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The best choice for adding parallel ports to a motherboard that lacks them is to install a PCI card designed to provide parallel port functionality. This solution is cost-effective and straightforward, allowing users to expand their system's capabilities without a significant investment in new hardware components.

By using a PCI card, you can add multiple parallel ports depending on the card's specifications, which enhances the versatility of the system while maintaining compatibility with legacy devices that require parallel connectivity. This method is generally less expensive than replacing the entire motherboard, which involves a more complex and costly upgrade that might not be necessary just for the sake of adding a few parallel connections.

While a USB to parallel adapter is another option available, it may not be as reliable for all devices, especially those that require direct parallel port connections. Likewise, using an external parallel device might not fully cater to the user's needs, as it can be either limited in functionality or less convenient than a direct connection provided by a PCI card. Therefore, installing a PCI card serves as the most economical and effective approach to expand parallel port availability on the system.