One of the wonderful things about Windows (and Linux) desktop PCs is the fact that you can customize virtually any part of them. From the power supply to the processor to the USB ports in the front panel, you can mix and match parts from a huge list of vendors. If your PC is too slow at certain tasks, you usually can speed it up. And if it doesn’t support a particular connection type or technology, it’s likely that you can add it.

That’s great news if you want to keep using a perfectly good computer instead of buying a new one. You can add new ports (connectors for device cables) to support various kinds of hardware, such as eSATA (external Serial Advanced Technology Attachment) for a fast backup drive or FireWire to allow your camcorder to transfer video to your system. And if your PC doesn’t offer Wi-Fi networking or give you an HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) connection to your big-screen TV, you probably can add such capabilities by installing expansion cards (third-party circuit boards).

Ports

In order to add a particular type of port to your PC, you need two things: a place to physically mount the port on the computer case, and the correct kind of header (connector) on the motherboard to attach the port’s cable connector(s). If your motherboard doesn’t have the correct header to support the type of port you want to install, such as a 9-pin header for USB, you’ll need to install an expansion card with the ports or headers you want.

The most common place to add ports is in the rear of the PC among the expansion slot brackets. New ports often come premounted on these L-shaped, metal brackets. Of course, if all of the expansion slots are already filled, you’ll have to find somewhere else to add ports, such as an unused CD/DVD drive bay. Several manufacturers make bay-mounted port panels you can install. Some sound cards come with such front panels, too.

Your computer might already have top- or front-mounted ports, but chances are that the aftermarket ports you wish to add won’t physically fit the available mounting holes. Front and top ports generally must have extra-long cables to reach the motherboard.

If you want to add USB ports, you can do so without even opening the computer case. Simply buy a USB hub and connect it to a USB port.

Installing New Ports

Turn off your PC and unplug its power cable. Open the side of the case. Wear a grounding wrist strap or occasionally touch a bare surface on a grounded metal object to discharge any static. (For detailed grounding instructions see “Get Grounded” on page 66)

If you plan to install new ports in your case’s existing front or top access panels, follow the manufacturer’s directions to pop or slide off the case’s lid. Note that you may have to carefully push or pry out metal punchouts to make suitable holes for your ports.

We installed a simple eSATA bracket in an unused expansion card slot. Note that you won’t be able to install an expansion card in a slot already manned by a port bracket like this, so in effect, you’ll be “using up” a slot.

First, we used a Phillips screwdriver to remove the slot bracket’s retention screw. Next, we swapped the blank slot bracket with our eSATA bracket, keeping the cables inside the PC.

Finally, we connected the cables to unused SATA headers on the motherboard (a SATA expansion card should have the proper headers, too). SATA is easy to hook up correctly (simply look for a header that matches the cables on the bracket), but some other types of ports attach to pin headers that look similar to each other. Check your computer’s or motherboard’s users manual or the silkscreened labels on the motherboard itself to double-check that you’re attaching the cable to the right header.

Finally, close the side of the case, plug in your PC, and enter your computer’s Setup program, where you can verify that the BIOS (Basic Input/ Output System) has enabled the ports you just installed. If they’re disabled in the BIOS, they won’t work. Typically, you can access Setup just after the PC starts. For a few seconds, the screen will tell you to press DELETE, F2, or another key to enter Setup; if you miss the brief opportunity, wait for Windows to load and then reboot and try again.

In our Intel motherboard’s Setup, we found the relevant setting under the Advanced tab’s Peripheral Configuration menu. (Your PC’s Setup will tell you which keys to press to navigate.) As our motherboard had two SATA controller chips, and we had connected our new eSATA ports near the secondary controller, we changed the Secondary SATA Controller entry to Enabled. (If you’re not sure which controller runs which SATA ports, it may not hurt anything to simply enable all the SATA controllers. On the other hand, some motherboards won’t boot if you’ve enabled a SATA port without a drive attached to it.) Most ports are clearly labeled in Setup, although FireWire may be called 1394.

Finally, press the indicated keys to save your changes and exit Setup. After your PC reboots, allow Windows to go online and download the correct driver for your new ports, if necessary.

Expansion Cards

Also called daughterboards because they plug into slots on the motherboard, expansion cards give your computer new capabilities and sometimes new ports, too.

Today, if your PC has an unused PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) slot, or a newer, faster PCI-E (PCI Express) slot of the right size, you can take advantage of the many expansion cards on the market. PCI slots are commonly cream-colored. Black PCI-E slots, only available on motherboards made within the last few years, are skinnier and have lower profiles than PCI. PCI-E slots also come in different lengths, from short (x1) multipurpose slots to long (x8 or x16) slots used for graphics cards. Older PCs usually have one or two brown AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port) slots for graphics adapters only. Before you buy an expansion card, verify the type you need: PCI, PCI-E, or AGP.

Popular options include networking cards (wireless or wired), hard drive controller cards (such as SATA, eSATA, and/or RAID [redundant array of independent disks]), and graphics/video adapters (for home theater or gaming use). It’s less common for users other than audiophiles and gamers to add a sound card, as many motherboards include decent surround sound today.

Install A Card

Before you begin, visit the card manufacturer’s Web site. Download the latest driver for your operating system (such as 32-bit Windows Vista) and the specific model number of your card (such as our TRENDnet TEG-PCITXR Gigabit Ethernet adapter [$14.99; www.trendnet.com]). However, don’t install the driver before the card unless the manufacturer’s installation instructions tell you to. It’s particularly important to follow a graphics card’s instructions, because if you don’t, you might not be able to see anything on the screen.

Hold the card near the expansion slot you plan to use; this will show you which L-shaped bracket to remove in order to accommodate the bracket on the card. Remove the blank bracket’s screw with a Phillips screwdriver and pull out the bracket.

Next, carefully line up the new card in the slot, making sure that the tip of its bracket doesn’t get hung up on the rear of the case. You’ll probably need to rock the card lengthwise (not sideways) as you press it into the slot, but stop and check for obstructions if the card doesn’t seat under modest pressure. Once the card is fully seated, secure its metal bracket with the screw.

Finally, plug in and boot up your PC. When Windows’ Found New Hardware wizard pops up, follow your card’s installation instructions to use the wizard to properly install the card’s driver. Note that some manufacturers tell you to cancel out of the wizard and install the card’s driver a different way, such as by double-clicking an EXE file.

Note that if you’re adding a graphics card to a PC that’s been using graphics integrated into the motherboard, you may need to enable the AGP or PEG (PCI-E graphics) expansions slot in the BIOS Setup. After installation, connect the monitor’s cable to the new card. When the new graphics adapter is working, re-enter Setup and disable the integrated graphics feature. Similarly, if adding a sound card, connect your audio cables to the new card and disable the onboard sound chip in Setup.

Notebook Options

Laptops are compact and portable, but their convenience comes at a price. One of the limitations of a notebook is the fact that you can’t upgrade all the parts as you can with a desktop PC.

On the other hand, most notebooks allow you to add ports, network adapters, sound cards, and even external graphics adapters through ExpressCard or CardBus (also known as PC Card or PCMCIA [Personal Computer Memory Card International Association]) slots along one side. ExpressCards and CardBus/PC Cards come in different sizes and thicknesses, so consult your notebook’s users manual regarding the types of cards it can support.

Win-Win

Adding ports and expansion cards is about making your PC usable longer. Not only can ports and cards save you money because you won’t have to buy a new PC, they also can spare the landfill another discarded, old computer.

by Marty Sems