XPS 435MT – Adding USB ports

It's probably a better practice to have your mouse and keyboard connected to the back USB ports that connect to your motherboard. Sometimes you will get a failure to POST because the computer expects the keyboard and mouse to be plugged into the back of the box.

But, some of the benefits of having a hub--the ports are close and easy to find and are in easy reach. Negatives--some devices, such as printers, don't like to be connected to unpowered USB ports; sometimes you get messages that a device will only connect at USB 1.1 speeds; troubleshooting USB problems is marginally tougher with a hub.

Benefits of a PCI card--all of the ports are powered. Negatives--they are all on the back of the computer.

I have an unpowered USB hub. It works great for cameras, iPods, and flash drives.

Rejean,
I learnt from past experience it is much better to use a USB 2.0 PCI extension card - Also make sure to buy a card with the NEC chipset and avoid the VIA chipset (if you can check that part) (You can see the chipset brand on the main black chip on the PCI card). The former seems to have rock solid performance, but usually a bit more expensive, while the latter is present in many cards but it seems to cause many unresolved issues.
For me, I can only flash the ROM correctly for my Win Mobile phone only with the PCI card but not with any unpowered USB hub.
And "Heavy duty" devices (like multi fuction printer etc) are better off to be connected to a card than through a hub.
In terms of parts, I don't see any specific to the 435MT, but if you search for parts at Dell and it will show a dozen or so of them of different brands sold by Dell.

I learned a valuable lesson with such a small upgrade. Not knowing better, I went to Best Buy and bought a USB 2 PCI card. Got home, open the beast and to my surprise, no PCI connectors at all. After a few well placed Googled, I found out that the XPS 435MT comes in with PCI Express connectors only and 3 are still open. Take a look at this picture.

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/435MT/en/SM/techov.htm#wp1210162

So I returned my USB 2 PCI adaptor today and ordered a USB 2 PCI Express Adaptor. I should get it tomorrow if all goes well so I’ll post here to let you know how things are proceeding.

Rejean