Question 1

How is this unit able to fit into a 3.5 inch internal bay?  In other words, I have an empty DVD player slot, is there an adapter for this and the Thermatake

Accepted Answer

Your DVD player slot is most likely 5.25", so you'd need a tray adapter to put this into, then put the whole thing into your 5.25" bay.

Take a look at N82E16817986012 as an example of what you'd want to use.

Question 2

I installed my Thermaltake AC0031 and connected everything but the usb type A connector. Everything seems to work, so what does the usb type A connector do?

Accepted Answer

It will enable the second usb 3.0 port. The mother board header connector enables one usb 3.0 port and all the card slot ports.

Question 3

is this internal or external and mac pro compatible
?

Accepted Answer

It's Internal, but it has both a USB 3.0 internal connector for 3.0 related stuff, a 3.0 USB cable that you have to plug into a USB 3.0 port, as well as an SATA connector and a molex power connector.  All but the 3.0 USB cable are internal, so you would need a way to pass through that cable to an external 3.0 port.

See this for more info on cables/connections/specs:
 but if you go to the www thermaltakeusa com web site (insert the periods where they belong) and in the search box, put in ac0031 and in the drop down next to it, make sure you select product.  Then click Search and it should pull up the product.

According to the site, it does state it's compatible with:
Windows XP, Vista, Mac OS 9.x / X, Windows 7, Windows 8

Hope this helps.

Question 4

Based on the photos and customer review comments, many--if not all--of the ports on this unit are upside-down. Can this unit be mounted upside-down so that the ports will be correct?

Accepted Answer

I don't see why not.  Mounting it upside-down might depend on the case.

I have an AC0031 "right side up" in a Cooler Master case, in an external 5.25" bay that has hardware and a faceplate for a 3.5" device.

I have USB ports in all four possible orientations and have gotten used to it.  I think my Dell monitor is worst, with a vertical orientation, and the opposite of what I expect.  The AC0031 doesn't really bother me.

Question 5

How does the esata and usb 3.0 attach to the motherboard?

Accepted Answer

You have to have a USB 3.0 connector in your matherboard to be able to used this devise on the picture that shows the back you can see the cables the blue plug is the one you need on your motherboard.  I had to buy a PCI card with the usb 3.0 plug because my motherboard didn't have it.

Question 6

How does the 5V 2.5A charger port (I think its the brown or orange usb port) work?  It is only for charging (like a phone)?  Or can it also transfer data like a typical usb?

Accepted Answer

The charging port you see to the left, in orange, is a charging port only.  It does not recognize USB drives etc.  It delivers 5V 2.5A and meets the 2012 Smartphone BC1.2 spec.  It does work well to charge my smart phone quite quickly.

Question 7

what is the external usb3 type a connector lead used for.  Is it meant to protrude from the rear of the computer? . I can't find any socket on the mobo for it

Accepted Answer

That connector can be plugged into an PCI USB expansion card like: http://m.newegg.com/Product/index?itemnumber=14G-0001-00018

Question 8

My MB is USB 2.0 Will this unit work in it? MB does not have a USB3.0 connector on it for the external USB 3.0 cable

Accepted Answer

You can in fact adapt this reader to work on USB 2.0. All you need is a USB 3 to USB adaptor. I found one at a local computer shop in a pinch while I waited in an internal PCI-e card with USB 3 to come in.

Question 9

Is the LED suppose to come on when hooked into the power supply? The LED does not come on for me and I can't get the device to work.

Accepted Answer

I don't know what LED you are talking about. No LED's are illuminated when wired to your computers power supply. The LED's for the individual devices will illuminate when you plug a card inot one of the slots (Ex. MS Slot) in. Also the USB ports should work if you wired them into your motherboard. I hope this is helpful.

Question 10

Seeing lots of conflicting comments and need a clarification.  This device has a 20-pin MOBO cable AND, apparently, a USB port on the back if it that sounds like it's supposed to be cabled out the back of the case and into an external USB port.  I get providing both options for those older MOBOs that don't have a 20-pin connector, but at least some of the comments indicate BOTH cables have to be connected for the device to be fully functional.  That seems like incredibly bad design and engineering, but I'd like to confirm before I order, so if anybody can comment one way or another, please let me know and also what MOBO you're using.

?

Accepted Answer

That is the design, and it is not a bad idea at all. Others give a 20 pin for 3.0 and a 10 pin (or 5) for 2.0, so some part runs at USB 2.0 - usually the card slots. EVERY connection on the front of this beauty runs full tilt.

Others have said how they connected all cables; I know I did. I used a pcie-1x slot to add an adapter with a type A internal socket. Another wrote precisely of the board he has that comes with both types internally. Finally, you _can_ use an external connector. The USB cable it comes with is long enough.

You can settle for less; that is your choice. Just don't put down what you don't appreciate. HTH.

Questions & Answers