I need more usb ports on my machine. Not sure what the better approach is.

[Hulkbert]

I'm not sure which approach, whether adding an expansion card (I have a pcie x4 [power x16] slot) or an external usb hub, is more effective with providing the most amount of bandwidth, although the majority of things I have plugged in are charging cables and peripherals. I need more usb 3.0 ports and I also need to be able to charge my devices at 2 amps. If anyone can suggest a product that can do that, I would appreciate it.

Thank you.

[luegnicl]

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B019XJ6GG0/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1484091780&sr=8-5&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=5%2C25"+usb&dpPl=1&dpID=419Abx7-vBL&ref=plSrch

[luegnicl]

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01GHGX7RI/ref=mp_s_a_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1484091780&sr=8-10&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=5%2C25"+usb.    My favorite. With fan control and voltage display

[Mira Yurizaki]

If you don't need to pull data from those devices being charged often, I would suggest a charger instead of expanding your USB ports.

[RedWulf]

A hub won't add bandwidth, just split up the single USBs across more ports. That said, a powered hub will work fine for charging, any device that can't use all the available bandwidth. An expansion card will technically add bandwidth. 

I would, and did, get a hub since its charging and since most devices/users are reading and writing enough at a time to be bottlenecked by the usb ports limits.

Just hop to amazon and find a powered hub with decent reviews since there are dozens.

[Hulkbert]

8 minutes ago, luegnicl said:

I would recommend to buy an enermax mighty charger. That's a 5,25" add in solution with a lots of usb and card readers an a 2 amp phone charger

Looks cool, although I must say, the reviews on amazon don't look too promising. And, I don't have a usb 3.0 header available.

[luegnicl]

Just now, Hulkbert said:

Looks cool, although I must say, the reviews on amazon don't look too promising. And, I don't have a usb 3.0 header available.

Hmmmm...Wait. I searched for some add in cards

[luegnicl]

https://www.amazon.de/gp/aw/d/B01LA772RU/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?__mk_de_DE=ÅMÅZÕÑ&qid=1484092360&sr=8-4&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=pcie+usb+3.0&dpPl=1&dpID=41R%2BF1rMMqL&ref=plSrch beast..... Just sata power needed

[luegnicl]

https://www.amazon.de/gp/aw/d/B010E2H20Y/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?__mk_de_DE=ÅMÅZÕÑ&qid=1484092431&sr=8-2&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=pcie+smartphone&dpPl=1&dpID=412hI7oEKTL&ref=plSrch.  This one gives you an additional usb 3 header and 2 amp charging