USB 3.0 PCIe card in x16 slot?

[LindenBruce]

Hello all,

I searched but did not find any threads on a USB 3.0 card. So if I missed one just hit me over the head okay.

Now for the question, I see lots of back panel USB 3.0 cards for PCIe slots. But can you plug that card into a PCI-Ex16 slot AND have it work? Or will they only work on a PCI-Ex1 slot? Reason being I am looking at buying an MSI 990FXA-GD80 MoBo. I want to use the second card slot(X16) for my video card, the fifth card slot (PCI) for my TV tuner card and the bottom seventh card slot(X16) for the USB 3.0 card. Since this MoBo only has two rear panel USB 3.0 connectors I am wanting to add a few more. This arrangement will leave lots of room for air flow between cards. If I put the video card at the bottom slot it will be right on top of my PSU and I don't want that.

Also, any recommendations on which USB 3.0 card to get? The more ports the better.

Thanks, Bruce

 

[georgeks]

Hi there LindenBruce

Yes, you can.
It will not occupy all lanes, but it will function PROPERLY.
That was a very common question when PCI-e was first introduced.

 

[LindenBruce]

That's what I thought. One of the cards I was looking at said you could use it in any PCIe x1, x2 etc. etc. x16 card slot. So that got me wondering if it was true or just marketing hype. Thanks, Bruce

 

[georgeks]

Could you please drop by after the installation, to let us know how it went?

 

[LindenBruce]

Well, I got the MSI 990FXA-GD80 MoBo installed along with the PCIe USB card from Rosewill, the RC-229u4. Once I installed the drivers supplied with the USB card the ports started working just as they should. I have an external SSD plugged in via one of the card's USB ports along with my printer. Both are working great. And the data I have on the external SSD pops right up when I click on the links. Pics load noticeably faster than when the unit was plugged into the USB 2.0 ports on the old MoBo.

Only thing is the on-board USB 3.0 that goes to the front panel of my case don't seem to be working. I need to contact MSI about this. When I plug in a thumb drive nothing happens at all. Kinda weird.

Thanks for the help.

B.

 

[whs]

I found that my external SSDs work faster on the eSata port than a USB3 port. The specifications would not suggest this to be the case, but real life has proven it. I run 7 virtual partitions (win 8.1 and 10 and five Linux) off a 240GB Mushkin SSD. Performance is practically equal to my internal Crucial SSD.

 

[LindenBruce]

Interesting. Isn't the connector different? Because the port appears to be a little different.

B.

 

[townsbg]

Well, I got the MSI 990FXA-GD80 MoBo installed along with the PCIe USB card from Rosewill, the RC-229u4. Once I installed the drivers supplied with the USB card the ports started working just as they should. I have an external SSD plugged in via one of the card's USB ports along with my printer. Both are working great. And the data I have on the external SSD pops right up when I click on the links. Pics load noticeably faster than when the unit was plugged into the USB 2.0 ports on the old MoBo.

Only thing is the on-board USB 3.0 that goes to the front panel of my case don't seem to be working. I need to contact MSI about this. When I plug in a thumb drive nothing happens at all. Kinda weird.

Thanks for the help.

B.

I read on USB 3.0 for another issue and there are new pins added for usb 3.0. A slot designed for 2.0 isn't going to have those pins therefore you won't get all of the functionality of a plug designed for 3.0. I'm not sure as to the specifics but the pins may not even be positioned the same. The internal cable and connector might also be different. MSI is just going to tell you that they aren't compatible.

USB - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
USB 3.0 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[whs]

Interesting. Isn't the connector different? Because the port appears to be a little different.

B.

Yes, the connector is different. Here I have made performance comparisons of different devices on USB3 and eSata.

 

[LindenBruce]

The on-board USB 3.0 connector is blue and fits the front panel connector perfectly. I went to MSI's website and downloaded/installed the Renasis USB 3.0 drivers. I thought they were the same as on the supplied cd but I guess not. because now my front panel USB 3.0 ports are working perfectly.

So everything is good to go.................... For today. LOL

B.

 

[townsbg]

The ports in the case have to be designed for 3.0.

 

[LindenBruce]

Yes, they are. Thanks. B.

 

[townsbg]

Then I would contact the case manufacturer.