Simple questions about USB ports, I now have info about my motherboard which may help you answer the question

[Bronxkid]

To most people, these will be silly questions:
1) I want to use a device that requires USB connection (gamepad). What do I need to do? I'm assuming since I just bought my computer parts, that the motherboard can handle this(?) Do I buy a "port" that connects to my motherboard or is it a cable or what? Also, where do I get whatever product I need (how much should it cost)?

2)If I decide to use my game port instead of USB but want to use two separate devices (ie gamepad and joystick) is there an adaptor that connects to my gameport and then splits into two connections so I can add both, or do I need to unplug one or the other depending on which one I want to use?

Thanks in advance for your responses.

 

[MustPost]

If its a new computer you probobly have a USB port.
Try sticking the gamepad into every port or slot until u find one that fits. It only goes in one direction so u can't put it in upsidedown

 

[Gunbuster]

Some new mainboards (with onboard sound) dont even have gameports.

 

[Viper0329]

umm...if your mobo is ATX, it will have USB, unless it is like 7 years old...

I dunno about having a gameport splitter. The only way I can think to have two gameports is to buy a mobo with onboard audio and then add a pci soundcard, but im not sure if it will disable the second gameport.

You wont need a usb hub. The mobo should give you 2 usb connections.

 

[Bronxkid]

Update: Sorry I should have checked this sooner. I went to accessmicro.com and checked the specs again. It's an epox motherboard. For specs, it says USB: 2 supported onboard. Does this mean that there's also a port connecting from the motherboard to the case where the gamepad attaches?

 

[Mem]

On most boards that have USB ports they are next to the PS2 keyboard and PS2 mouse ports,your board sounds like it supports it,btw if you give us the exact Epox model we then can confirm it.USB hardware just plugs to these ports if you need more then your board has you can get a USB hub that has 4 or more ports built-in with a USB pass through cable that plugs into the motherboard USB port.

 

[Bronxkid]

Sorry, I should have given the model like you said: This is a cut and paste from the website:


Epox EP-8K7A Socket A Athlon Motherboard
USB: 2 supported onboard. 2 additional as option

 

[NelsonMuntz]

That motherboard has two USB ports at the back side right next to the keyboard and mouse PS-2 connectors. Follow the cables from your mouse or your keyboard to the back plate of your case and you will see two small USB ports right next to them. The 8K7A I purchased included a riser card for the other two USB ports. Just plug it into the board and attach it to the back of your case like a pci card. Then you have two more ports you can use there.

 

[Mem]

Yes it has USB ports,that board is pretty new.

 

[Bronxkid]

Thanks everyone. Looks like I'm ready to buy a gamepad or steering wheel with force feedback to go with some new games!

 

[MustPost]

I believe there actually are ways to use many Gameports.
I seem to remember buying an expantion card that came with something like 2 or 4 game ports. It came in eigher ISA or PCI.
Finding a program that lets u use more than one one the other hand is the hard part. although I seem to remember a few old games that had a joystick 1 player and Joystick 2 player.