Additional usb slot for laptop. How to add ports on a laptop
So, if you decide to increase the number of USB ports, then you need to find out if there are free connectors for connecting a cable with USB ports. If these connectors are found, then everything is simple. You need to purchase a cable with ports. Such a device is inserted into the front panel of the computer case and connected to the connector on motherboard(see picture). See the motherboard manual for the exact location of the connectors. There are also options for outputting ports to back panel housings. Cost from 5$
Step 2
If you don’t have free connectors, or you don’t want to bother with connecting them, then an external USB controller will help you. This device is a board that contains several USB ports, as well as a host controller. These devices come in two types. The first is inserted into the PCI slot on the motherboard, and the ports are output to the rear panel. The second type is inserted into the front of the case and the ports are output to the front panel of the PC. They're standing similar devices from 20$
Step 3
Another option involves using USB hubs. A hub is a device with multiple USB ports that connects to a free USB port. Speaking in simple language, A USB hub is an extension cord with a splitter. This method is the fastest and safest, because no need to go inside the computer. Such devices cost from 25$.
How often has a situation arisen in our lives when the ports on a laptop are sorely lacking, or the ports we need are missing altogether. However, few people know that this situation, in most cases, is easily fixable.
There are several ways to increase the number of USB ports and add missing ones useful interfaces laptop. Below we will talk about the most accessible of them.
To increase the quantity USB connectors you can use USB-Hub
The essence of the device is to make several USB ports out of one. Using a USB-Hub, which, when connected, will only take one USB port, we will get from 2 to 16 ports. Hub connects regular USB cord included in the kit and takes power from the USB port on the laptop.
However, for correct operation equipment with high power consumption ( external HDD, phone charging from a USB connector) You may need a hub with an additional, external power supply.
Using USB-Hub, you will save yourself from situations when you have to pull out a flash drive or mouse to connect them instead external hard disk or phone for charging.
On older laptop models, you can use expansion cards for the PCMCIA slot.
Unlike USB-Hub, with these cards you can not only increase the number of USB ports, but also add interfaces and devices missing from the factory without purchasing new laptop. The PCMCIA connector is located inside the laptop case and is usually closed with plastic “curtains” or a rectangular-shaped plug. 
Nearby there is a button that helps you remove the plug or card from the slot. The card is inserted into the slot and protrudes slightly from the laptop body.
PCMCIA cards come with different interfaces. Here is a list of the most popular ones: 
PCMCIA on LAN (RJ-45 connector) 
PCMCIA to COM (RS-232 connector) 
PCMCIA to LPT (printer connector)
PCMCIA on 1394 (firewire) 
...and others
For modern laptops, expansion cards are used for the EXPRESSCARD slot.
The slot cover is also rectangular in shape, but narrower than that of PCMCIA. Or the same width, but one of its corners has a cutout.
Their difference from PCMCIA is the form, a more expanded range of ports and devices, as well as more high speed data transfer.
The main advantage of EXPRESCARD is its support for more modern ports and devices. Here is a small list of the most popular:
EXPRESSCARD to USB ports version 2.0 and version 3.0
EXPRESCARD on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
EXPRESSCARD to COM (RS-232 connector)
EXPRESSCARD SSD drives and flash drives
EXPRESSCARD sound cards
EXPRESSCARD modems and cards for SIM
... and others
ATTENTION! PCMCIA and EXPRESSCARD ports and devices for them are physically incompatible!
Our company is pleased to offer you a range of the devices listed above. Our managers will help you with selection, installation and configuration.
You can find prices in ours, or.
Modern desktop computers equipped with sufficient daily work quantity USB ports(on some motherboard models there are up to 16 of them). But what if you have a laptop that has only 4 USB ports(some laptops and most netbooks only have 3)? The answer is simple - increase the number of USB ports.
One way increasing the number of USB ports is buying a USB hub. We decided to test the model 10 port USB hub with its own power supply, allowing you to connect power-consuming devices (for example, an external hard drive, modems, etc.).
At the heart of any work USB hub lies the principle of port branching. According to standard specification USB 2.0 one system can connect up to 127 USB devices, but in practice it actually turned out to connect 90 devices). So, our USB hub allows, through one USB port our laptop/netbook add 10 additional.
The device itself is a pencil case, on the main side of which there are 9 USB ports, above each of which there is an LED indicating the connected device. 10 USB port is located at the bottom end of the hub, which is convenient when using a device that is rarely removed, such as an adapter wireless mouse or Bluetooth.
power unit 10 port USB hub outputs voltage 5 volts and designed for load 2 amps. Based on specification USB 2.0 maximum load port cannot exceed 0.5 ampere, so we have the ability to connect 4 powerful consumers, for example, an external hard drive powered by a USB 2.0 port.
Let's start testing the device. A 10-port USB hub connects to a laptop via a cord USB A - USB B(these are used to connect printers, scanners and other peripheral equipment). A USB hub can be connected to a laptop even without its own power supply, but with a limitation on connected devices - you can connect one keyboard, adapter wireless mouse and a USB flash drive. When connected additional equipment you will receive a warning that the power consumption of the USB port has been exceeded.
When connecting its own power supply, the device allowed you to connect USB flash drives in the amount of 4 pieces, two external hard USB-powered drive, Yota modem 4G and Megafon modem 3G. All devices have been identified and are ready for use. The only thing that needs to be taken into account is that the speed of our port to which we connected USB hub can't be anymore 400 Mbit, so that any actions with storage media (copying and moving files) connected via USB hub will affect the overall speed. That is, devices that you plan to work with intensively must be connected directly to the laptop, and printers, modems and other low-speed devices must be connected to the 10-port USB hub.
It’s worth noting that the native power supply of our 10-port USB hub is only enough for 4 powerful consumers, i.e., if you want to connect 10 external hard drives, then the system will notify you about excess consumption USB power supply. For enhanced power supply, it is necessary to install a power supply designed for a load of at least 10 amperes (0.5 amperes per port).
This is the most commonly used interface in a computer. WITH via USB connect almost everything peripherals, flash drives, modems and other equipment. Therefore, it is not uncommon when using a computer to find that the available USB ports are not enough. In such a situation, users have a completely natural question of how to increase the number of USB ports. From this material you will learn how to quickly and without serious costs solve the problem of a lack of USB ports.
Increasing the number of USB ports using a hub
The easiest option is to purchase a USB hub. A USB hub is a device that allows you to connect more than one USB port to one USB port. USB devices. Thanks to the features USB interface, devices connected to a computer using such hubs work as if they were connected directly to the computer.
The only problem with using hubs is connecting devices that require serious power via USB. For example, external hard drives, which are powered by USB, when connected to a computer via a hub, can work very slowly or not stable. To avoid such inconveniences, it is better to buy USB hubs with additional food from the socket.
It should be noted that when selecting USB hub, you shouldn’t save money and buy the best cheap model. Otherwise, there is a high risk of simply losing money. Cheap USB hubs not only quickly fail, they can damage the devices connected to them, which can result in serious replacement or repair costs.
Increasing the number of USB ports using a controller
The second option that can help increase the number of USB ports is to use an additional controller. Such controllers are designed as a separate board and are connected to PCI or . To install additional USB controllers you will have to open the lid system unit, but you will get more stable and reliable operation compared to USB hubs.
Typically, controllers that connect to PCI interface, provide the user with 2 or 5 additional ports USB 2.0. And controllers using PCI Express x1, provide up to 2 additional USB 3.0 ports.
Hi all! Today we will look at several questions on the topic, how to connect usb to the computer. First, we will learn how to connect any devices to a PC or laptop. And secondly, I will tell you how you can connect to computer additional USB ports if you don’t have enough for all devices. So, let's go!
A USB port is by far the most common type of connecting devices to a computer or laptop. There are three types of connectors: 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0. If the first one can now be found only on the oldest computers, then the second and third ones are used today. At their core, they differ in data transfer speed. And according to appearance, what is more important for us now is color. USB 2.0 has a black connector and plug, USB 3.0 has a blue color. You can read more about the specifications and differences between standards.
Before you connect USB cable to the computer, look at the plug of your gadget - if the blue connector is connected to the black port, then the device will not use all its speed characteristics to the maximum. If you plug a black plug into a blue one, then absolutely nothing will happen - the USB 3.0 port will simply operate at the speed that is maximum for 2.0.
So, look at the back panel of your computer, find the port USB of that the same color as the plug, and connect it.
After this, the device will either be detected by itself in the system, if it is a keyboard, mouse, webcam, or some other simple and common device for which Windows already has a driver. Or to work you will need to install software, which is included with the device on CD.
How to connect additional USB ports to a computer?
Any modern motherboard already has built-in USB ports - both 2.0 and 3.0. However, we usually connect so many different peripherals that there may simply not be enough of them, for example, to connect a flash drive or external drive and upload fresh photos to it.
Connecting a USB stick to the rear panel
What to do? There are two ways. The first, preferable one, is to buy a separate stick with USB ports and insert it into additional slots, available on the back panel of the case - the same ones where we attach the video or sound card, wireless adapter, and other components connected directly to the board. It looks like this:
In order to accomplish this task, the motherboard must support the connection of additional USB ports. This can be determined by the presence on system board connectors labeled USB or USB 3.
Connectors for USB 3.0 are large, have many contacts and are designed to connect two ports at once in one plug.
USB 2.0 is smaller and each of them can be connected to 2 ports separately.
Accordingly, we look at the presence of such connectors on the motherboard, buy the corresponding brackets, fix them in the back of the case and connect them to our connectors.
Connecting a unit with USB ports instead of a flop
Another variation of this method of increasing the number of ports is a special unit with USB, which is inserted into the front of the case instead of the old floppy disk 3.5
There are many options for designing such a block. For example, combined for USB connections 2.0 and 3.0
And in the next example USB ports 2.0 combined with connectors for connecting a microphone and headphones
Connecting such a block occurs in exactly the same way as the bracket described above - to the corresponding connectors on the motherboard.
External USB hub
Finally, another option for increasing the number of ports is to buy an external USB hub. However, there are a number of disadvantages, because of which I would not connect any serious equipment through it, but would only use it for flash drives or, as a last resort, a mouse.
Since this is a hub, the entire load is from several of it ports goes to one single computer to which he himself is connected. Due to this overload, certain devices may periodically fall off, which is not good. If you connect to USB hub hard drive, the electricity supplied through it may not be enough to operate it. Therefore, we reserve this method only for light fast food - flash drives.
