Why do (desktop) PC have so few USB ports ? - eviltoast

I just bought a new PC, based on Lenovo Legion gaming desktop. It comes with 2 USB port in the front, 4 regular USB port in the back + 1 USB-C port. That’s a total of 7 USB slots.

It’s been like 2 decades that every possible hardware device comes with an USB interface. Keyboard, mouse, joystick, hard-drive, memory stick, headset, webcam, spot/photo camera, and many others.

Of course it’s my fault, I should have thought about USB connectors when shopping for a new PC and check before buying. but seriously, 7 USB slots is so few compared to all the device I have using USB

  • Stamets@lemmy.world
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    9 months ago

    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.

    1. Webcam
    2. Speakers
    3. Mouse
    4. Keyboard
    5. SSD
    6. HDD
    7. 4-Slot USB Hub
    8. Memory Card Reader
    9. Gaming Controller
    10. Wireless Headset Dongle
    11. Studio Microphone

    Then I’ve got my HOTAS. I just unplug my controller and plug that in to use instead.

    • Mesophar@lemm.ee
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      9 months ago

      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

    • Kecessa@sh.itjust.works
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      9 months ago

      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…

      • Stamets@lemmy.world
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        9 months ago

        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.

            • Kecessa@sh.itjust.works
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              9 months ago

              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.

              • Coreidan@lemmy.world
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                9 months ago

                Calm your tits captain know it all. He said it works perfectly fine for him.

                • Kecessa@sh.itjust.works
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                  9 months ago

                  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…

            • ColeSloth@discuss.tchncs.de
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              9 months ago

              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.

              • Stamets@lemmy.world
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                9 months ago

                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.

                • ColeSloth@discuss.tchncs.de
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                  9 months ago

                  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.

        • Kecessa@sh.itjust.works
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          9 months ago

          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 🤷

          • Stamets@lemmy.world
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            9 months ago

            I’m no singer so I don’t see the use for a studio quality microphone in my case…

            Nor am I

            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

            It’s an expansion for the games. I’ve also had zero problems with it being through USB.

    • Buffalox@lemmy.world
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      9 months ago

      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! 😋

    • FuglyDuck@lemmy.world
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      9 months ago

      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.

      • Ziggurat@sh.itjust.worksOP
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        9 months ago

        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,)

        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)

        • FuglyDuck@lemmy.world
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          9 months ago

          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.