Vertical Expansion Slots?

[ARJY]

Ok im looking at a new build and thats basically why im asking a lot of questions, hopefully one day ill know enough about PCs to give something back to forums. But basically, what do you use the vertical expansion slots on teh back of cases for? The extra ones that some cases have. Thank you in advance.

[planet436]

Do you mean?



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[BobF64]

I suspect youve seen a case that provides additional "slots" for fitting USB or eSATA back plates that come with a lot of boards.

[ARJY]

Not the motherboard plate, i mean something like on the CM690 where you can see there is a non ventilated expansion slot on the left
http://benchmarkreviews.com/images/r..._Back_Rear.jpg

you can see the thumbscrew poking out

[Betty_Swallocks]

I don't think that's an expansion slot. Some cases have a flap that hinges over and holds the real expansion cards in place so you don't need to screw all of them in. I think that's one of those. The thumbscrew you can see secures the flap.

[oolon]

As BobF64 said that is for back plans like fan controllers estat, com ports, the board often has additional headers that some people want to use, this allows their use without wasting an expansion slot or doing a case mod.

[Bagnaj97]

You could use something like this to put a pcie card in that slot, but I can't think why you'd want to as it would block your other slots.

[ARJY]

I don't think that's an expansion slot. Some cases have a flap that hinges over and holds the real expansion cards in place so you don't need to screw all of them in. I think that's one of those. The thumbscrew you can see secures the flap.

Oh yeah ive seen those on some coolermaster cases.

As BobF64 said that is for back plans like fan controllers estat, com ports, the board often has additional headers that some people want to use, this allows their use without wasting an expansion slot or doing a case mod.

I always thought fan controllers are those things at the front of the case that control speeds and stuff, or am i getting confused. And could you fit one of those dual fan expansion slot things on there.
http://www.auspcmarket.com.au/img/pr...178-0.jpg?mark

[oolon]

Generally they are, but they do not have to be. For a long time after market CPU fans had a rear mounting controller (before the days of motherboard span speed control).

[ARJY]

Oh ok, i guess i entered the computing world pretty late, i've never seen anything like that. Have you seen anyone use that expansion slot fan i linked to it looks like an interesting concept.

And thanks for replying guys, an opinion is worth a thousand views

[ARJY]

Just realised it takes up two slots so it wouldnt fit anyway.

[watercooled]

Generally they are, but they do not have to be. For a long time after market CPU fans had a rear mounting controller (before the days of motherboard span speed control).

You get something like that with the Fractal R3 case to control the case fans.

[ARJY]

Speaking of fan controllers, does teh controller in the HAF X control all of the fans or only certain ones.

[Pob255]

Yes ARJY is correct some cases have a vertical expansion slot on the back.

Things that can be used there are items that normally use and expansion slot but don't plug into the motherboard like that fan controller oolon pictured.

Other things would be Light control cards, like the one that comes with the NZXT led light kit http://www.nzxt.com/new/products/cas...led_kit_-_blue
Single slot blowers eg http://www.akasa.com.tw/update.php?t...ng&model=AK-SB
USB back panels, that plug into a spare motherboard header, cannot find one off hand but you can get them.
You can also get firewire and esata slots that pulg into motherboard headers.