I need USB 3.0 ports but I've no available PCI slots for a card.

C

clivemcl

New member
Hi,
I'm looking to upgrade my desktop to be usb 3.0 capable. The only option I can see since my motherboard doesn't have any is PCI and PCI-e card adapters. Problem is, I have none available. I expected there to be a version where the usb 3.0 port would connect to a sata port. I don't see any. There are also plenty of USB3.0 etc front bays, but unfortunately these products don't give much info on how these are connected internally.

Any wise folks got any info that would help me?
 

My Computer

OS
Windows 7 64bit
Hi Clivemcl and welcome to SF :),

Im not too wise on this subject, but i do know:

USB 3.0 front bays need USB3.0 connectors although USB 3.0 is backwards compatible.

Your existing USB 2.0 gear will work on version 3.0 ports and vice versa.
But plugging a 3.0 device into a 2.0 port or a 2.0 device into 3.0 a port will get you
standard USB 2.0 data rates...approx 480 Mbit/s.

Hope this helps somewhat.

Cheers

Dave
 

My Computer

Computer type
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Windows 7 Professional 64bit
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AMD Athlon (tm) X2 5200+ Dual Core 2712 Mhz
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Asus
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Nividia GeForce 8600 GTS- DIED 25/7/2013 R.I.P
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Yea, thanks. I know all that though. It seems that PCI card is the only way to get USB 3.0 (at USB 3.0 speeds) on a motherboard that doesn't have any.
I would have thought it was possible to find an adapter to use sata connections too and keep roughly the same speeds. But I can't find any such adapters.
 

My Computer

OS
Windows 7 64bit
clivemcl said:
Yea, thanks. I know all that though. It seems that PCI card is the only way to get USB 3.0 (at USB 3.0 speeds) on a motherboard that doesn't have any.
I would have thought it was possible to find an adapter to use sata connections too and keep roughly the same speeds. But I can't find any such adapters.
Click to expand...

Yes i see what your getting at but as you say Im sure you need a PCIe slot to use Sata/USB 3.0,
im not certain about any adapter but maybe someone else may know of a way or an adapter available,
but if your motherboard doesnt support USB 3.0 then i wouldnt think it was do-able any other way than
a PCIe card.

Sorry I couldnt be of more help

Cheers

Dave
 

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
OS
Windows 7 Professional 64bit
CPU
AMD Athlon (tm) X2 5200+ Dual Core 2712 Mhz
Motherboard
Asus
Memory
4GB
Graphics Card(s)
Nividia GeForce 8600 GTS- DIED 25/7/2013 R.I.P
Sound Card
None
Monitor(s) Displays
22" Yuraku LCD (Dont ask)
Screen Resolution
1280x960
Hard Drives
2TB WD Caviar green
PSU
Windy up type
Case
Scout cm Storm
Cooling
Hair dryer on full cool power ;-)
Keyboard
QWERTY
Mouse
Microsoft Special
Internet Speed
BT Infinity 9.38Mb/s Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!
Antivirus
MSE
Browser
Internet Explore 10 and Chrome
Other Info
Don't shout...I've got a Hangover!
It's very rare that people are using their internal slots these days, so are you absolutely certain you have no available, slots, even the small PCI-E 1X slots?

I don't know where you got the idea that there would be an SATA adapter, as those two protocols are vastly different, however, if this is for an external hard drive, you could get an adapter to turn an internal SATA port into an eSATA port.
 

My Computer

OS
Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1
CPU
Intel Core i7-2600
Motherboard
Gigabyte GA-P67A-UD3P-B3
Memory
12 GB Patriot Extreme DDR3-1333
Graphics Card(s)
Nvidia GTX 470
Monitor(s) Displays
Dell UltraSharp 2209WA
Hard Drives
OCZ Agility3 240 GB, WD5001AALS, WD7501AALS
PSU
OCZ ModStream 700W
Case
CoolerMaster HAF 912 Advanced
Cooling
CoolerMaster Hyper 212 Plus
What kind of MOBO are you using (full part number, not just the brand name)? What cards do you have plugged into your PCI slots (besides the graphics card)?
 

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Custom Build
OS
Win 7 Ultimate 64 bit
CPU
Intel i7-3930K
Motherboard
ASUS P9X79 WS
Memory
Kingston HyperX Genesis 32GB Kit (8x4GB Modules) 1600MHz DDR
Graphics Card(s)
MSI R7850 Twin Frozr 2GD5/OC Radeon HD 7850 2GB 256-bit GDDR
Sound Card
Asus Xonar Essence STX
Monitor(s) Displays
3x Asus VG248QE 24", Vizio 32" TV
Screen Resolution
1920 x 1080, ?
Hard Drives
Samsung 128GB 840 Pro SSD (1),
Samsung 4TB 850 EVO SSDs (4)
Samsung 4TB 850 EVO SSDs (16) external backup drives used in 2.5" hot swap bays in the computer.
PSU
Corsair HX750w
Case
Antec Two Hundred v2 (modified)
Cooling
Cooler Master GeminII S524 120mm (fan replaced with a 140mm)
Keyboard
Logitech G510s
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Logitech M525 (two in use)
Internet Speed
=< 32Mbps down, 8Mbps up
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AVAST!, MBAM, SAS, Spybot S&D (all but MBAM free) Glary Util
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IE11
Other Info
LSI 9211-8i HBA card (8 SATA III ports), 2.5" & 3.5" Hot Swap Bays, HooToo HT-CR001 PCI-E to USB 3.0 Internal Hub + 6 Slot Card Reader, and LG Model CH12LS28 BD-ROM Optical Drive. Also, ScanSnap S1500 ADF duplexing scanner, Canon 9000F flat bed scanner, Corsair SP2500 2.1 speakers, Samsung CLP 415nw laser color printer, Cyberpower PP2200SW UPS
You know what, maybe there is a pci-e. Just googled it, its shorter yea? I'm not at home right now, so I'll look later. Thanks!
 

My Computer

OS
Windows 7 64bit
Yes, they are much shorter than PCI slots and PCI-E 16x graphics slots. I'm going to ballpark them at about an inch in length or so, and they can be easy to miss if you have other add-in cards blocking your view. Someone else would be better suited to tell you if a 1x card is fast enough for USB 3.0, but it's an option.
 

My Computer

OS
Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1
CPU
Intel Core i7-2600
Motherboard
Gigabyte GA-P67A-UD3P-B3
Memory
12 GB Patriot Extreme DDR3-1333
Graphics Card(s)
Nvidia GTX 470
Monitor(s) Displays
Dell UltraSharp 2209WA
Hard Drives
OCZ Agility3 240 GB, WD5001AALS, WD7501AALS
PSU
OCZ ModStream 700W
Case
CoolerMaster HAF 912 Advanced
Cooling
CoolerMaster Hyper 212 Plus
PCI-e cards won't work in PCI slots (they are different standards) so, without knowing the part number of your MOBO, we will just be guessing.
 

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Custom Build
OS
Win 7 Ultimate 64 bit
CPU
Intel i7-3930K
Motherboard
ASUS P9X79 WS
Memory
Kingston HyperX Genesis 32GB Kit (8x4GB Modules) 1600MHz DDR
Graphics Card(s)
MSI R7850 Twin Frozr 2GD5/OC Radeon HD 7850 2GB 256-bit GDDR
Sound Card
Asus Xonar Essence STX
Monitor(s) Displays
3x Asus VG248QE 24", Vizio 32" TV
Screen Resolution
1920 x 1080, ?
Hard Drives
Samsung 128GB 840 Pro SSD (1),
Samsung 4TB 850 EVO SSDs (4)
Samsung 4TB 850 EVO SSDs (16) external backup drives used in 2.5" hot swap bays in the computer.
PSU
Corsair HX750w
Case
Antec Two Hundred v2 (modified)
Cooling
Cooler Master GeminII S524 120mm (fan replaced with a 140mm)
Keyboard
Logitech G510s
Mouse
Logitech M525 (two in use)
Internet Speed
=< 32Mbps down, 8Mbps up
Antivirus
AVAST!, MBAM, SAS, Spybot S&D (all but MBAM free) Glary Util
Browser
IE11
Other Info
LSI 9211-8i HBA card (8 SATA III ports), 2.5" & 3.5" Hot Swap Bays, HooToo HT-CR001 PCI-E to USB 3.0 Internal Hub + 6 Slot Card Reader, and LG Model CH12LS28 BD-ROM Optical Drive. Also, ScanSnap S1500 ADF duplexing scanner, Canon 9000F flat bed scanner, Corsair SP2500 2.1 speakers, Samsung CLP 415nw laser color printer, Cyberpower PP2200SW UPS
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