Why your PC's front USB ports might be slowing your devices down

[EightBit Widget]

Where you plug in a device can make a big difference to its speed. Engadget explains that front USB ports on desktop PCs are often slower than the ones on the back

Rear ports are soldered directly to the motherboard. Front ports run through extension cables, often share one internal header that splits bandwidth and power, and sometimes use slower USB standards

The article gives examples. On one high end motherboard, two SSDs plugged into the front could end up sharing 5Gbps, and on the base M6 Mac mini the front USB-C ports manage 10Gbps compared with 40Gbps for the Thunderbolt ports on the back

The simple advice is to use front ports for mice, keyboards and headphones, and rear ports for external SSDs, capture cards and VR headsets. Check your motherboard's specifications for each port's speed, as port colours are not always reliable

This is one of those small tips that can save real frustration. Many people assume a slow external drive is faulty when it is simply plugged into the wrong port. A quick look at the manual could make backups and file transfers much faster

Have you noticed a speed difference between your front and rear ports? And what other simple PC tips have made a big difference for you?

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