USB Header -> Port solution?

July 15, 2010 7:06 PM

I need to turn a USB Header on motherboard into an *internal* USB port. No cables. Someone's GOT to have made one of these... but I can't find it. Help, hive mind!

OK, I've got a SuperMicro mobo without an internal USB slot. I want to mount a [ USB keychain | SD card | CF card ] *inside* the case because all the machine's running is ESXi. The mobo has a USB header on it -- but when I'm looking for an "internal card reader" all I'm finding are big honking things designed to go in the front of a PC.

Is there a tiny little card that will go straight from the USB header to either a *hard* USB port (not a cabled port) or a little slot for an SD card.

I suppose this is what I get for buying a barebones server instead of the cool sauce sold by big guys like Dell and Sun, where you can RAID1 a couple of SD cards inside the case to run without hard drives, but I'm naught but a poor consultant...

posted by SpecialK to computers & internet (5 answers total)

Can you purchase a USB extention cord cut it in half and wire it up? You can find the pinouts on wikipedia/the motherboard manufacture's website.
posted by rickim at 7:13 PM on July 15, 2010

StarTech makes one, although it's cheaper on Amazon. Logic Supply sells a right-angle one as well.

In a pinch, I've also used the freebie PCI Slot-mounted USB Headers that are included with most motherboards. You can simply bend the slot cover and mount it anywhere you have an empty screw-hole, like a motherboard standoff mount or empty drive bay.

Good luck!
posted by ForeverDcember at 7:30 PM on July 15, 2010 [2 favorites]

Any reason you're set on USB? You might have more luck (and better performance) finding a CompactFlash/SD to IDE (or SATA) adapter.
posted by globotomy at 7:30 PM on July 15, 2010

Sounds like you're better off with a IDE or SATA DOM
posted by wongcorgi at 8:10 PM on July 15, 2010

You can also get a USB drive that plugs directly into the USB header, without any cables or adapters required. This place has some.
posted by odinsdream at 12:43 PM on July 16, 2010 [1 favorite]