Upgrade 2: Adding an External USB Hub

Upgrade #2: Adding an External USB Hub

Here's an even easier upgrade. If your system already has one or more USB connectors, you can add extra ports by using an external device called a USB hub, shown in Figure 3.5. The hub connects to an open USB port on your PC; you can then connect multiple USB devices to the hub.

Figure 3.5. Add a USB hub to increase the number of USB ports on your system.

Follow these steps to connect a USB hub to your system; there's no need to turn off your computer before proceeding.

1. If you don't have a free USB port on your system, unplug one of your current USB peripherals.

2. Plug the USB hub into the open USB port on your system unit.

3. If you purchased a self-powered USB hub, connect it to its power source.

4. Connect any new or existing USB peripherals to the USB hub.

note

USB is a particularly expandable technology. The USB standard enables you to daisy chain up to 127 USB devices to your system!