# can you upgrade a USB port? **URL:** \ **Category:** NYSpeed Off Topic\ **Created:** [December 7, 2006, 11:43am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/can-you-upgrade-a-usb-port/21315 "2006-12-07T11:43:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jeeves744](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jeeves744/32/7619_2.png) [@jeeves744](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/jeeves744)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2006, 11:43am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/can-you-upgrade-a-usb-port/21315/1 "2006-12-07T11:43:45Z")
so i bought my external HD the other day and when i hooked it up i got a message saying that the HD has a highspeed 2.0 USB, and my computer has a slower older one. Im curious if that is something i can upgrade? ---
**Author:** ![RobHimself](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e480ec/32.png) [@RobHimself](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/RobHimself)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2006, 11:45am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/can-you-upgrade-a-usb-port/21315/2 "2006-12-07T11:45:51Z")
nah you have to get a card. ---
**Author:** ![FightinMike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7bcc69/32.png) [@FightinMike](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/FightinMike)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2006, 12:01pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/can-you-upgrade-a-usb-port/21315/3 "2006-12-07T12:01:23Z")
well yes and no, there’s no software or firmware you can install. But as Rob said you can by a usb2.0 card for around $10 and install it. ---
**Author:** ![jeeves744](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jeeves744/32/7619_2.png) [@jeeves744](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/jeeves744)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2006, 12:16pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/can-you-upgrade-a-usb-port/21315/4 "2006-12-07T12:16:42Z")
well i knew it would be hardware, just wondering if it would be easy to do and cheap. ---
**Author:** ![LZ1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@LZ1](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/LZ1)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2006, 12:19pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/can-you-upgrade-a-usb-port/21315/5 "2006-12-07T12:19:37Z")
> **[Koutech Model IO-PU520 PCI to USB Card Add-On Card - Newegg.com](https://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?Item=N82E16815104216)** > > Buy Koutech Model IO-PU520 PCI to USB Card Add-On Card with fast shipping and top-rated customer service. Once you know, you Newegg! $8.99 cheap enough? ---
**Author:** ![jeeves744](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jeeves744/32/7619_2.png) [@jeeves744](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/jeeves744)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2006, 12:32pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/can-you-upgrade-a-usb-port/21315/6 "2006-12-07T12:32:46Z")
ya, cheap enough, just dont see how that would work in my computer. I dont think there is anywhere that would let me actually have the connections sticking out of the computer. ---
**Author:** ![RobHimself](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e480ec/32.png) [@RobHimself](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/RobHimself)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2006, 12:46pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/can-you-upgrade-a-usb-port/21315/7 "2006-12-07T12:46:18Z")
You don’t have a free pci slot? then yes you are in trouble. ---
**Author:** ![Bacon](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/bacon/32/7230_2.png) [@Bacon](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Bacon)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2006, 1:00pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/can-you-upgrade-a-usb-port/21315/8 "2006-12-07T13:00:04Z")
> [@jeeves744](#): > > ya, cheap enough, just dont see how that would work in my computer. I dont think there is anywhere that would let me actually have the connections sticking out of the computer. You using a laptop? Or just a smaller PC? ---
**Author:** ![jeeves744](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jeeves744/32/7619_2.png) [@jeeves744](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/jeeves744)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2006, 1:01pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/can-you-upgrade-a-usb-port/21315/9 "2006-12-07T13:01:11Z")
desktop. My computer knowledge (especially with hardware) is very limited, so bare with me. but it is also like 4-5years old ---
**Author:** ![Dex](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/dex/32/7210_2.png) [@Dex](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Dex)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2006, 1:02pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/can-you-upgrade-a-usb-port/21315/10 "2006-12-07T13:02:05Z")
you could remove the old usb card i would think. then just plug the new card into your newly available usb slot. ---
**Author:** ![jeeves744](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jeeves744/32/7619_2.png) [@jeeves744](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/jeeves744)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2006, 1:03pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/can-you-upgrade-a-usb-port/21315/11 "2006-12-07T13:03:09Z")
> [@Dex](#): > > you could remove the old usb card i would think. then just plug the new card into your newly available usb slot. thats basicly what i was trying to ask in the first place, lol. ---
**Author:** ![RobHimself](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e480ec/32.png) [@RobHimself](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/RobHimself)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2006, 1:09pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/can-you-upgrade-a-usb-port/21315/12 "2006-12-07T13:09:28Z")
chances are you have slots open instide the computer, if you are unsure take a pic. ---
**Author:** ![Nikuk](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/nikuk/32/7254_2.png) [@Nikuk](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Nikuk)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2006, 5:55pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/can-you-upgrade-a-usb-port/21315/13 "2006-12-08T17:55:22Z")
take the side off od the computer, take pic of motherboard, post. You prolly have a free slot that You could pop a USB 2.0 card into. You would have to pick up a long (2 - 4’) USB cable and plug it into the back of the PC. 5 minute job MAX. ---
**Author:** ![jeeves744](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jeeves744/32/7619_2.png) [@jeeves744](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/jeeves744)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2006, 9:53pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/can-you-upgrade-a-usb-port/21315/14 "2006-12-08T21:53:31Z")
i need to clean all the dust out of my computer this weekend. I’ll take a pic when i do that.