Mark Twain wrote:
Hello Paul,

I guess there's a big difference in the USB
flash drives. I'm not all that certain that
Radio Shack here in town would have the Patriot
so I might just go ahead and order it from Newegg
since this isn't a time sensitive issue.

The 8500 does have the memory card reader as I
upload my images using the camera memory chip
but the 8200 does not.

I would like to upgrade the 8200 but the only USB
slots are in front under the hinged panel.

Thanks,
Robert

When you put a PCI card in the 8200, the USB ports
would be on the back. It depends on whether the
8200 is pushed up against a wall, as to whether
those connectors would be accessible. I use ports
on the back of this computer I'm typing on, all
the time. I've had two USB flash keys and a USB
optical drive connected at the same time (leaving
about one spare port).

Having the connectors on the back, causes the
fewest installation problems. It's just the
usage that isn't very convenient.

*******

Getting an additional connector on the front
of the computer, is a herculean effort :-)

If the computer has spare 5.25" drive bays, you
can use products like this.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811996047

That's a rather exaggerated example, in that to use
all of those, it would be a real project hooking
all that stuff up successfully. Your 8200 would not have
the internal ports necessary to hook that item up. Even
my latest motherboard here, would be hard pressed to
satisfy all of them.

For example, on this card, there are two USB
connectors pointing *inside* the computer. You purchase
the above tray product, and run two of its cables, down
to the two connectors on this add-in card. Now this
card will not fit in the 8200, so this is purely for
illustration only.

http://images10.newegg.com/NeweggIma...jQfDvsiKWx.jpg

*******

So maybe I should pick out a pair of products that
would work :-)

Objectives:

*One* working USB2 port in an unused 5.25" drive bay

Parts:

PCI to USB card with *one* internal port connector $14
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16815158045

SIIG JU-H42B22-S2 One port to four port 3.5" or 5.25" bay front panel $25
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16815150025

Now, I really didn't want that last one, but I was having trouble
finding a $13 "dumb" panel without fancy circuit board. All this
job really requires is the equivalent of an extension cord. And I'm
trying to make a neat and tidy solution.

This is the right kind of dumb panel (just extension cords), but
it fits a spare 3.5" bay rather than 5.25". And it's still
too damned expensive for what you're getting. This is a USB3
bay, but you could still plug one cable into the USB2 PCI card
above. Of the two ports, one would work and the other one would
be disconnected. It's harder to find PCI cards with just
the right mix of internal ports for the job, to match a USB
front panel tray exactly.

Silverstone USB 3.0 ports with 3.5" $24
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817997021

It's always been hard picking these things, because there
are a few things to factor in to getting a good one.

I guess I'm going to have to look on Amazon.

SEDNA - 2 Port USB 3.0 to 3.5" Floppy Bay, 2x Type A Connector $11
http://www.amazon.com/SEDNA-Floppy-F.../dp/B00V2DUBXA

The $14 PCI card plus the $11 adapter for 3.5" bay, gives me
a single working USB 2.0 port on the front of the 8200 for $25.
And that is assuming there is a spare 3.5" hole on the front.
I would try to purchase all my items from one supplier,
to keep shipping costs down.

If you go with the $14 card and the SIIG bay at $25, that's
a total of $39 bucks and all the ports work on the front.
The bandwidth of one USB port is shared over all four
connectors (since the tray holds a hub chip).

Now buying the $14 PCI to USB card, plus a USB extension
cord, that may cost less, but then there is a cord dangling beside
the 8200 all the time. The cord would run from the back of
the computer, out where you can get at it and plug in your
USB key.

(Example of Type A Male to Type A Female, for extension... $5)
http://www.amazon.com/Extension-Cabl.../dp/B00182CIB8

That means I can do a less than desirable solution for $19 total
plus shipping. Or $39 plus shipping for a more "deluxe" solution.

Paul