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WE TACKLE TOUGH READER QUESTIONS ON...
> More ports need
> Home server help
Easy USB-C
I’m wondering if you or your staff of experts can help me find a solution to a high-speed USB port shortage.
I need a USB-C card that will work in a PCIe x16 slot. (Is it possible to install a PCIe x1 card in an x16 slot?) The motherboard is an Asus ROG Strix B365F Gaming. I've used the only usable x1 slot. If I understand correctly, one of the two remaining slots shares bandwidth with the second NVMe socket and the other x1 slot is physically blocked.
I want to set up an external drive that can accommodate at least 5Gb/s speed for backups. I have found an Inateck Power Supply PCIe x16 card that is 80 bucks' worth of overkill. It provides 30 watts of phone charging power and has a total of eight ports.
The computer dual boots PCLinuxOS Debian Edition and Windows 10 (the TPM has been removed to prevent downgrading to Windows 11.) The Doctor may remember this computer from the Holiday 2021 issue.
–D. Marshall
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, GUY COCKER, RESPONDS:
Thanks for your question—I do love a chance to go into the history of PC I/O, as well as try to help solve connectivity issues. I guess I’m just a bit of a cable nerd at heart!
First of all, it’s been 10 years since USB-C was introduced to the PC market with the v1.0 specification. Most motherboards today come with at least one USB 3.2 port, which is capable of transfers at a speed of 10Gb/s, while if you opt for a pricier motherboard like the MSI MEG Z790 Godlike ($550), that features USB-C with Thunderbolt 4 offering 40Gb/s speeds. Speedy!