Solved Where to obtain power for USB 3.0. PCIE card?

[stuart253]

Hello,

I have a DELL Studio XPS machine. I want to install a USB 3.0 4 port PCIE card.

Have any DELL Studio XPS users added an USB 3.0. PCIE card? Where did you find the power for it.

Thanks

Stu

 

[carwiz]

What make and model is the card? Most draw power from the power supply using a 15-pin SATA power cable adapter.

Something like this: Newegg.com - COOLMAX 6" Cable Model SATA POWER ADAPTER - Cables

 

[TVeblen]

The ones I've seen use a MOLEX connector. Just find a spare one coming from your power supply.

 

[pooch]

Hello,

I have a DELL Studio XPS machine. I want to install a USB 3.0 4 port PCIE card.

Have any DELL Studio XPS users added an USB 3.0. PCIE card? Where did you find the power for it.

Thanks

Stu

Have you got any specs for the card? the one I used to use did not need an external power supply.

 

[TVeblen]

Yeah, they come in two flavors Pooch. Some manufacturers add the 12v booster so as to provide "proper power" to multiple USB connected devices. But others do not, drawing power right off the PCI bus.

I'm sure it has something to do with the number of ports. A 4 port card would definitely benefit from the extra power.

 

[pooch]

Yeah, they come in two flavors Pooch. Some manufacturers add the 12v booster so as to provide "proper power" to multiple USB connected devices. But others do not, drawing power right off the PCI bus.

I'm sure it has something to do with the number of ports. A 4 port card would definitely benefit from the extra power.

OK thanks for this

 

[stuart253]

Additional information

Greetings,

Thanks to all that replied. The card that I am interested in is

Newegg.com - GWC USB 3.0 4-Port PCI Express Card Model PU3040

On the card it has a male molex connection. My Old DELL had at least one spare female molex connections in it.

My current Dell, has a free connector , but it is not the usually white molex connector. It is a smaller female connector. I have included a couple a pictures of the connector.

This is why I was looking for owners of a DEll studio XPS 8100 machine, who had expeirence with supplying power to a pcei card.

I am not sure that this connector is for power

Thanks

Stu

 

[TVeblen]

The connector you show is a dedicated Floppy Disk Drive connector. It does supply power.

Are you saying that the floppy drive connector is the ONLY free connector you have coming from your power supply? That would be unusual.

 

[HammerHead]

3.0 PCIe

If you don't have a spare molex connector you will need one of these.

Newegg.com - Athena Power 8" Molex Y Splitted Power Cable Model CABLE-YPHD

There are cards available that do not require the molex connection but they will prpbably have less ports.

 

[Layback Bear]

It might be the time for a new power supply. Filling out the rest of your specs would help us.

 

[stuart253]

Hello.

I do not see any molex connectors at all inside my tower, unless they come in different shapes , sizes and colors.

The only connector that is free is the one I showed.

As far as replacing my power supply :shock:. Thats way out of my comfort zone.
My machine is just a year old.

I do not want to go for less ports.

I sounds like going USB 3.0 is not going to happen for me unless I go for a new machine that has USB 3.0 already or replace the power supply.

Thanks for all who responded.

Stu

 

[TVeblen]

See if you can find an adapter cable that is floppy female on one end and Molex male on the other.

You will find many that are floppy male and Molex female - I have no idea if there is any such animal as above.

Also do not be afraid to (with the machine shut off and power disconnected) cutting the wires and removing the floppy connector, and splicing a molex connector onto the same wires. Sound scary but it is really a simple operation.

Do you have any spare connectors that look like this:

 

[th3r0ck]

It might be the time for a new power supply. Filling out the rest of your specs would help us.

you can find "Y" cables also.. search in after market..

 

[stuart253]

Thanks

I will try.

Stu

 

[pooch]

Stu if you look at the specifications of the card you will see that the molex connection is for power support, this means to me that the card will work perfectly without the power connection, the connection will only be necessary if you use to many USB devices that draw large amounts of power. I suggest trying the card first without the power cord, you can always add it later if you experience problems.

 

[stuart253]

Hello,
Just an update to my situation. I was able to add a sata Y splitter to one my sata drives. I then purchased a female molex to male sata connector. It worked, except I did not allow for the size of the connector. Could not put the cover back on. Just submitted a rush order for a female molex to male sata cable.
Very happy, thanks for all for their suggestions.
Stu

 

[essenbe]

I don't have an XPS but my Dell had the same problem. The 3 pin floppy connector you showed I found under the CD/DVD. If you have an extra sata power cable you could get one of these and have extra power plug. From there you can go many ways.

 

[badger906]

My usb3 pci card gets powered directly from the pci slot. Might just be like the powered usb hubs you get, just incase you plug too many power thirsty devices in

Sent from my BlackBerry 9900 using Tapatalk

 

[Comp Cmndo]

USB 3.0 allows current draw of 500ma - 900ma, whereas USB 2.0 is limited to 500ma.
PCI-e connector has no +5V, so the extra 400ma has to come from the PSU. If your USB device requires no more than 500ma, the molex power is not required, If you are using a USB hard drive, it will be needed.

 

[pooch]

USB 3.0 allows current draw of 500ma - 900ma, whereas USB 2.0 is limited to 500ma.
PCI-e connector has no +5V, so the extra 400ma has to come from the PSU. If your USB device requires no more than 500ma, the molex power is not required, If you are using a USB hard drive, it will be needed.

??? worked alright on mine without xtra power