Resolved Installing USB3 card.

The color of the plastic the expansion slots are made out of doesn't matter. They can be any old color the motherboard designers want them to be.

 

Any comments on the following USB3 PCI cards :

Dynamode 2 Port USB3.0 PCI Express Card. £22.99.

Buffalo 2 Port USB3.0 PCI ExpressInterforce (2009) £40.

Pluggable Super Speed USB3.0 2 Port Expansion Card NEC/RenSOS chipset
£20.

Silverstone SST-EC01-P PCI Express 2 Port USB3. £28.

PCUtilities Pro Start now Toolbar. Koutech 4 Port Super Speed 10-Peu434.

Comments most appreciated.

 

The "Dynamode" and "Pluggable" only have 2 external USB 3.0 ports.

The Silverstone SST-EC01-P only has one, single, solitary _internal_ USB 3.0 port.

The Koutech IO-PEU434 is the 4-port (1 internal, 3 external) USB 3.0 I've been speaking of above. Note that this model has a Molex power connector and model IO-PEU437 has a SATA power connector.

 

Great! Just making sure everyone reading is on the same page - not always easy with technical terminologies.

Right!

Wrong! Sort of. They can, and most often are used for video cards, but since PCI is going away, sound, network, TV Tuner, Firewire, USB, and all sorts of add-on devices use the PCI Express interface. And of course, if that computer is configured to use integrated graphics, there would be no graphics card installed.

Again, if using on-board graphics, a 2nd PCIe slot is not a problem.

If all you have is PCI, and you need more USB ports, I would still get USB3.0 just for future proofing (assuming my future mobo still has at least one PCI slot). Or, get a self-powered USB hub.

 

I agree, four port USB3.0 card makes more sense to install. Molex, am I correct is the four pin plug attached to the PSU?

 

SATA power connector

 

Final hurdle to complete this task on USB3 4 Port cards. I have checked for hours the Internet for suitable cards and retailers, without any success!!, help would certainly be welcomed.

 

Anyone any experience with Xenta USB3 card 4Port? or indeed any card that has proved personally reliable. Cards that requires separate power feed using a Molex connector is what I require.

 

I note that Amazon advertise Aardvark USB3.0 4 Port PCie card, a little expensive. Any comments, please.

 

My understanding is that a pci-e 16x bus supports pci-e 1x devices - however I have not personally tested this

to quote :

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

" "" "A PCIe card physically fits (and works correctly) in any slot that is at least as large as it is (e.g., an ×1 sized card will work in any sized slot)" "" "

 

USB3.0 PCIe ?port are available to fit 1x slot or 16xslot, it requires you to choose which one suits your needs by examining the bottom part of the card. Another point worth mentioning is the power cable connector, Molex(4 pin) or the Sata, without prior having the correct cable connector, USB3.0 card can not be used.

 

You can install an x1 expansion card in any kind of PCI Express slot; it doesn’t need to be installed in an x1 slot. If you had say an x4 expansion card but your motherboard didin't have an x4 PCI Express slot, no problem; simply install it in an x8 or x16 slot.

"Splitters" are available for both SATA and Molex power connectors:

• Female SATA to two [or more] male SATA connectors
  
• Female Molex to two [or more] male Molex connectors

Conversion splitters:

• Female SATA to two male Molex
  
• Female Molex to two male SATA

Conversion adapters:

• Female Molex to male SATA
  
• Female SATA to male Molex

Simple extensions:

• Female Molex to male Molex
  
• Female SATA to male SATA

 

Reason for mentioning the power cable, is on opening up the computer casing to find no suitable power cable connector is available to suit USB3.0 card, then time is taken to await an order delivery of required cable/connector. Be better safe than sorry.

 

Yes, repairs often require some forethought.

 

Very true. However, planning ahead for something that "might" happen is not always easy. Sadly, I see too often "upgrades" with no forethought. For example, new graphics cards with no forethought of PSU or connections. HD upgrades with no forethought of interface, CPU cooler upgrade with no forethought of warranties. OS upgrades without checking HW compatibility. Or the worse (in my book), overclocking with no forethought of heat control.

 

Nothing spoils the fun quicker than letting the smoke out.