Questions before purchasing Air 540

[saps]

I have an Asus P6X58D-E motherboard it does not have native USB 3.0 headers. As such I would not be able to connect the front ports of the Air 540 unless I got something like this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=17Z-0002-00002

Correct?

Also is newegg has lots of these add on cards some say 19pin and others 20pin any difference for what I'd need to power the front 2 usb 3's on the air 540.

 

Given where I'd have to plug this add in card in my case I'd have to run a molex to power it. I've got the HX 850 btw. So it would be adding two more cables going all the way across half the motherboard. One the molex for power and two the usb plug. Is the cable supplied with the Air 540 long enough to reach across my mobo to plug in?

If not do they even make extensions for things like this?

I'd prefer to have those usb 3's active if I can but if its too much hassle I won't.

 

My other question regards putting an optical drive in. With the vertical orientation of the drive bay wouldn't any disks I put in there just fall right out. I have just your regular old plain jane DVD drive. Would I need to get something that if specific for vertical orientation?

 

Thanks in advance for the replies.

[Ahtlon]

Normally a dvd drive has some latches where the dvd sit in when vertical. Photo is from a other site and from Computer_Tinker.

[Ahtlon]

first check your usb3 internal header, look if the 20 holes are open, if not then buy a 19 pin, you could buy a usb3 to usb2 header , but then you only have those usb3 ports running at usb 2. If you want the usb3 ports active as usb3 and your mobo has no internal header, then you need that pci-e card with 2 x internal usb 3 header , just like your picture.

[saps]

Normally a dvd drive has some latches where the dvd sit in when vertical. Photo is from a other site and from Computer_Tinker.

 

first check your usb3 internal header, look if the 20 holes are open, if not then buy a 19 pin, you could buy a usb3 to usb2 header , but then you only have those usb3 ports running at usb 2. If you want the usb3 ports active as usb3 and your mobo has no internal header, then you need that pci-e card with 2 x internal usb 3 header , just like your picture.

 

Thanks very much for the replies and the picture. I do now see my existing dvd drive has those very notches. Doesn't look like they are adequate to hold a disk in place but I suppose I'll give it a shot. A barely ever even use my dvd drive anymore. I have half a mind to either not install it at all and/or just get an external one from newegg for $20 and plug it in as needed. Which again would be infrequently.

 

Yeah I could get that adapter you spoke one and only have one cord which I could more easily tuck behind. Versus the two plugs/cords which would have to be used for a 3.0 add in card.

 

I kinda was looking to have solutions in place prior to ordering the case. Now I think I'll just order it and deal with the front usb after I get everything set up. I have half a mind to turn the tower side ways so the window is facing me. That would make accessing the back usb ports including the 3.0's very simple.

 

Anyway, thanks again for the detailed replies; very helpful!