Help installing extra USB ports

[Nyukki]

By the way, if at any point it sounds like I'm pretending to know what I'm talking about, it's because I really don't have a clue.

I want to install 8 extra USB ports on my HTPC. Currently I have one empty PCI-E slot on the motherboard, and a WIFI card in the PCI-1 slot. Am I right in thinking I can throw a 4-Port USB card into the PCI-E slot and replace the WIFI card with a 4+1-Port USB card and install a USB WIFI dongle in the +1 port? Am I eplaining that correctly?

Do I simply plug the USB cards into the relavant PCI slots on the motherboard or do I need to connect any other cables to them? As far as I can tell pluggin in a seperate power supply is optional, right?

Here's what I'm working with:


That's the WIFI card with the antenna sticking out.

Inside:
Motherboard brand is MSI, guessing H61M-E33 (B3) is the name of the model. That's the video card plugged into the blue PCI slot.


Empty PCI-E slot above where it says N1996


Replace the WIFI card with one of these and plug a USB WIFI dongle in the inside (+1) USB port. Ja?


Throw something like this in the PCI-E slot?


Current specs FYI:




Edit: And before you say anything -


Thanks!!/

[samsonlonghair]

It's worth mentioning that wifi via usb dongle may be slower than the wifi via PCI card. In this scenario, you won't be able to download or upload anything faster than max USB speed.

USB 1.1 maxes out at 12 Mbit/s.
USB 2.0 tops out at 480 Mbit/s .
USB 3.0 has usable data rate up to 4 Gbit/s.

What is the max speed you currently pull off that wifi card?

[Ziggy]

It's worth mentioning that wifi via usb dongle may be slower than the wifi via PCI card. In this scenario, you won't be able to download or upload anything faster than max USB speed.

USB 1.1 maxes out at 12 Mbit/s.
USB 2.0 tops out at 480 Mbit/s .
USB 3.0 has usable data rate up to 4 Gbit/s.

What is the max speed you currently pull off that wifi card?

Wireless B is up to 11Mbps
Wireless G is up to 54Mbps
Wireless N is up to 300Mbps

From Wiki: "USB 2.0 was released in April 2000 (now called "Hi-Speed"), adding higher maximum signaling rate of 480 Mbit/s (due to bus access constraints the effective throughput is limited to 35 MB/s or 280 Mbit/s)."

Not that you're likely to hit 300Mbps with wireless N anyway, but the difference would be minute anyway. However, apparently 802.11ac is the new thing now and should become more common in the next year. Wiki says, "This specification has expected multi-station WLAN throughput of at least 1 gigabit per second and a single link throughput of at least 500 megabits per second (500 Mbit/s)." So you'd take a hit with USB 2.0, but not with 3.0/3.1.

If you're only using Wireless G and don't plan on upgrading to something faster anytime soon, then it doesn't matter at all. If you're concerned about always having the fastest possible speed, then be sure to a USB 3.0 card and a WiFi antenna that is capable of USB 3.0.

However, what do you need the 8 additional USB ports for? Maybe just use a PCI card with 4, then use a USB hub? If the devices you're gonna be using suck power, then be sure to get a hub with it's own power supply.

Another option I can think of is, and I know this isn't always possible, ditch wireless for a hardwired connection.

[samsonlonghair]

Yes, a USB 3.0 card, a USB 3.0 hub, and wired ethernet are the best options if possible.

[CRTGAMER]

Another option I can think of is, and I know this isn't always possible, ditch wireless for a hardwired connection.

Yes, a USB 3.0 card, a USB 3.0 hub, and WIRED Ethernet are the best options if possible.

THIS. Its a desktop, hookup that Ethernet cable! Cable is not that difficult to run thru the house. Worth it for the fastest possible reliable connection.

[Hobie-wan]

Another option I can think of is, and I know this isn't always possible, ditch wireless for a hardwired connection.

Yes, a USB 3.0 card, a USB 3.0 hub, and WIRED Ethernet are the best options if possible.

THIS. Its a desktop, hookup that Ethernet cable! Cable is not that difficult to run thru the house. Worth it for the fastest possible reliable connection.

Remember not everyone lives in houses and if the internet connection is far from where you need it, running a cable across the middle of the floor or 50 feet snaking along the wall isn't always great. I like the speed and reliability of wired too, but it isn't always the best option for everyone.

But on topis, I agree to just add the PCIe 1X USB card and if you really are hurting and still need more ports, get a powered hub as I imagine the need for that many means that you have things that are plugged/unplugged often, which will be easier with a hub you can reach.

[Nyukki]

Thanks for the replies guys. The 12 ports (including the 4 existing ones) are for USB controllers for my emulation setup: NES, SNES, N64, Saturn, Xbox 360 and an arcade stick all x2.

When I've used normal USB hubs I've experienced input lag. When I used an externally powered USB hub there was no noticable lag, but the issue was Windows would not boot with it plugged in, so I would have to unplug the hub and plug it in again once Windows has booted. This is troublesome for two reasons: 1, All cables are tucked around the back of the TV cabinet and; 2, The controller mapping in JoyToKey will reassign mapping to the controllers if they are unplugged and plugged in again, not always in the correct order, therefore I need all controllers plugged in constantly.

Wired ethernet is something I would definitely prefer, it is however not possible the way the TV is currently setup, and the wife won't allow cables running up the wall etc.

Think for the timebeing I'll just install one extra PCI card so I can get all player one controllers hooked up.

[Nyukki]

Unless, is there such a device that's basically another wifi hub that I can place behind the TV and from which I can run an ethernet cable into the PC?

That would free up the wifi card's pci slot.

[Ziggy]

^ Just get a USB extension cable, then plug in your controller adapter only as you use them. You don't need them all plug in at the same time, being that you can only use one controller at a time. And you have to plug the controller into the adapter anyway, the extra few seconds to plug the adapter into an extension cable wouldn't really be so bad. If you do get the extra four USB ports, you could leave your four most used adapters plugged in, then have one extension cable to swap out the rest.

[Ziggy]

Unless, is there such a device that's basically another wifi hub that I can place behind the TV and from which I can run an ethernet cable into the PC?

That would free up the wifi card's pci slot.

So wait, you have ethernet cable near the PC? It's just being plugged into something else? If it's coming from a router, then just get a network switch.