Resolved Installing USB3 card.

What are the benifits of installing a USB3 PCI card? Will all existing USB memory sticks, external hard drives function with a USB3 card? Suggestions please, as to which cards are the best? apparently some cards are quite flimsy.

 

PeteC, thanks for your response, I realise now that it would serve no purpose in installing USB3. Advertisers certainly paint a picture that installing a USB3 card will make a vast difference in speeding up the computer functions. Your explanation has saved me an unnecessary expense.

 

Hi , i thought a USB 3.0 pci-e 1x host bus card would enable faster transfer of data than via an onboard USB 2.0 bus would , the proviso being that the attached storage device supports the higher speed
USB 3.0 bus spec = 400MB/s real world
PCI-e 1x (1 lane) bus 250MB/s
USB2.0 onboard bus = 480Mb/s = 60MB/s
technically an unused pc-e 16x slot (graphics card) could support a USB3.0 host bus adapter card and of course a pci-e 1x slot , with speed pegged at 250MB/s max

more reading:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB_3.0

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PCI_Express

I actually purchased a USB 3.0 card for evaluation but unfortunately was faulty or my computer mis-configured as it fried my digital camera storage device and several flash drives as i tried different configurations and slots , so i lost some enthusiasm for this upgrade
So my advise is after installation test first using a cheap expendable flash drive !

 

My thanks to all who submitted a response to USB3. If I had taken the various readings regarding USB3 cards as gospel truth, spent ££££s for nothing and perhaps damaged computer.

 

And then, plug it in to a USB 3.0 port and it'll be more than 5-1/2 times as fast as on USB 2.0.

Here's a HD Tune 2.55 "Average" comparision using a "SanDisk Extreme 16GB" (USB 3.0 device) that's plugged into:

USB 3.0: 175.3 MB/sec
USB 2.0: _31.4 MB/sec​

 

I am afraid that is not correct - though I am not sure what you mean by "USB 3.0 slot ". USB does not use "slots" - which are typically long connectors with 2 rows of contacts - as used for memory modules (sticks) and expansion "cards" that are then installed in PCI or PCIe "slots ".

But to be sure, you CAN add USB 3.0 functionality to any computer/motherboard with a free "expansion slot" by adding a USB 3.0 card, and connecting your USB 3.0 devices to the card. But I would not use PCI if you have a PCIe slot available because PCI only has a maximum bandwidth of 133Mb/s. Remember, in spite their similar names, PCI and PCIe (PCI Express) are very different.

I would never add 3.0 to a system just to have 3.0 unless I had (or needed) a 3.0 device to connect to it. But if I needed a new external drive for example, I would ensure it is 3.0 (even if my system only supports 2.0) so it will carry me further into the future.

There is absolutely no reason to suspect or fear adding USB 3.0 support to any computer poses any risk of damage to the computer, or any USB device connected to it just because it is 3.0. One example of one piece of faulty hardware is no indication of any trend, pattern, or problem. Until Man can create perfection, 100% of the time, there will always be some failures, faults, or imperfections.

 

As Bill mentioned, PCI isn't fast enough for USB 3.0. PCIe is though. And the benefit is what used to take almost half an hour now takes roughly 5 minutes.

Yes. USB 3.0 is backwardly compatible.

This Koutech 4-Port SuperSpeed USB 3.0 (3x Ext + 1x Int) PCI Express (x1) with 4-pin Molex Power, Model IO-PEU434 - $26.99+$2.99 Shipping=$29.98 has been working great in a Dell Vostro 260 for a bit over a month.


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SpywareDr, I am rather confused as all reply threads appear to be differrent, as to whether USB3 PCIe slot card will be suitable upgrade. I have read a few reports on Koutech 4 Port Superspeed ....... IO-PEU434 ......., that the plate with 4 USB3 sockets and the power connector are very delicate and require extreme care while fitting. External USB hard drive, how can you check if USB2 or USB3?

 

Evan, it's a PCI Express (x1) USB 3.0 expansion card.

And yes, PCI is way too slow.

Conventional PCI = 133 MB/s
SuperSpeed USB 3.0 = 625 MB/s

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Bobby, the Koutech card has 3 USB 3.0 ports on the expansion card bracket which are available externally, and another USB 3.0 port mounted on the card so you can connect something up internally if you like. (For example, a front-mounted USB 3.0 port). As far as it being weak, I haven't had a bit of trouble. I do not mistreat ports however. Never wiggle them up/down/left/right. Straight in, straight out and with no more force than necessary.

As far as telling the difference between USB 3.0 and earlier versions, USB 3.0 connectors are Blue and earlier versions are some other color.

If you'll click the link I posted above you can see all of the details I'm trying to describe.

 

To give you an idea of just how much faster USB 3.0 is ...

Let's say you were driving along at:

31 mph (50 km/h)​

and I blow past you at:

175 mph (282 km/h)​

Zoom, zoom.

 

Evan Omo, configuration on my computer mother board is :

1x16 pin slot = Video card fitted.

1x6 pin? slot = empty. *

1x6 pin? slot = empty. *

1x16 pin slot = empty.

* not certain of number of pins. Slot strips are roughly 1/4 size
of the 16pin.

 

The image on the left shows the Koutech USB 3.0's PCIEX1 connector on the bottom edge, and
the image on the right shows a motherboard with 3 PCIEX1 slots that it could be plugged into:

 

SpywareDr, the two small diagrams is similar to my own mother board layout.

My mother board: slots referring to diagram:

blue - white - white - white.
I will look into the Koutech USB3 card.