So I'm planning on trying to build and ESA (Enthusiast System Architect) system and I think i found a problem. All the ESA components require you to plug into a USB header. Most (or all) of the motherboard only have 2 headers. So say if you are using a PSU, CPU cooler and and case which are all ESA, how would you plug those in (with space to plug other USB things)? And even if you tried to use a PCI card with extra headers, if you were doing Tri-SLI, there isn't any space for those cards...
If any of the things I've stated is incorrect/off, please correct me.
What boards are you looking at? Just doing a quick look there's the nForce 790i Ultra SLI 775 A1 from EVGA that has 10 headers (6 external and 4 internal). I'm guessing many other boards will have that as well since I rarely see a board with less than 4 external headers.
All the ESA components connect directly to the USB headers on the Motherboard, and looking at a manual from the XFX MB-N790-IUL9, it only has 2 headers on the motherboard itself.
They're not all internal, take a look at the Thermaltake Toughpower 850W ESA, it uses an external USB cable. There's no difference in the on-board headers and the external ones, just a different connector. I would be you'd be able to get adapters or they may come with them.
Only the Thermaltake has an adapter for an external USB (Thanks for pointing that out) out of the 4. So I'm guessing you'd have to get some sort of adapter/free space on the PCI slot?
Message edited by sdimacu on 07-24-2008 at 11:20:20 AM
There's usually one before the first PCIe 16 slot, sometimes a PCIe 1 slot is there, but otherwise empty. Plus, there's two ESA certified boards 780i and 790i from XFX and they both have 4 headers onboard. I'm guessing they think 4 is enough. Otherwise you need to route them to the back like the Toughpower.
It is actually more simple than you could ever imagine. You need to mount inside your computer case a USB 2.0 HUB. The 4 monitoring usb's go into the hub and only one usb from this hubber connex to the mobo usb header. That way you still have the leftover usb header open for connecting your front or top mounted case usb's. Your welcome.