An update on my external USB sound card issue, I did switch it to USB 3 ports and the problem has disappeared. So not sure if there's a driver issue or a hardware issue with my USB 2 ports but I guess it works now. I don't really see the same issue with my mouse (though it does randomly take extra long to wake, so I might switch that just to see), though I did have extreme USB issues when trying to play Battlefront II for some reason. My mouse would disconnect, I'd hear 3-4 USB disconnect sounds, then a bunch of connect sounds and my mouse would come back. 3-4 minutes later same thing.
Only in Battlefront II though. Weird.
But the real reason to post is someone finally created my ideal case, completely passively cooled!
https://www.monsterlabo.com/the-beast
$1135 though lol