usb 2.0 port query


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only my tower rear usb ports work and I'm pissed off with constantly having to shift the bassa around to access the usb's.
I bought a usb extension lead which works fine when connected to a memory stick but I cannot draw enough power for any of my external drives over the extended cable.:evil:
I also have 2 front usb ports which are not currently functionable(not connected)so I have 2 options

1) connect up the front ports
2) purchase a seperate a/c powered usb hub

how much appx. would it cost for option 1, and would you trust the likes of pc world to do it, which I'd prefer or can anyone recommend a reliable a/c powered usb hub with decent cable lengths
 
Option 1 is just a matter of connecting several wires to your motherboard, sometimes the wires are joined to a single connector, which would make it easier.

If you can tell me your motherboard make and model I'll find the manual, which will explain where to connect the wires.
 
Do the front ports not have attached fly leads that you just plug onto the ,motherboard's 8-pin USB connectors? If not, they're easy enough to get.

It wouldn't necessarily solve you drive power problem though - they're probably drawing more current than the USB spec allows. What drive models are they?

I'd go for the hub - you can get overpowered ones which provide more juice than the USB spec says they have to, to give you a better chance of powering the drive.

Or get some cheap drive cases with a separate power supply connector, which you can power from an AC adapter, or a lead connected to a spare drive power connector (molex plug) inside the case.
 
Do the front ports not have attached fly leads that you just plug onto the ,motherboard's 8-pin USB connectors? If not, they're easy enough to get.

It wouldn't necessarily solve you drive power problem though - they're probably drawing more current than the USB spec allows. What drive models are they?

I'd go for the hub - you can get overpowered ones which provide more juice than the USB spec says they have to, to give you a better chance of powering the drive.

Or get some cheap drive cases with a separate power supply connector, which you can power from an AC adapter, or a lead connected to a spare drive power connector (molex plug) inside the case.
there are no fly leads

500gb Seagate formatted to NTFS
500gb Iomega formatted to fat32

both work fine with the supplied short power leads but not when I use the usb extension cable
I bought an 1.5m power cable but they can't draw enough power from the usb over that length

don't you have to be careful with power supply to external drives I don't want to cook them
 
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2.5" I presume?

Are you saying there are both power leads and USB cables?
 
sorry mis-leading they came provided with short self powered usb 2.0 leads
if I connect them to the usb extension they cannot draw enough power
 
I *really* wouldn't use them on USB power alone any more, if that extension cable is normal like (and given that it works with thumb drives there can't be that much wrong with it).

1.5m of USB cable is going to have negligible resistance, so negligible power loss. It wouldn't make any difference if the disks were working comfortably within spec to start with.

What you need is one of these.
 
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