Where do two additional USB ports go?

[classic35mm]

Here is a picture of a Lenovo ThinkStation P300 Tower, from this website:

Now, when I configure a ThinkStation P300 Tower, there is a section "Additional I/O Ports." There is a checkbox next to each one of these options:

Second Serial Port [add $5.00]
eSATA port [add $5.00]
PS2 Port Cable [add $5.00]
Two USB Port addition [add $5.00]
USB 3.0 Add-in Card High-profile-R1-Win7 [add $20.00]
PCI to Parallel Port Card - FH [add $40.00]

So, there are two "Additional I/O Ports" involving USB: "Two USB Port addition [add $5.00]" and "USB 3.0 Add-in Card High-profile-R1-Win7 [add $20.00]."

"USB 3.0 Add-in Card High-profile-R1-Win7 [add $20.00]" is probably some sort of PCI card containing one or more USB 3.0 ports (although I'm not sure how many). Probably this card would go at the rear of the tower, near the bottom.

But, what is "Two USB Port addition [add $5.00]"? Well, obviously, it is two more USB ports. But where do they go: on the front or rear of the tower? (Lenovo Sales didn't know.)

The specs sheet here offers a possible clue. In the motherboard section of that specs sheet, there is a subsection "Internal I/O." One entry in that subsection is USB 2.0. It reads:

To me, this implies that the two additional USB ports will go on the front... but, looking at the picture of the front of the tower, I don't see where they would go -- unless they would some how go underneath the optical drive where there is a flex bay.

Do you have any thoughts on this?

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Here is a picture of a Lenovo ThinkStation P300 Tower, from this website:

Now, when I configure a ThinkStation P300 Tower, there is a section "Additional I/O Ports." There is a checkbox next to each one of these options:

Second Serial Port [add $5.00]
eSATA port [add $5.00]
PS2 Port Cable [add $5.00]
Two USB Port addition [add $5.00]
USB 3.0 Add-in Card High-profile-R1-Win7 [add $20.00]
PCI to Parallel Port Card - FH [add $40.00]

So, there are two "Additional I/O Ports" involving USB: "Two USB Port addition [add $5.00]" and "USB 3.0 Add-in Card High-profile-R1-Win7 [add $20.00]."

"USB 3.0 Add-in Card High-profile-R1-Win7 [add $20.00]" is probably some sort of PCI card containing one or more USB 3.0 ports (although I'm not sure how many). Probably this card would go at the rear of the tower, near the bottom.

But, what is "Two USB Port addition [add $5.00]"? Well, obviously, it is two more USB ports. But where do they go: on the front or rear of the tower? (Lenovo Sales didn't know.)

The specs sheet here offers a possible clue. In the motherboard section of that specs sheet, there is a subsection "Internal I/O." One entry in that subsection is USB 2.0. It reads:

To me, this implies that the two additional USB ports will go on the front... but, looking at the picture of the front of the tower, I don't see where they would go -- unless they would some how go underneath the optical drive where there is a flex bay.

Do you have any thoughts on this?

If you check around at outfits like Addonics, the price of a PCI-backplate dual eSATA or dual USB port and cable is about $6.

That's likely what they mean for the Lenovo. Most motherboards come with those plates, ports and cables as accessories.

 

[mikeymikec]

(Lenovo Sales didn't know.)

smh

 

[classic35mm]

Thanks. But then what is the difference between

"Two USB Port addition [add $5.00]"

and

"USB 3.0 Add-in Card High-profile-R1-Win7 [add $20.00]"?

Are they both PCI cards/backplates offering additional USB ports?

Also, if they are both PCI cards on the rear of the tower, then what is meant by "Front Panel" on the specs sheet?

 

[master_shake_]

Thanks. But then what is the difference between

"Two USB Port addition [add $5.00]"

and

"USB 3.0 Add-in Card High-profile-R1-Win7 [add $20.00]"?

Are they both PCI cards/backplates offering additional USB ports?

Also, if they are both PCI cards on the rear of the tower, then what is meant by "Front Panel" on the specs sheet?

this.

the usb is a header with a breakout that mounts in the pci slot area the usb 3 is an actual add in card, and the ps2 and com is more than likely a pci breakout bracket.

 

[master_shake_]

5 bucks for this. lol

 

[classic35mm]

So both "Two USB Port addition [add $5.00]" and "USB 3.0 Add-in Card High-profile-R1-Win7 [add $20.00]" will appear on the rear of the tower? Also, they are apparently not mutually exclusive.