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Why do (desktop) PC have so few USB ports ?
(sh.itjust.works)
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this post was submitted on 15 Feb 2024
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Sure, but just like the PCIe USB port option, it's quite frustrating to add another device to a new PC.
You're the one with exorbitant usb needs. That means you'll be the one who expansions are made for. I don't have the stats in front of me, but I'd wager the vast vast majority of pc users don't use beyond 4.
Thinking about this, my Mobo has only 5+c on back panel and I was bit afraid of that. Well, why though? Keyboard, mouse, usb audio and well, that is it. Sometimes I plug in extra usb mic. I don't have printer or some weird setup, hard drives etc. When I want to connect flash drive, I put it to one of 2 extra slots in front. Same with mobile when I want to transfer something.
Most people will only need 3-4 usb ports…. Ever.
1-2 for the KBM, another for a printer (which are increasingly WiFi enabled,) and another for a sub stick.
Hubs aren’t that difficult and a single cable will look neater to your desk anyhow. Run your KbM/joysticks to the hub instead. (And you can get some 3m VHB tape, or far less permanently, the 3m command adhesive that’s double sided, to mount it somewhere like the back of the KB tray.)
I've got 7 USB ports on my PC and every single one of them is used. I don't need anymore at the moment but I mean this adds up fast.
Then I've got my HOTAS. I just unplug my controller and plug that in to use instead.
This seems like a lot, though. Like, they are all reasonable items! But it seems more like a niche/enthusiasts situation, which would require a niche/enthusiasm solution.
Not saying it wouldn't be nice to have more usb as standard, but most decent motherboards I've checked out have around 4 2.0 slots, 2-4 3.0 slots, and 0-2 C slots. Just for back panel I/O
6-ish slots seems fine for most uses
Speakers > Why USB instead of optical/aux?
SSD, HDD, Memory card reader > Do you use all of them every day?
Headset + microphone > Why not combine/do you use both every day?
And I mean, you already have a hub, worst case if it's full just get a second one or one with more slots...
Speakers - It's both. They're RGB.
Storage - Yep. Everyday. HDD is media, SSD is games, memory card reader for my microSD for lemmy posts.
Headset + microphone - Yes I do use them everyday and no they cannot be combined. The microphone is studio quality. The headset has good audio but no headset on this earth has microphone quality comparable to a stand alone recording microphone.
.....you keep your games on an external drive?
Yes. And like I've said elsewhere, there is literally no problem with it.
I mean it's a bit more expensive, leads to some slightly slower initial load times, and causes some pop in on some games, but sure. There's no problem with it. For whatever reason you'd do it for.
I needed the extra space regardless so the price wasn't a factor to be specific to this, slightly lower must refer to like 1-2 seconds because it takes a max of 3-4 to load any game and I have no idea what pop in is but I haven't noticed any problems in performance.
I mean you should have had several open slots to install an internal drive if you needed more space, but pop in is where as you're moving through a world, things like trees or rocks or creatures etc don't appear from as far away as they should. It get pretty noticeable on games like No Man's Sky and Subnautica if the game isn't installed on a fast hard drive that can quickly send its data. Even the fastest drive they make won't totally eliminate the problem on NMS. Just lessens it.
You have games on an external SSD? That seems odd to me.
I don't know why. Works perfectly fine
Because there's no reason not to want them on an internal drive but there's good reasons not to want them on an external drive 🤷
Faster transfer speed and lower CPU usage are the main points but reliability too as you're adding one more interface in the way.
Calm your tits captain know it all. He said it works perfectly fine for him.
They said they don't know why it seems odd and I explained why. I'm not the one who mentions that USB stuff accumulates quickly while using hardware in a suboptimal way... They could have at least two free ports just by opening their computer case and moving their drives inside...
Modmic + headphones plugged in a USB soundcard (sound blaster g3 in this case) is my go to, but I'm no singer so I don't see the use for a studio quality microphone in my case...
As for the rest, if I was to use an SSD for games I would want it connected to the motherboard directly instead of through USB 🤔
Anyway, you do you 🤷
Nor am I
It's an expansion for the games. I've also had zero problems with it being through USB.
You obviously need a USB cooling beer glass stand, and a USB keyboard fan, and a USB lamp to spot on the game keys.
You are not utilizing the full potential of USB versatility! 😋
HOTAS, pedals, VR headset, earcans, KBM, webcam. Laser printer/scanner
A pi pico W that serves as control node for the adhoc pico network I’ve cobbled into a home control network. (Maybe I have a problem,)
A couple desktop 3d printers, plus their webcams.
A TX adapter for an R/C simulator.
And of course the hubs to manage all that.
We’re not normal, though.
Looks a pretty cool toy, don't worry you're normal it's the other which aren't.
But first I thought you were talking about the Pico USB oscilloscope (For this one, I dream of an Ethernet version as the standard, it's easier to debut electronic from an office chair near the PC controlling it)
I wouldn’t exactly call it a toy, exactly- it started with using the ultrasonic range finding modules (compliments of adafruit) to track movements for hvac zone control (similar to the smart thermostats,) and the expanding that to control RBGW lighting (its all neopixels in various forms,) and bringing them up and down as you move around the house.
It was a lot more work setting them up, but I get shivers anytime someone suggests an Alexa device is a good idea. I like my privacy.
What's annoying these days is how few USB-C port expanders there are. I get why - USB-C is supposed to be able to deliver a certain amount of power, and a hub can't do that while staying compliant to the standard - but it means that I have to resort to switching back and forth between devices. It's even worse with laptops that have only one USB-C port that also doubles as power delivery: can't use a yubikey C while having the laptop plugged in!
I guess I've been using laptops for so long, the concept of not having a USB hub seems alien to me. But they are really cheap and you just need to plug them in (so much easier than installing a PCIe card).
Also some peripharals come with addition USB ports. My monitors provide 3 USB-A ports each when connected over USB-C. They are only USB 2.0 ports but that's perfect for plugging in the mouse and keyboard.
What? It's easy as hell, man. Shut off pc, take off side and plug in the pcie hub, one screw, put the side on, and turn on PC again. Usually don't even need to install the driver yourself. I don't even think you listed more than like 7 things to plug in, anyhow.