USB card

[DREDIOCK]

Someone gave me a brand new (well never used) 4 port USB card.
Would it be better to use that for devices such as the joystick/throttle then the on board USB ports?

Meaning does the same principle apply that using a soundcard is better then using the on board sound?

[Butcher]

I bought a $9 USB Hub from Office Depot that ran just fine on my laptop. I'm pretty sure whichever is the cheapest would work fine for flight sticks etc, however for external storage is a different matter.

[Bizman]

USB cards are simple devices, not better nor worse than the on board ones. That said if they don't have manufacturing errors. They're not as sensitive to electromagnetic fields as sound cards, nor do they calculate anything. With power hungry high end gaming devices, though, a USB hub with an external power source might work better.

[FLOTSOM]

if you are going to buy usb cards spend the extra short change and get the 3.0 version. huge difference in speed!!!! alot of your new satellite HDD's are 3.0 ready so the transfer rates are amazing compared to even the 2.0. they handle blue ray dvd and all other plug and plays with ease.

read up,

i have 2, 3.0 boards on my comp, i use one of them for my keyboard TM HOTAS saitek peddles TRACIR and have no issues with any of them freezing or causing stutters. i use the other for my mouse and head phones/mic......

these are backwards compatible to 1.0 and 2.0 usb and everything is going this way so dont waste time or money on old tech.

[The Fugitive]

Ya, it's not going to "help". It is going to be drawing power from your computers power supply so it's like just adding more USB devices to your powersupply. Like Bizman said adding a powered USB hub might be a better option.

[DREDIOCK]

Ok. Was purely curious. Like I said. Someone gave it to me. It wasnt something I was out looking for.
Was just wondering if ti would be any better

[Bizman]

A good use for it would be in an older machine with only a couple of USB ports, not to mention USB 1 ports. It would work perfectly with a printer, camera, memory stick and whatever either low consuming or externally powered. Also good as a spare part in case original USB ports wear out.