CompUSA USB2.0/Firewire Combo 3.5” Adapter

I saw this little device (SKU# 296202) at my local CompUSA store and decided to buy it and install it in my Windows computer to avoid having to crawl around it to plug in extra USB and Firewire devices. The computer has a MSI motherboard with USB 2.0 ports and I had Firewire via a PCI card. The little adapter would install in a spare 3.5 inch bay and I had an open spot (actually, I could create one) just below the machine’s 3.5 inch floppy drive. The device’s system requirements stated only “Windows 98SE/2000/XP” and “Available Exposed 3.5 inch Drive Bay”. I had both of those and it only cost $20, so I bought it.

Not so fast! The connecting chords were built to hook to a motherboard, a fact I couldn’t easily discern until I had opened the package. The USB chord ends in a straightforward, multi-prong connector (10 pins with one blocked) but the Firewire chord ends in 9 individual pins. While the instruction sheet was clear about which pin was which (and they are lettered), the set up won’t work with a Firewire card. All the ones I own have internal ports that work with a standard 6 pin Firewire connector, the same type you’ll find on external hard drives.

I’m thinking seriously about slowly putting moving my Windows desktop to an Athlon64 CPU. Knowing I’m probably going to do that at some point, I’m storing the device for now. When I buy a new motherboard for the Athlon64, I’ll get one that has both Firewire and USB ports. Then, I’ll try installing my front port adapter again. In the meantime, if you’re looking to put both Firewire and USB 2.0 ports on your PC, be sure and do your homework and check out what kind of connectors the adapter uses.