Question Trivia Questions -- as if I were a Newbie or Idiot -- case front-panel connections and USB

[BonzaiDuck]

First question.

I'm modding two twin high-end cases released around 2005 or 2007. For reasons of cable management, I've only connected two of the four available USB 2.0 ports of the case-front. There are four rear I/O-panel USB 2.0 ports and four USB 3 ports. I've added two USB 3 ports to the front of the case on my own, and two more to a PCIE plate at the rear.

Is there any problem using the downward-compatible USB 3 ports for USB 2 devices? I thought I'd seen some wording online that tried to discourage it -- for whatever reason. I don't see a problem there. I had done it until last year with a USB3 connection to my KVM switch so I could use a single keyboard for three systems. The KVM switch operated perfectly from 2016 until 2021, when ;I removed it from the equation to troubleshoot what I soon discovered was a blown USB controller on the motherboard due to a static charge accident (the Vaping Pen accident). There are now only two computers, and I'm just using separate keyboards or a Logitech wireless that can be redeployed in a few seconds.

Second question. Case wiring comes with a front-panel audio (green/pink 3.5mm stereo) wire with an HD Audio motherboard plug, followed by an AC97 plug and terminating with single-wire connectors for Azalia. Since these latter two plugs or plug-groups will never be used, it seemed to me that one could just cut the wires and insulate them. In fact, I already did that -- the latter two plugs seem to be simply extensions of the wires first entering the HD Audio plug.

Anything wrong with that?

I'm trying to prevent a clutter of unnecessary connectors and wires in my case.

OOPS! One more query to demonstrate my lack of confidence (I'm supposed to be an "old hand" at this . . . ) . . So -- third question . . .

The front-panel motherboard pinouts include connections for a 3-pin power-LED cable (two conductors), and a "PLED" 2-pin pair. I would think, if you wanted two LEDs to go on when the computer is switched on, you could connect a plug of each type to the pinouts.

Anything wrong with that? LED power draws are negligible. If no answers here, I'm going to try it anyway.

 

[mindless1]

You can use USB2 devices on the USB3 ports.

There is nothing wrong with cutting the wires and insulating them but no real need to do that either. I mean how can this tiny an amount of clutter really matter? From where I am sitting, I can barely even see them in your case, am more distracted by the BIG SPIDER hiding behind the motherboard.

Consult the motherboard manual to see if these two are really just wired in parallel and the only difference is two pin vs three pin spacing. If they are in parallel, you might not be able to get two LEDs to light up equally, or even the 2nd one at all, if one of the LEDs has a higher forward voltage drop, for example red has a lower drop, then green or yellow (IIRC?) then blue or white have the highest forward voltage drop.

It shouldn't hurt to try it, as long as you have the polarities right, in case the two LEDs shared a common ground or something (thinking if already mounted on the same circuit board), you wouldn't want the positive lead to one LED shorting into the ground of the other LED due to a polarity mixup.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

You can use USB2 devices on the USB3 ports.

There is nothing wrong with cutting the wires and insulating them but no real need to do that either. I mean how can this tiny an amount of clutter really matter? From where I am sitting, I can barely even see them in your case, am more distracted by the BIG SPIDER hiding behind the motherboard.

Consult the motherboard manual to see if these two are really just wired in parallel and the only difference is two pin vs three pin spacing. If they are in parallel, you might not be able to get two LEDs to light up equally, or even the 2nd one at all, if one of the LEDs has a higher forward voltage drop, for example red has a lower drop, then green or yellow (IIRC?) then blue or white have the highest forward voltage drop.

It shouldn't hurt to try it, as long as you have the polarities right, in case the two LEDs shared a common ground or something (thinking if already mounted on the same circuit board), you wouldn't want the positive lead to one LED shorting into the ground of the other LED due to a polarity mixup.

So, I'll give the dual-LED possibility a try. But it's not necessary. The power switch on the case has an LED underneath it. This (old? 2007) case is a CoolerMaster Stacker 832 (or one of the 83x models). The other one, on the computer I call "VAPING_PEN" (a joke -- everyone here has probably heard about my accident), had already been modded in a subtle way, and I did an even better job with this second CM Stacker case. The upper-front-panel "plastic nose" of the case has a recessed, perfectly rectangular hand-hold, apparently for lifting the case. With laminated foam-core art-board, I fashioned a plug that holds two eSATA ports and four LEDs: one for power and three for different HDD/drive activity lights.

Really, I'd just as soon hook up the green LED in my foam-core case-mod, and leave the default light under the power-switch disconnected.

As for the HD Audio case-wire and the extra AC97 and Azalia pinouts, I would otherwise wrap these unused plugs in self-adhesive rubber automotive hose bandage. But it still leaves something of "messy wiring". If ya don' need 'em, don't leave 'em, I say.

This motherboard only has one onboard 9-pin USB 2.0 port instead of two, so leaving both of the case USB wires connected is serious clutter. You'd fold the spare one up figure-8-style and tie it with a wire tie at the center. You still have a big bundle of wires to stow in the case. I didn't cut the wires, though. I disassembled the appropriate part of the case and unplugged the extra wire from the little circuit board where all those wires are connected. There was, for instance, a 1394 Firewire port and its wiring, also unplugged -- removed. It goes in my parts-locker. Firewire was apparently an Apple spec, and I never used it nor will I ever. What for? I can't think of a reason. . . . .

Simple as all this stuff seems, mindless1, I really appreciate your input. For the existing burdens and distractions of my old life, it just raises my confidence. Your opinions are very useful.