On board USB 2.0 (Help needed)

[Infernal29]

Hi, I am new on here and I'm new to building PCs. I went with the Maximus IX Hero for my motherboard and NZXT Kraken x62 for my cpu liquid cooler. I also bought a NZXT Hue+ for RGB fans. So my question is, does this motherboard only have 1 usb 2.0 connector? I only found one on there. Both the cpu cooler and Hue+ use usb 2.0. Would the ROG Extension work as a 2.0 connector or am I going to have to get something like this https://www.nzxt.com/product-overview/internal-usb-hub

Also, if I were to get that, would it affect the performance of the cooler since now there's 2 things plugged in on the same connector?

I'm sorry if I'm asking too many questions and I hope someone on here will be able to help me with my dilemma.


Thank you so much!

[Korth]

ASUS MAXIMUS IX HERO, USB specifications from official product page:
ASMedia® USB 3.1 controller : 1 x USB 3.1 front panel connector port(s)
ASMedia® USB 3.1 controller : 2 x USB 3.1 port(s) (2 at back panel, , Type-A + Type-C)
Intel® Z270 Chipset : 6 x USB 3.0 port(s) (4 at back panel, blue, 2 at mid-board)
Intel® Z270 Chipset :6 x USB 2.0 port(s) (4 at back panel, black, 2 at mid-board)*
* 2 x USB2.0 port at mid-board comes from the ROG extension (ROG_EXT) port.

ASUS MAXIMUS IX HERO, USB specifications/comments from User Manual:
Intel® Z270 Chipset :
6 x USB 3.0 ports ( 4 ports at back panel [blue], 2 ports at mid-board [grey] )
6 x USB 2.0 ports ( 4 ports at back panel [black], 2 ports at mid-board [black] )*
* 2 x USB 2.0 ports at mid-board share with ROG extension (ROG_EXT) port.
ASMedia® USB 3.1 controller :
1 x USB 3.1 front panel connector
2 x USB 3.1 ports ( 1 Type-A [red] and 1 Type-C [black] at back panel )

Back I/O Ports :
4 x USB 2.0 ports [black] ... "Intel® USB 2.0 ports 7, 8, 9, and 10. Bottom port (USB2_7) supports USB BIOS Flashback. Second port from the bottom (USB2_8) supports KeyBot II feature."
4 x USB 3.0 ports [blue] ... "Intel® USB 3.0 ports 3, 4, 5, and 6."
2 x USB 3.1 ports ( 1 x Type-A [red] and 1 x Type-C [black] ) ... "USB 3.1 Type-A port (EA3) and USB 3.1 Type-C port (EC2)"
Internal I/O Ports :
1 x USB 3.1 front panel connector ... (USB3.1_E1)
1 x USB 3.0 header supports additional 2 USB 3.0 ports ... 20-1 pin (USB3_12), "The USB Module is purchased separately."
1 x USB 2.0 header supports additional 2 USB 2.0 ports [ via ROG_EXT header ] ...10-1 pin (USB1314), "1 x USB 2.0 port (USB1314) at mid-board shares with ROG extension (ROG_EXT) port."

* Never connect a 1394 cable to the USB headers. Doing so will damage the motherboard!
* Due to USB 3.0 controller limitation, USB 3.0 devices can only be used under Windows® 7 and after the USB 3.0 driver installation.
* USB 3.0 devices can only be used as data storage only.
* We strongly recommend that you connect USB 3.0 devices to USB 3.0 ports for faster and better performance for your USB 3.0 devices.
* Due to the design of the Intel chipset, all USB devices connected to the USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 ports are controlled by the xHCI controller. Some legacy USB devices must update their firmware for better compatibility.
* When KeyBot II is activated, USB hot plug function of the KeyBot port (USB 2.0 port 😎 will be temporarily disabled.
* Ensure that a USB mouse is connected to your motherboard if you want to use the mouse to control the BIOS setup program.

USB1314 is a standard USB2 header with a standard 1C/2P configuration.
Two USB2 devices can be connected to it, although you'll need something like this cable. ("1C/2P" means single-controller/dual-port. If you use the proper kind of cable/splitter to connect two devices they will each have their own dedicated USB2 port with full power and signal bandwidths. If you use a USB hub/splitter on only one dedicated USB2 output then all downstream-connected USB devices must share power and signal bandwidths, their performance can indeed be reduced if they require more power or signal bandwidth than they can get on a crowded USB2 port.

ROG_EXT is a re-purposed USB2 header, it retains identical pinout and (people say) it can be used as a USB2 header. (Strictly speaking: it is a modified, unmarked, and uncertified "USB" part so it doesn't actually need to be compliant or compatible with any USB2 standards). ASUS's wording about the relationship between USB2 ports and ROG_EXT seems confusing to me - perhaps ASUS staff at this ROG Forum could clarify exact details about maximum USB2 ports supported and which header(s) support them? - but I think this ambiguity is caused more by poor translation than by deliberate obfuscation of precious classified ROG_EXT technologies, lol.

You can always plug USB2 devices into USB3 ports but they will run at (up to 480Mbps, 60MB/s) USB2 High Speed instead of (up to 5000Mbps, 625MB/s) USB3 Super Speed.

Here's a post about the same question from a guy with a hardware/config remarkably similar to yours. The answers given to him are informative.