My build

[PCgamerX]

hey everyone at pc mech! i am going to build a computer pretty soon (hopefully) and i have a few questions. please refer to my other thread, computer pc, its the only other one i have started. i was receiving very good feedback on that thread, but then it was sort of finished and abandoned. but i am back, and i have a few questions. ok first one is, how many usb ports can i have? right now, i have 4 and i could really use another 2-3. around 8 would really help me out. also, i will be getting a camcorder and ipod pretty soon, so i would like to have 1-2 firewire ports. how and where are these ports installed? if people will include pictures, that would be an amazing help also.

[sgtspector]

I believe the physical limit for a pc is 127 usb devices but I am not exactly sure. That may be the number of devices daisy chained off of one port if memory serves me. But power may be aproblem at that number unless they are self powered devices. Anyway it's more than you'll ever use or need at once. Here is a link to a page at newegg that list numerous options that you have to add ports. There are pci cards for usb or firewire or combo cards that have both. By no means am i saying you shoudl choose one of these or necessarily from this vendor just showing you options. Also you may want to check the documentation for your mobo. You may have unused headers on the mobo that you can simply hook external ports to.

[jayb1234]

A lot of the newer motherboards will have 4 usb and 1 firewire on the back and headers for 4 more usb and 1 firewire that can go to the front. You can use a external usb hub for more devices, or add pci cards with more ports. Same thing with firewire, not sure what the limit is on the total number of firewire devices.

[PCgamerX]

ok. that helps some. im sorry i didnt reply for the past few days, life has been crazy. im pretty sure i do not need 127 usb ports sgtspector. i think 6 usb and 1 firewire will be good. i was just looking at the newegg link, and what is a mbps? does it stand for mb per second?

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by PCgamerX and what is a mbps? does it stand for mb per second?

Yes.

Cricket

[PCgamerX]

hahaha i answered my own question. but isnt firewire faster than a usb 2.0 port? it said on newegg that the 2.0 port was faster.

[glc]

USB 2.0 is theoretically faster - 480mbps vs. 400mbps, but in the real world Firewire is faster.

[PCgamerX]

so technically usb 2.0 is faster in terms of mbps but firewire is faster even thought its slower? wow this is interesting hahaha.

[glc]

Theoretical vs. real world - not that unusual. An ATA 133 5400 rpm hard drive will be slower than an ATA 100 7200 rpm hard drive in the real world. Firewire depends a lot less on system CPU and resources than USB.

[thepilot]

You said that you were looking at getting an ipod. you will want another usb port, ipod does not support firewire anymore, like it used to. believe me I've tried.

[PCgamerX]

huh ipods dont support firewire??? what about the new video ones, cuz thats what im looking to get. well im gonna need a firewire port anyways for my video camera. could i put a usb 2.0 port in also? so 6 usb, 1 usb 2.0, and a firewire. that should do it. if i need anymore of anything im just going to get a hub. oh (hahaha im remembering stuff) is it possible to put in a memory card reader or is it too complicated?

[glc]

If you have a USB 2.0 motherboard, all USB ports will be 2.0.

Here's a nice combo floppy drive/card reader.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16821104104

[PCgamerX]

ahhh thank you glc. i will look into getting that. but for now, i am still getting things together for my build. i will be posting what i have pretty soon.