Windows 7 & USB 3.0

[Victek]

Does anyone know if Windows 7 has native support for USB 3.0? If not has anyone successfully installed a USB 3.0 PCI-e card in a Windows 7 system? I'm wondering if the currently available add-on controllers are compatible.

 

[Qdos]

It would be absurd to imagine these cards don't ship with Win 7 drivers seeing as they are a cutting edge product right now

 

[JordanJP]

well I don't think USB 3.0 is still mainstream yet, I mean obviously 2.0 still seems pretty popular

 

[TaraSWinTeam]

Does anyone know if Windows 7 has native support for USB 3.0? If not has anyone successfully installed a USB 3.0 PCI-e card in a Windows 7 system? I'm wondering if the currently available add-on controllers are compatible.

Check with the manufacturer or the Windows Compatibility Center: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/compatibility/windows-7/en-us/default.aspx.

Tara
Window Outreach Team

 

[Victek]

Thanks for the replies. I'll check that windows 7 drivers are available of course, but I was more interested in how stable/reliable the usb 3.0 controllers are and how the performance compares with e-sata. There is a definite performance increase switching my external hard drive from usb 2.0 to e-sata, but unfortunately the e-sata connection tends to lockup sometimes. I'm thinking of getting a usb 3.0 hard drive enclosure and pci-e controller card to get better performance (hopefully without the lockup problem).

 

[logicearth]

..but I was more interested in how stable/reliable the usb 3.0 controllers are and how the performance compares [to whatever]...

Not possible to say since it is still earlier days.

 

[ltto]

USB 3.0 PCI-e card windows 7 driver

you can download USB 3.0 PCI-e card windows 7 driver from this page:

2-Port USB 3.0 PCI-Express Card

 

[Wrinkledlion]

It does say in my device manager under "Other Devices" that the drivers for a USB aren't installed, but it won't tell me the manufacturer or any details. Updating drivers from there doesn't work.

 

[whs]

I have used USB3 on my laptop which has this port out of the box. It worked perfectly with my disk in a USB3 enclosure.

 

[MilesAhead]

I'm using SIIG USB 3.0 PCIexpress card. I have 2 USB 3.0 docking stations. My WD drives run at full speed. It kicks ass basically.

 

[Loop71]

I hope this is the right place to raise this question about USB 3.0. My laptop has 2 3.0 and 2 2.0 USB drives. When I hook up the drives to the 2.0, I get a message saying the drives would perform better using the 3.0. So I safely remove the drive and insert it into the 3.0. The system does not see the drives, at all. Yet, I can insert some things like my remote mouse receiver and it works fine. What is wrong?
Joe

 

[maxseven]

If you're getting "would perform better" when plugged-in to 2.0 ports, presumably they are 3.0 drives and the system is telling you to plug-in to 3.0 ports for best results. That doing so they are not recognized suggests the laptop has not been loaded with the proper drivers for the 3.0 ports. This is odd as at least most laptops come preloaded with all software & drivers.

I'd guess you need to find drivers for your 3.0 ports (start by looking in Device Manager for yellow flags).

 

[GeneO]

No, I do not believe windows 7 supports it natively. Windows 8 is supposed to.

 

[cluberti]

Windows 7 will work with USB3, but no USB3 drivers ship with the Win7 disc (although some are available on WU, and will install automatically if you allow device manager to check WU for drivers). In general, though, you'll be installing chipset drivers for the USB3 port controller on your motherboard or expansion card before they'll work properly.

 

[Loop71]

To Cluberti,
When you say WU, does this mean Windows Update? Allow Device Mgr to check WU for drivers...how is this done? And lastly, by doing what you suggest will this automatically be installing chipset drivers for the USB3 port controller on my motherboard? Thankyou.

 

[cluberti]

Yes, Windows Update - you can configure Windows 7 to search WU for driver updates:
Configure Windows to Search Windows Update for Device Drivers

As to the second portion, if there *is* a driver there, it'd be found. If not, you'd still have to copy down from the vendor's site and install.

 

[HammerHead]

USB 3.0 Addon

In reply to the first post. I am using an Asus card (see link).

Newegg.com - ASUS Model U3S6 USB 3.0 & SATA 6Gb/s Add-on card

With Renesas drivers. Two different Rigs. No problems. Not available to boot with. Drivers load with Win 7. Check my system specs for more info.

View attachment 211072

Also I have just fired up an Asus P8Z77-V Deluxe with Intel 3770K (native USB 3.0) and it has no problems. It should be bootable. Although I haven't tried it yet.

 

[jsquareg]

I'm using SIIG USB 3.0 PCIexpress card. I have 2 USB 3.0 docking stations. My WD drives run at full speed. It kicks ass basically.

I don't mean to hi-jack this thread but I am interested in your experience with the SIIG card. I installed a Silverstone EC03-P in my desktop and am having an irksome problem with it. The performance with my WD Passport is about 3 times faster than running the disk through an USB2 port. However, if I eject the disk, use it on my laptop and then return it to the desktop the problem appears. If I try to eject from the desktop again, I get a message saying something like the disk is busy please close any program that may be using it. Are you having that sort of problem?

Thanks.

 

[paparazzo79]

I installed Renesas electronics usb 3.0 controller,and I plugged into usb 3.0 port my WD Elements 1TB drive,but it still transfer speed is like 40-50 MB/s copy.Why?