being, if the motherboard has this capability, I might as well have a Case that can make use of them, rather than not having the connections made at all.

If the motherboard kicks out 5 USB ports, various types to the Front-Panel.......then have a Case that accepts this amount and type, should I decide I want to use them.

Ok, found something, some of these would work, at least the ones with a 7 in the model name.

• Front ports
  1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C (20 Gbps), 2 x USB 3.0, 2 x USB 2.0, Audio I/O, Power button, Reset button

Define Series by Fractal Design

The Define Series of cases focuses on delivering the perfect balance between silent operation and minimalist Scandinavian design. The understated look and feel allows for a natural fit into your home or office while never compromising on quality, performance of configurability.

www.fractal-design.com

 

[MnsoonMally]

I'll do a Google search, later today.

I'm really looking for recommendations by people who have the same needs as myself.

'Anyone else have the same configuration requirements, that can recommend such a case?'

 

[TheLostSwede]

I'll do a Google search, later today.

I'm really looking for recommendations by people who have the same needs as myself.

'Anyone else have the same configuration requirements, that can recommend such a case?'

Well, I have two other cases by Fractal and they make good cases, so I can recommend them as a brand.
I'm sure someone here owns a Define 7 as well, since it's a pretty popular case.
It's not as if you have too many options to chose between anyhow.

You could also try reading our review here:

Fractal Define 7 Review

The Fractal Define 7 is the seventh generation of the Define R series of cases. It sports a new, clean branding, loads of new features and plenty of enhancements over the previous version without compromising on the core functionality and design that has defined the series this last decade.

www.techpowerup.com

Note that this is of an older SKU that only had 10 Gbps USB Type-C.

 

[MnsoonMally]

I see ThermalTake seems a capable brand.

 

[TheLostSwede]

I see ThermalTake seems a capable brand.

You're joking right? It's among the worst stuff you can buy, made from wafer thin materials that break during assembly.
I wouldn't touch their products with a barge pole.

 

[MnsoonMally]

You're joking right? It's among the worst stuff you can buy, made from wafer thin materials that break during assembly.
I wouldn't touch their products with a barge pole.

Really?

OK - that's good valuable input. Kind of thing I need to know.