It’s tempting to look at USB 2.0 ports as legacy tech at this point. Once ubiquitous, these ports have been largely replaced by speedier, more versatile options. The new ROG Crosshair X870E Glacial, for example, doesn’t even bother with USB 2.0 ports on its back panel, opting for USB 10Gbps ports for its entire USB Type-A selection. But it does offer three USB 2.0 headers, an increase from the two USB 2.0 headers provided by the last-gen ROG Crosshair X670E Extreme. And the Glacial isn’t our only recent AM5 motherboard to get a bonus USB 2.0 header. The new ROG Crosshair X870E Dark Hero, ROG Strix Neo series, and TUF Gaming Neo series motherboards all pack a third USB 2.0 header, too.
Perhaps you’re wondering why we’re not just maintaining but increasing the number of these headers in 2026. The simple answer is that we’re offering more because people are using them. USB 2.0 headers are surprisingly versatile and are getting used in all kinds of novel ways.
How a low-bandwidth connection is still relevant
Looking at what modern USB Type-C ports can do, the lowly USB 2.0 connection pales in comparison. In terms of bandwidth, USB 2.0’s maximum theoretical signaling rate of 480Mbps is dwarfed by modern options. USB Type-C ports reaching 20Gbps are quite common, and you can go even higher with USB4® (40Gbps) Type-C ports, which you’ll get with an X870E or X870 motherboard. USB Type-C ports are also capable of some extra tricks, too, like display output and high-wattage USB Power Delivery.
But here’s the thing: not all use cases require that much bandwidth or versatility, but there are lots of situations that call for a standardized communication interface.
Beyond the physical ports and connectors, USB is a “plug-and-play” architecture that provides a standardized way for your computer to communicate with an astonishing range of devices. The sip of power and slice of bandwidth provided by a USB 2.0 header is sufficient for many scenarios.
How today’s PC builders are taking advantage of USB 2.0 headers
The standard use for USB headers is to hook up whatever front-panel USB ports that your PC case offers. These days, it’s fairly standard to see two USB Type-A ports and a USB Type-C port on a case’s front panel, though you will find options that offer a larger selection. If you have an older case, you might end up using one of your USB 2.0 headers to connect front-panel ports, but the USB Type-A ports on any modern PC case will almost certainly be capable of much higher bandwidth than USB 2.0 headers can offer. For those ports, you’ll want to use other USB headers on your motherboard instead. The ROG Strix B850-F Gaming WiFi7 Neo, for instance, gives you two USB 5Gbps headers that can support four USB 5Gbps ports on your front panel.
Here’s a use case for USB 2.0 headers that’s a bit more fun: hooking up the specialized lighting or screen on your AIO CPU liquid cooler. The lighting effects on standard options like the Prime LC 360 ARGB only need to be connected to an ARGB header, but models with an integrated display on the pump housing need more to drive the display. The ROG Ryuo IV SLC 360 ARGB, for instance, has you hook up a nine-pin cable to a USB 2.0 header.
Some builders increase their available fan and ARGB headers — and keep them perfectly synchronized — using a fan controller. It’s not uncommon for these controllers to require a connection to a USB 2.0 header.
Some add-in cards also require a connection to a USB 2.0 header. If your motherboard doesn’t have integrated WiFi and Bluetooth, for instance, you can install an add-in card. In addition to being installed into a PCIe slot, it’ll probably also need a wired connection to a handy USB 2.0 port to drive Bluetooth connectivity.
Maybe you’re looking to upgrade your desktop PC with an SD card reader. External options require a handy USB port, and internal ones require a USB header. We’re also seeing PC users get creative with adding mini displays to their desktop PCs that give them always-on system monitoring. Typically, these connect via USB as well, often to a USB 2.0 header.
When two isn’t enough
Looking at all the ways that you might end up using the USB 2.0 headers in your PC, it’s not hard to imagine scenarios where you’d use both USB 2.0 headers offered on a standard motherboard and wonder how you might get more. If your AIO cooler and front-panel I/O each claim a USB 2.0 header, you’ll be left empty-handed when you try to connect a fan controller.
You do have options here. Splitters and hubs are out there if you need a lot more USB 2.0 headers than your motherboards provide, though we do recommend powered hubs over passive cables. But we think it’s easier to just have an extra header on your motherboard. With one of the latest ASUS AM5 motherboards from ROG, ROG Strix, or TUF Gaming, you’ll have three USB 2.0 headers available without any additional fuss or purchases.
Learn more about ASUS AM5 motherboards
An expanded USB header selection is just one of the many upgrades that we’re offering through the latest ASUS AM5 motherboards. We’re debuting a new cable-free technology for hooking up an AIO CPU liquid cooler, big changes to the UEFI BIOS, bold new visual designs, better compatibility with high-performance DDR5 memory kits, and much more. Click here to learn more about the entire series.