Should you add USB-C ports to your desktop?

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USB-C is an improvement over other types of USB in many ways. It was created to provide a more universal port for all your devices, but it offers so much more. USB-C ports support faster data transfer rates, typically charge much faster than USB-A, and can even handle high-resolution video and audio. With so many advantages over older USB, you may be wondering why PC makers still use USB-A and whether you should consider adding more USB-C ports to your PC.

In most cases, the answer is yes. A USB-C slot supporting USB4 can transfer hundreds of GB of games or large video clips in minutes, while the addition of PD makes it easier to charge devices without getting up from your chair. Adding more ports also gives you more versatility in what peripherals you use and allows you to use the same ones for all your devices.

It’s important to note that while more USB-C ports will always be useful, you don’t exactly need to remove all USB-A ports for a good desktop setup. One of the biggest advantages of USB-C is its compact size and versatility. If you buy a thin and light laptop like a MacBook Air, you don’t have a lot of room for ports. Being able to use the same USB-C slot to charge your device, transfer data, and connect peripherals is essential. That’s why a fully USB-C MacBook still gets the job done. However, for most desktops, having a good mix of USB-A and USB-C ports is the best step forward.

Getting more USB-C slots on your PC allows you to share peripherals between different devices. You can use the same mouse for a USB-C-only desktop and laptop, or share your tablet’s keyboard with your computer. Data transfer is another area where USB-C far exceeds its predecessors.

Most modern motherboards come with at least one USB-C port, which is enough to connect an external SSD or your phone to transfer data. However, if your PC doesn’t have one, adding a USB-C expansion card can double, triple, or even quadruple the speed at which you transfer files between your computer and external devices. USB-A speeds top out at 10Gbps with USB 3.2 Gen 2, while USB-C supports standards like USB4 which offers transfer speeds of 40Gbps or Thunderbolt 5 which supports a theoretical maximum of 120Gbps.

Another convenience of USB-C is the addition of Power Delivery (PD), which does not exist with USB-A. You can charge your phone or devices wirelessly with your PC, but the charging speed differs depending on whether you use USB-C or USB-A. A USB-C port with PD can output up to 240W, while using a USB Type-A connection typically means charging between 2.5W and 18W, depending on the motherboard – certainly fine for older phones or Bluetooth devices, but not enough to charge a modern smartphone.

You can get more USB-C ports on your PC in different ways depending on what you need and the specifics of your computer. If all you need is a way to connect your phone or other device that only has a USB-C to USB-C cable to your PC, you can get a cheap USB-C to USB-A adapter. Alternatively, you can get a USB hub that supports both USB-A and USB-C connections. However, none of these can use USB-C transfer speeds or power delivery (PD) if your motherboard only supports USB-A; If you want to transfer large amounts of data or charge your phone, this method is not the best.

If your motherboard doesn’t have USB-C ports and you want to take advantage of faster USB 3.2 transfer speeds, you can add ports using an expansion card. These cards plug into a PCIe slot, which means you need an unused PCIe slot to use them. As long as you have one, you can connect a USB expansion card – like this SineFine expansion card you can get for $17 – to add USB-C and increase the number of USB-A ports.

If you already have devices that use USB-C and want to take advantage of higher transfer speeds and power to charge your devices or connect external SSDs, some motherboards provide more USB-C ports. You can get the Asus ROG Maximus Hero Z890, which has two USB-C slots and two Thunderbolt 4 ports. Alternatively, if you want a setup with only USB-C peripherals, you can get the ASRock Z890 Taichi Aqua, which is an all-USB-C motherboard.