When buying a new motherboard, you might focus on the number of M.2 slots, fan & ARGB headers, PCIe slots, and even regular USB ports. Many people, however, gloss over the importance of USB-C ports on a modern motherboard. The number and type of USB-C ports on your motherboard are essential to maximizing the functionality of your PC. Your next motherboard should have enough USB-C ports, so that you aren't caught off guard when you need them the most.

USB-C is simply better than USB-A

Bring your C-game

Let's be real: we still need USB-A ports. Tons of devices use the age-old connector to communicate with your PC, but USB-C ports are no longer the optional extra they used to be. You should stop ignoring them when choosing a motherboard for your next PC. USB-C is better than USB-A in almost every way — it's more convenient to use, supports faster transfer speeds, and allows you to fast-charge your PD-supported phones and laptops from your PC itself. Even your handheld and controller can get in on the action.

You don't need additional USB-C hubs cluttering your desk if your motherboard has a few USB-C ports onboard. If you use external SSDs, chances are they have a USB-C connector instead of USB-A. Having multiple USB-C ports on a motherboard might have been rare, unless you were using a premium motherboard, but things are changing fast. Today, you can get dual USB-C ports (USB4) on $230 motherboards like the Gigabyte X870 Eagle WIFI7.

Avoid adapters for USB-C devices and wireless dongles

Get the most out of your hardware

Sure, you can use adapters to bypass having a dedicated USB-C port on your motherboard, but it isn't always ideal. It can introduce compatibility and bandwidth issues, particularly with devices like VR headsets and webcams. Many modern devices have now shifted from USB-A to USB-C ports, and if you don't have just one (or none) USB-C ports on your motherboard, you might struggle to get the most out of your devices. Remember, though, that not all USB-C ports are made equal — that's one of the USB-C myths you should forget ASAP.

Another benefit of having multiple USB-C ports on your motherboard is that you can easily connect wireless dongles for your keyboards, mice, or headsets. Many of these peripherals have adopted the USB-C standard, and not having to use adapters just looks better. My B550 motherboard doesn't have a single USB-C port, so after I used up the one I had on my case's front panel, I was forced to use adapters for my other peripherals. My next motherboard won't suffer from the same limitation, that's for sure.

USB-C enhances productivity with DisplayPort Alt Mode

A neat solution for multi-monitor fans

It might seem like a niche use case, but supporting data transfer, charging, and display output on a single port is still a major win for USB-C. This is something that's physically impossible on USB-A, making it even more of a legacy standard. Using DisplayPort Alt mode or DisplayMode over USB-C, you can easily drive a secondary display for your work-related needs. You just need a modern display with USB-C support, and a motherboard with a USB4-rated USB-C port (ideally).

If you're using a discrete graphics card, this might not interest you, but for those working with integrated graphics on their PCs, this is a useful feature to have. You can not only connect an additional monitor to improve your workflow, but you can do so without introducing too many additional cables to your setup.

USB-C should be standard on all motherboards

There are still many budget motherboards that don't feature USB-C ports, which is a shame for multiple reasons. Having USB-C ports on your motherboard not only allows your PC to turn into a charging hub for your other devices, but also simplifies connectivity with VR headsets, external SSDs, wireless peripherals, and additional monitors.