USB 3.0 onboard headers - do they exist?

In searching for a new motherboard, I can't seem to find one that has headers for USB 3.0, even among boards that have rear-panel USB 3.0 ports. USB 3.0 is not yet a search option on Newegg, so all I can do is read the specs of individual boards I choose. Does anyone know of boards that have these headers? If so, would existing front-panel USB ports be able to use them and function at the speed of 3.0?

 

USB 3 is backwards compatible with USB 2. I have verified that plugging a usb 2 device into a usb 3 slot works.

 

Yes, but can you plug a USB 2.0 wire (coming from a USB 2.0 port) into a USB 3.0 wire connection on the motherboard, and it work?

 

I see no reason it shouldn't work since the cabling is backwards compatible. I might not be understanding your question though.

 

I know the USB port is backward compatible, and that a USB 3.0 port will accept a USB 2.0 device. I'm talking about the header on the motherboard, to which you connect the cable coming from the front panel of many computer cases. According to David, it sounds like these connectors are not the same, so you would need both a motherboard that has USB 3.0 headers and a case that has USB 3.0 connections in order for the front panel to support USB 3.0.

The picture at the bottom of that page David linked to (Thank you, David, for that link; it answers my question) clearly shows the header and cable for USB 3.0 are very different from USB 2.0 headers and cables.

 

USB3.0 is backwards compatible with earlier versions and earlier versions are backwards and forwards compatible with later versions. So you can plug a 3.0 device into a 2.0 header and it will work just fine, but, of course, at 2.0 speeds.

Note that you can search for USB3.0 motherboards on Newegg. If you look at the top left of the main results window, you will see a "Search within" text box. Enter USB3 and for example, you will find 49 USB3.0 Intel based motherboards. Note there are several that also support SATA6.

 

I clicked on the first board in the list. On the details tab, if you scroll down, you will find this: "Onboard USB: 3 x USB 2.0 headers (support 6 USB 2.0 ports)."

All of these boards have USB 2.0 and 3.0 ports, but only USB 2.0 headers. There is a big difference. The ports are all physically and electrically compatible. Yes, a USB 3.0 port will accept a USB 2.0 device and run at USB 2.0 speeds. A USB 3.0 header for front panel I/0 is physically very different from a USB 2.0 header.

 

No, you are misunderstanding what you are seeing. The first board on the list that I am looking at is the Gigabyte GA-X58A-UD3R. It clearly says 4 x USB 2.0 AND 2 x USB 3.0 for rear panel ports.

Yes there is a big difference but that's where you are confused. There is no physical difference between a 2.0 port and 3.0 port. They are exactly the same. What matters is how or what the other side of the ports are connect to. These boards have both, headers and ports. A header (which is a set of pins on the motherboard) allows you to connect an internal connection, a pinned USB cable, to the case's front panel USB "port". The ports on the motherboard's rear panel connections are hardwired (soldered) to a controller's "header". In this case, this motherboard has both USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 controllers and it has ports for each.

The second board on the list, the ASUS Sabertooth X58 clearly shows on the rear panel 6 x USB2.0 AND 2 x USB 3.0.

ALL those boards have USB 3.0 ports on the rear.

 

To avoid or clear up any confusion for those reading and myself, I just looked at about 20 of those Intel based boards in that list and they all have USB3.0 support, but apparently via the rear panel only. I looked at another 1/2 dozen AMD based boards and they follow suit.

Your original question was about 3.0 headers specifically for front panel 3.0 support so my apologies if I caused any confusions.

It would seem if you want USB3.0 support without reaching around back, you would need to connect a USB3.0 Hub to one of the 3.0 rear ports.

 

Ah. Yes, I guess it was a huge miscommunication. I totally understand now.