# PC question- joysticks (port issue) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 30, 2004, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-question-joysticks-port-issue/282267 "2004-12-30T17:17:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Stonebow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Stonebow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stonebow)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2004, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-question-joysticks-port-issue/282267/1 "2004-12-30T17:17:04Z")
I had a Thrustmaster Mark I flight stick with my old pc system (built circa 1997). We upgraded, and I’d love to use the joystick with our new system, but the new one doesn’t seem to have the proper port for it. The thrustmaster appears to have a 15-pin male connector. it plugged into the com1 port (serial) of my old pc. the new PC has no com ports- I’ve got usb, a firewire port, and an odd looking port on my video card (Nvidia Geforce). Are there any adapters for this? Or do I just need to give it up? I’m not in the mood to pay thrustmaster’s rates again, so I’d just go with a cheaper flightstick (something like logitech). Any help would be appreciated. -stonebow, who’s still trying to get tie fighter to work in winxp ---
**Author:** ![Uvula\_Donor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e19adc/32.png) [@Uvula\_Donor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uvula_Donor)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2004, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-question-joysticks-port-issue/282267/2 "2004-12-30T17:32:22Z")
If it’s got a 15-pin male connector, it connects in a joystick port, not a com port. Com ports on your computer would be either 9-pin or 25-pin. You can connect it to a USB port by using an adaptor if you don’t have a joystick port. ---
**Author:** ![badmana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@badmana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/badmana)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2004, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-question-joysticks-port-issue/282267/3 "2004-12-30T17:33:05Z")
PC game ports are generally still available on 3rd party sound cards like the SB Live! I have one. Gravis also used to sell game port PCI/ISA cards. I have no idea if they’re still around though. ---
**Author:** ![Alvis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Alvis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alvis)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2004, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-question-joysticks-port-issue/282267/4 "2004-12-30T17:33:54Z")
> [@](#): > > The thrustmaster appears to have a 15-pin male connector. it plugged into the com1 port (serial) of my old pc. No, it didn’t. That was your MIDI, or “game” port. It was most likely on your sound card. Serial ports are 9-pin. ---
**Author:** ![joemama24\_98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ce7236/32.png) [@joemama24\_98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joemama24_98)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2004, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-question-joysticks-port-issue/282267/5 "2004-12-30T17:38:55Z")
I had the same issue with an older Sidewinder gamepad. I ended up having to buy a new USB version - unfortunately, I do not think you have any other options at this point (I didn’t). You could possibly buy an old game port adapter add-in card. While cheap, I don’t think the hassle will be worth it - most newer games are designed to work with the USB versions. ---
**Author:** ![Alvis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Alvis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alvis)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2004, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-question-joysticks-port-issue/282267/6 "2004-12-30T17:40:58Z")
> [@](#): > > most newer games are designed to work with the USB versions. Most games I’m familiar with use DirectInput. They should work with any standard joystick, regardless of hookup. ---
**Author:** ![Hirka\_T\_Bawa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/db5fbb/32.png) [@Hirka\_T\_Bawa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hirka_T_Bawa)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2004, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-question-joysticks-port-issue/282267/7 "2004-12-30T18:27:20Z")
First thing I would make sure is that your computer doesn’t have a game port (MIDI). Many new motherboard have a header on the board that you can hook one up to. If your board has one then you just need the cable. If you don’t know, let me know what type of motherboard you have and I can check for you. If your motherboard doesn’t have one, you can get a add on sound card. The SB Live! series have a game port on the card itself, while the Audigy series have a header and a port to attach to it. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2004, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-question-joysticks-port-issue/282267/8 "2004-12-30T18:31:14Z")
> [@Uvula Donor](#): > > If it’s got a 15-pin male connector, it connects in a joystick port, not a com port. Com ports on your computer would be either 9-pin or 25-pin. > > You can connect it to a USB port by using an adaptor if you don’t have a joystick port. [Radio Shack has an adapter](http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&product%5Fid=26-164) ---
**Author:** ![Stonebow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Stonebow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stonebow)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2004, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-question-joysticks-port-issue/282267/9 "2004-12-30T18:53:46Z")
Thanks, guys! That adapter is just what I was looking for. Hopefully, it will work. Also found on the radio shack site an adapter that lets our PS2 controllers work in our PC…and that saves me having to buy a PSX controller clone. You guys are awesome. Thanks again! ---
**Author:** ![Nanoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2004, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-question-joysticks-port-issue/282267/10 "2004-12-30T19:34:49Z")
May I recommend you take a look at replacing your (assumedly onboard) sound card with a different one? You don’t have to get a 100$ Audigy 2 like my psyco brother did, but for 20$ you can get a decent entry level sound card with more features than your PC has, with a _real_ MIDI/game port that won’t leave you messing with strange USB widgets. ---
**Author:** ![dasgupta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e56c9b/32.png) [@dasgupta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasgupta)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2004, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-question-joysticks-port-issue/282267/11 "2004-12-30T22:38:50Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > [Radio Shack has an adapter](http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&product%5Fid=26-164) Radio Shack indeed does have an adapter, but it didn’t do squat with my old Sidewinder 3D flight stick. Had to upgrade to a new model. Not that I minded too much 😃