Front X
WHAT IS FRONTX? FRONTX (Front X-tension) is a new product invented to extend and transfer computer ports to the front panel of your PC system. Its modular design allows you to customize your own ports selection. Read on to find out more.....
HOW DOES IT WORK? The 5.25" FRONTX Casing has 4 port holding bays, i.e. 1 large bay and 3 small bays. The FRONTX Port is simply an extension cable fitted onto a custom designed port holder (face plate), which can be slotted into the port holding bay. It's that simple!!
As the design is modular, ports are totally exchangeable, e.g. an audio port can go into any of the 3 small bays, top or bottom space. Similarly, game or usb port can go into either the top or bottom space of the large bay. The voids of the unused or partially used port holding bays are covered by slotting blank plates.
Each port holding bay can hold a maximum of 2 computer ports, which means the FRONTX Casing can hold a maximum of 8 computer ports.
The external cables simply transfer the PC ports located at the back of the PC, to the 5.25" drive bay. The extension cables re-enter the PC chasis through an opening of PCI/ISA slot, and the connectors are secured on the front panel with our FRONTX modular system. Please read our installation guide: installing external ports.
INTERNAL PORTS connect to motherboard headers
All new motherboards provide a full range of internal port headers (USB, IEEE 1394, etc.), supposedly to comply with the design guidelines of "Intel Front Panel I/O Connectivity". However these headers (pinouts) cannot be fully utilized due to the limitation of PC design. Not anymore. FRONTX is here to complete the missing links between the mother-board and the computer's front panel. We can humbly say that FRONTX is indeed a breakthrough in PC design.
Now you can utilize the unused USB header (pinout), FireWire header, etc. on your motherboard and bring additional communication ports to the front of your PC case at minimal cost. Please read our installation guide: installing internal ports.
COLOR OPTIONS
FRONTX is available in 3 colors, i.e. black, gray and ivory. The color buttons above represent its actual product colors
LONG TERM SOLUTION - SAVE!!
PC is all about flexibility
As the product is upgradeable, any worn-out or damage of port can be replaced easily, without the need to replace the entire product, or the whole PC case.
Not sure what your needs are in the future? No worries, you are free to recustomize your ports configuration anytime. FRONTX can accomodate any new port invented in the future (USB 3.0?). No high cost incurred, since you do not have to replace the entire product, or the whole PC case.
Unwanted FRONTX Port can be used as extension cable. Just remove the port holder from the cable and you get a 3 feet extension cable..... or you can use it for do it yourself front ports installation.
PACKAGED MULTIMEDIA PORTS
FRONTX MULTIMEDIA PORTS come with FRONTX Casing and a package of soundcard ports which include game, headphone, microphone and audio-in ports. You will quickly see how convenient it is to have these ports mounted on the front side of your CPU tower / PC case.
FRONT PANEL HEADPHONE / LINE-OUT:
Plugging in your headphone cuts off the speakers' operation -- you never have to crawl to the messy ports at the back of your computer case / PC case. The front mounted headphone jack works just like a hi-fi system. Speakers can be permanently connected to the back, while the handy headphone socket at the front is ready when you need it.
FRONT PANEL GAME / MIDI:
With the game port placed on the front panel of the computer case, the gaming device can be easily connected when needed. You no longer need to waste desk space with rear connected joysticks. And because swapping of game control devices is made so easy, you can plug in the appropriate device (e.g. game pad or joystick) to suit your various games.
FRONT PANEL AUDIO-IN / LINE-IN:
The front loaded or front accessed audio-in jack is convenient for sound input and sound recording. You can now make your own MP3 recordings with ease. This port is seldom utilized by most users because it is hard to reach.
FRONT PANEL MICROPHONE / MIC:
The convenience of front mounted microphone jack is obvious. But don't forget, the placing of the headphone and microphone jacks adjacent to each other allows for easy connection of your headset.
EASY INSTALLATION
Installation is so simple, no driver is needed! Simply install FRONTX Casing into a 5.25" drive bay, let all the cables pass inside the PC case, and exit through a PCI/ISA opening. Plug the connectors into the relevant ports at the back of the PC. Use the Metal Plate provided to cover the gap of the PCI/ISA opening. That's it!!
If you are installing Multimedia Ports or Headphone Port, simply fix the speaker socket onto the Metal Plate with the ring nut provided, and plug your existing speakers into the speaker socket. .....view complete installation manual
Installing internal ports is quite straightforward too, simply plug the connectors onto the port headers (pin-outs) on your motherboard and make sure that the wire assignments (color coded) are matched with the pin assignments. .....view complete installation manual
NOTE - you can install a configuration which combines both external and internal ports.
Vist our youtube video that demonstrates how Front X is to install