We’re all accustomed to plugging in a USB cable or dongle into the exterior ports on our computer systems, however is it doable to plug a USB gadget straight into the motherboard so the gadget is hidden away and safely contained throughout the case of the pc? Learn on as we present you how one can simply retrofit a pc with this function.
Expensive How-To Geek,
Two of your current articles obtained me considering. First you have been speaking about
upgrading your laptop to USB 3.0
after which a couple of weeks later you have been speaking about
including Bluetooth to your laptop through USB dongle
.What in case you wished so as to add that USB dongle (or a flash drive or something USB-based for that matter) to your laptop however on the inside? I imply I need not plug and unplug the Bluetooth dongle; it may stand completely plugged in without end for all I care. And what about individuals working working programs off flash drives like XBMC or FreeNAS? I am at all times paranoid that somebody goes to unplug the OS flash drive and screw all the pieces up. I might be so much happier if the flash drive was hidden contained in the case.
Is that doable? Is there anyway to plug a USB dongle or flash drive proper into the motherboard?
Sincerely,
Dongle Curious
In computing the place there is a will there is a means, and so far as such issues go your request is not significantly outlandish. It’s fairly doable to plug a USB dongle or flash drive straight right into a motherboard.
Some motherboards, virtually solely server motherboards, include this function for precisely the explanations you allude to: you possibly can load light-weight working programs on flash media and one of the best place for that flash media on a rack-mount server is safely contained in the case.
Let’s check out the SuperMicro X10SLH-F motherboard for example of such server motherboard design. Within the top-down photograph under you possibly can see the blue USB 3.0 port sticking straight up off the decrease fringe of the motherboard.
That port works similar to the ports on the again on motherboard, accessible from the again of the pc case: simply plug in any USB gadget and it is such as you’ve plugged it into a conventional case port.
The demand for such inner USB ports on client motherboards is fairly low, nevertheless, so do not be stunned to search out that you do not have one in your desktop laptop. Do not let that cease your dream of inner USB {hardware} although because it’s trivially simple so as to add it into your machine (so long as you will have a free USB header inside).
Let’s reference the identical photograph once more. Barely to the left of the USB port within the photograph are three USB headers (two black USB 2.0 headers and one USB 3.0 header); the financial institution of three is indicated by the arrow within the photograph under. Whereas inner USB ports are uncommon on client motherboards, these headers (particularly the USB 2.0 ones) are discovered on nearly each motherboard round.
There are very cheap adapter cables/modules you need to use to show these headers into practical USB ports they usually require no extra work than opening your case and plugging them in. In case you want to convert a USB 3.0 header into an inner USB 3.0 port, you are able to do so with an adapter that plugs proper in and offers a vertically oriented USB port (~$3) or you need to use an adapter with a cable (~$6) if you should place the dongle or flash drive for some purpose (like your case is especially shallow in depth).
The identical adapters can be found for USB 2.0 headers, additionally. This is a vertical port adapter (~$11) and an adapter with a cable (~$4); each connect to USB 2.0 motherboard headers.
So long as you will have an open header on the motherboard, a couple of bucks to spare, and some minutes to open your case and plug the brand new adapter in, there’s nothing standing between you and a hidden-inside-the-case USB set up.
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