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Would like to add a front IO port (audio, USB2.0, 1394) - what should I get?

Chumster

Chumster

Senior member
Can anyone suggest a front io panel (white, 3.5") that has USB2.0, 1394 and audio jacks? I've seen the offerings at newegg and I'm not impressed.

Thanks!

Chum
 
I picked up a refurb card reader (compactflash, secure digital...all the rest) that also had USB, Firewire and Audio. I cant find a link at the moment, but it did fit in a 3.5 in bay.
 
http://www.frontx.com - you can get just the setup you want, and http://www.tcwo.com (be sure to find out if the internal connectors are the right ones for your needs - the descriptions on tcwo leave a lot to be desired)...
. I also found this: Link that is very inexpensive, has all internal header connectors and audio jacks could easily be added with add-on cables from frontx or radio Schlock (3' mono for mic. 3' stereo for headpones/line out or in.
.bh.

:moon:
 
There are a couple of Silverstone units on newegg for only $13. that fit a 3.5" drive bay , but you need to have internal header connectors for your audio jacks, and USB. But a standard connector for FW.
.bh.

:moon:
 
Chumster, did you check out the Inwin i530? It manages to squeeze on one USB 2.0, one Firewire, front headphone/mic ports and a four-slot card reader without looking tacky (IMHO): linkage My main question is whether your motherboard has a matching Firewire header. What mobo do you have in mind for this?
 
Wow - thanks for all of the responses; figured I was going to have to repost this in GH. 🙂

Zepper: Thanks for the link - I had completely forgotten about frontx. I'd really prefer to have internal audio headers (more on that later), but they look to have a pretty good offering.

As I'm trying to avoid any standard offerings, the Silvertone's were excluded - though they come close to meeting the reqs and look nice as well.

mechBgon: Ding ding! We have a winner. I can only guess that I missed the Inwin unit because it's stored under a different category than the rest of the add-ons due to it having a card readersl. My motherboard (Asus K8V) does have a 1394 header (2 actually), so that works well.

Thing is, I'm currently using a Sound Blaster Live (OEM) and I'm not sure whether or not it has external headers (which I would prefer). Anyone know? I could probably switch to the onboard sound, but I've heard that it has driver issues. Assuming that the 'Live' doesn't have headers, any suggestions on a good inexpensive sound card that has them?

Thanks again for all of the responses.

Chum
 
I don't know for sure, but I think that the front-panel audio header on the motherboard might even work when using PCI sound cards. Easy enough to find out, eh? 🙂

Also, you will like the quality of the Inwin. The cables are very burly. One note: the LED starts out green and switches to orange, which looks like some sort of negative thing, but orange means it's switched to USB Hi-Speed mode, which is what you want (Hi-Speed > Full-Speed). I recommend you do NOT install the drivers or the disk-icon utility, they're resource hogs.
 
You can customize the frontx any way you want. They have a complete assortment of cables with either internal (usually header) connectors or external connectors. It's just the prepackaged multi-media kit that is either one way or the other.
re. the Inwin, you don't have to worry too much about the connections as you can rearrange the contacts within the shells if necessary. Not hard to do. I'll have to file that one away in my memory banks - you get quite a bit for your money.

.bh.
 
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