Solved Why no 3 port USB 3.0 pci cards

[stuart253]

Hello,

Looking to add some external USB 3.0 hard drives to my Windows 7 machine. Would like to have add least 3. Is there a restriction/limitation with USB 3.0?
I only see cards with a max of 2 ports.

Thanks

Stu

 

[thefabe]

Welcome to Seven Forums.
Can't explain why but I also couldn't find any. Thought for a minute I found one but not!
Fabe

 

[Here To Help]

It is the controler chip that the mb makers are using ( they all use the same chip). The chips only support 2 devices. I could be because of driver limitations but I am think that it is a bandwidth limitation of the controler chips. Once there is a intigrated controler in say a amd bridge then the amount of ports will go up. I do not think you can buy a mb with more then 2 usb 3.0 ports. I have seen one with a usb 3.0 internal header and a coputer case that has a built in port (corsair I think).

 

[J.R.]

Renesas (NEC) first developed only a two port USB3 chip. They now have a 4 port USB3 chip that should be available sometime this year.

I do not know if other manufacturers have developed more than a 2 port chip.

 

[essenbe]

The Asrok 890FX delux4 has 2 external USB 3.0 ports and a USB 3.0 on board header, but it is rather rare.

 

[stuart253]

Thanks for the replies

Greetings,

I want to thank all who took the time to read and reply to my query. Based upon the news of the 4 port chip, I will buy my storage but wait until the 4 port chip is available.

Thanks

Stu

 

[Krispy1]

unless you are looking for something that u can hotswap and move around i would recommend setting up raid instead of just adding a bunch of external drives