What Port Do I Plug a Video Game Controller Into on My PC?

If you are one of the people who like to play video games on their personal computer, you may have already experienced the issue of how to properly install the video game controller to the available ports on your personal computer. 

Most often, you'll plug your video game controller into your USB or Serial Port. However, there are a number of different factors that impact which port a video game controller plugs into on a PC including:

• What video games you are going to play
• What type of video game controller you are planning to use
• The age and manufacturer of your computer

The reason the answer to these questions is important is because there may be a number of different options to select from when you decide what port to use. 

Some of the options for video game controllers that plug into a computer may work well for your intended use, and some may not; so, you will need to decide for yourself what options will suit you best when you are installing your video game controller to your personal computer.

By looking at the end of the cord that you are trying to plug in, you should be able to quickly decide whether you need to use the USB port or the serial port.

USB Ports

One of the most common ports that is used on a modern computer for installing special aftermarket devices and auxiliary hardware is the USB port.

• USB is short for Universal Serial Bus port. 
• USB ports are found on most modern computers, and many computer peripherals such as joysticks, computer mice, and keyboards now interface with the computer through a USB port instead of the old serial port. 
• If your video game controller uses a USB port to install, all you should have to do is plug the controller in with your computer on, and your computer should be able to begin communicating with the device and going through the installation procedure.

Serial Ports

If you have an older computer, or if your video game controller has a cable with a pin connection on the end, you may have an older type of port requirement known as a serial port. 

• Serial ports were standardized with the creation of USB ports, but the old serial ports came in a number of different sizes, with various sized pins included in them.
• These pins would interface with the proper port on your computer to properly install whatever device you were planning to use. 
• These ports are usually anywhere from one inch to two inches wide and about one half inch thick, and have a number of gold plated pins protected by a metal edging that you can see when you look directly at the port. 
• Serial ports are specific so trying to install a video game controller into a monitor serial port will not work as the sizes are different.

So, now you know two of the most common answers to the question of what port you plug a video game controller into on a PC.