usb ports front and back ????

[knockavacca]

hi,on my pc i have 4 usb ports in the back plus 2 on the front,my question is, ? why are the 2 front ones not able to work with SOME of the usb sticks.,seems like the front ones (although working) are not as powerful as the ones on the back,(hope you know what i mean ) many thanks

[rccatnap]

I assembled a PC a few months ago and the USB ports on the case were a different standard to the motherboard i.e USB (1) on the case and USB2 on the motherboard. USB3 is now around, but not yet as widespread.
The case USBs are plugged into a secondary USB power socket on the motherboard and that can not always provide sufficient power for the external devices, whereas the back ones, which are built directly onto it, seem to be able to. Generally I find that it helps to use a self-powered USB extension socket(s) for those intermittently used devices.

[ChuckFickens]

It can also be because the front ports are sometimes considered to be going through a USB hub when the rear ones are not.

[knockavacca]

thank you both for your help