USB 3
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Joined: Jan 2004
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From: 1/2 a mile to the right of 14 top end of Yeadon
USB 3
My usb ports are all 2 usb.I have just ordered a 1TB 3 usb external hdd.Am I right in assuming that a 3 usb hdd will not work if connected to a 2 usb port?I can buy a pci-e 3 usb card adapter which will work if I find that I have the right size pci slot on my motherboard.I have not yet checked to see if I have the correct size pci slot on my motherboard.I know I should have checked before ordering the new hdd If I haven't then a new motherboard will be required.I just need one of you computer geniuses to confirm that a 3 usb device will not work when connected to a 2 usb port.The best reply would be to say it would work when connected to a 2 usb port.
Last edited by ILS32; 2nd February 2013 at 21:51.
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From: .
As far as I know USB3 is backward compatible with USB2
You may find however that you get better performance if you do fit a USB3 card. Not sure if you can get a PCI one though - all those I've seen so far have been PCIe
You may find however that you get better performance if you do fit a USB3 card. Not sure if you can get a PCI one though - all those I've seen so far have been PCIe
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Joined: Jan 2004
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From: 1/2 a mile to the right of 14 top end of Yeadon
Thanks Milo
The motherboard is over 2 years old so when I have a look I don' think that I will find one of the smaller pci-e slots. I have a feeling that more money will be needed to be spent for an upgrade.Motherboards,graphics cards and other components will soon be appearing on my computer screen in the next few days.
The motherboard is over 2 years old so when I have a look I don' think that I will find one of the smaller pci-e slots. I have a feeling that more money will be needed to be spent for an upgrade.Motherboards,graphics cards and other components will soon be appearing on my computer screen in the next few days.
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: E.Wash State
I have a seagate usb3 external drive. It worked perfectly well on my desktop which had only usb2.
I then installed a usb3 pcie card easily enough.
The problem was to find the driver, since it came with none. Eventually I found one that worked. The USB3 is much faster when doing a large backup.
I then installed a usb3 pcie card easily enough.
The problem was to find the driver, since it came with none. Eventually I found one that worked. The USB3 is much faster when doing a large backup.
Joined: Mar 2002
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From: Florida
I found no problems at all installing multiple USB3 cards in multiple Dells 3-4 yr-Old (both using Win7). Slots were available but had to do some gerry-rigging on power (a cable or two to piggyback)
I'm a fan of the Startech USB 3 caddy for the drives and upgraded USB cables
I do have a question though about speed. I assume that the highest transfer speed is in the motherboard. If I use a USB 3 card and plumb the output to another hub (in this case my monitors USB hub) will I lose the speed advantage using that hub?
I'm a fan of the Startech USB 3 caddy for the drives and upgraded USB cables
I do have a question though about speed. I assume that the highest transfer speed is in the motherboard. If I use a USB 3 card and plumb the output to another hub (in this case my monitors USB hub) will I lose the speed advantage using that hub?
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From: .
lomapaseo
assuming the hub is USB2, then yes it will act as a throttle
also remember that the very fact its a hub will also degrade the speed as the devices attached will be sharing bandwidth........always best to attach an external drive directly
to be honest if you can, its best to forget about USB for external drives and instead go with eSATA
assuming the hub is USB2, then yes it will act as a throttle
also remember that the very fact its a hub will also degrade the speed as the devices attached will be sharing bandwidth........always best to attach an external drive directly
to be honest if you can, its best to forget about USB for external drives and instead go with eSATA
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: 1/2 a mile to the right of 14 top end of Yeadon
From your replies it seems that I can connect my new 3 usb drive to a 2 usb port and it will run at 2 usb speed.That will do for me,so no need to upgrade.I will still check to see if I have a pci-e slot and if I have will fit a 3 usb card adapter.Thanks again for your help.
Joined: Feb 2006
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From: UK
Agree on the PCIe card. I purchased one of
to use on my Windows 7 Professional x64 home build system because the mobo only had one USB3 header and I'd already used it to connect a high speed memory card reader.
It worked out of the box. Much, much, faster than USB2 and worth the few quid. I paid less than the current price shown on the link but I have not searched to see what the current going rate is.
It worked out of the box. Much, much, faster than USB2 and worth the few quid. I paid less than the current price shown on the link but I have not searched to see what the current going rate is.
Last edited by The late XV105; 3rd February 2013 at 14:24.
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From: .
you probably paid over the odds there
this is more like it
4 Port USB 3.0 PCI-e Card from Dynamode - USB-4PCI-3.0 - Scan.co.uk
you'll find them at similar prices elsewhere, Scan just happens to be someone I use often and trust
this is more like it
4 Port USB 3.0 PCI-e Card from Dynamode - USB-4PCI-3.0 - Scan.co.uk
you'll find them at similar prices elsewhere, Scan just happens to be someone I use often and trust
