USB Cards

USB cards are vital when upgrading your computer or building a new one from scratch. They allow you to easily add additional USB ports to your computer, so you can plug in extra USB devices. Not sure what to look for in a USB card? Here are the answers to some of the most common questions you may have.

What is a USB card?

A USB card is a type of controller card that allows you to add one or more USB ports to your computer.

What's a controller card?

A controller card is a piece of computing hardware that controls the link between a computer and peripheral device, such as a mouse, keyboard, or webcam. Designed to fit in spaces on a motherboard, controller cards offer a variety of functions and are important components to consider if you want to build a computer from the ground up.

When would I need a new or extra USB card?

If you use a mouse, keyboard, printer, and other computing accessories, you may find you run out of available USB ports quickly. By adding a USB card to your computer, you can keep all your peripheral devices plugged in at the same time. You'll also need a USB card if you plan on assembling a new computer from scratch.

What's the difference between a USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 card?

USB 3.0 cards offer extremely quick data transfer speeds with USB 3.0 devices and are up to 10 times faster than USB 2.0 cards. They also provide more efficient power management and are backwards compatible with USB 2.0 devices.