Asus prepares for the future with USB 3.1 front panel upgrade kit

By Gabe Carey August 21, 2015

ASUS USB3 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

In a move designed to prepare upcoming PC builders for the connection standards of the future, Asus has announced a desktop upgrade kit that adds USB 3.1 second-generation Type-C ports to any computer sporting a Z170-based motherboard, as well as an open SATA express port. The UPD panel was conceived to fit comfortably in a standard optical drive bay, and it hosts two USB Type-C ports, both of which bear a transfer rate of 10GB/s.

Although each of the ports sports the same transfer rate, the ports do not present the same set of features. Instead, the left port provides 100-watt power charging by means of two Molex connectors found on the back of the card while the port on the right doesn’t exhibit any charging capability.

If you’re concerned about the setup process, Asus promises a simple three-step configuration:

Insert the USB 3.1 UPD Panel into the empty optical bay and ensure a secure placement.
Connect the accompanying SATA Express cable to both the motherboard and the rear end of the UPD panel.
Plug in both Molex cables to power the kit.

Aside from the included driver that needs to be installed, this is all it takes to get started with USB 3.1 thanks to Asus’ kit.

Without a free optical bay, Asus points out that you can still remove the PCI-E board and connect it to your motherboard directly, if you’re a do-it-yourself type of enthusiast. Presently, the question of whether or not you would need the SATA express cable in this setup has no clear answer, though the Molex cables would likely be mandatory in order to take advantage of power charging.

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Former Digital Trends Contributor

A freelancer for Digital Trends, Gabe Carey has been covering the intersection of video games and technology since he was 16…

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