[QUOTE=davemon50;763695
First, are you sure that the case has a Gen 2 port? Gen 2 runs at 10 Gbps in lieu of the 5 Gbps with Gen 1 ports. Typically the Gen 2 is labeled with a 10 for that reason, or as SS10 for superspeed 10. Sometimes the Gen 1 ports have an SS next to them. There really is no 3.0 USB technically, it's just 3.1 Gen 1 according to the USB spec, they are the same thing.

Thank you for the reply, and I apologize for not responding earlier (I just saw the notification, as I had gone to an email address that is being phased out).

Well, my case has four USB ports on the front. The first is one of those small symmetrical (rounded corners) connectors. The other three are physically identical, so I can't know for sure if they are 2.0 or 3.0. I have a slightly older (by one year) Cooler Master case that is nearly identical to this one, but has lighted numbers above those four ports (3.0, 3.0, 2.0, 2.0), but on this new case, there are no lighted markings on these (the two buttons on either side of these four ports *does* have a light on both cases). I can also confirm that all the standard USB ports are functional (I don't have anything with which to test that small USB connector), though I don't know how to tell if they are USB 2.0, 2.1, 3.0, 3.1. So, everything *seems* functional, but I still have this extra unused connector, begging for attention 🙂

Here is a photo of the orphan connector:

davemon50 wrote:
The rounded port is a Type C. And the thing in your photo above is the smaller form factor 3.1 type header connector, so you'll need to use an adapter as I mentioned above. Your board doesn't have that type of connector but adapters are available.

Thanks once again! OK, I understand that I would need an adapter (heck, that cable isn't long enough to reach the motherboard, even if it had a matching connection!). What confuses me, though, is what will connecting this do? I mean .... all the front panel ports (except the Type C that I can't test yet) are functional, so they seem to be working as connected now. So what does this dangling connector attach to, if these are already attached to something? Am I supposed to disconnect one of the other connectors coming from the front panel in favor of this one?

davemon50 wrote:
It's a USB 3 connector, you should have two USB 3.1 headers on your motherboard. Check out the motherboard layout picture in your manual and look at bubble number 7. That's what you need to connect to, there are two indicated in the manual.

I understand that there are connectors on the motherboard, and that this orphan cable needs an adapter to connect to one of them. What I don't understand is what making this connection will accomplish, as all the front case ports are functional (except that I can't test the single small type C). So, if these ports are already working, they must already be connected to *something* from the motherboard. Unless, of course, you suspect that the untested type C connector is what this orphan connector is for.