Helpful ReplyPCIe USB 3.0 Cards - Anyone Have One?

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2:43AM
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2014/11/07 21:06:47 (permalink)

PCIe USB 3.0 Cards - Anyone Have One?

So I've decided to buy a USB3.0 external hard drive for backup purposes.  My motherboard (and PC in general) is about 5-6 years old, and it does not have built-in USB3.0.  So in order to boost up transfer/copying speeds, I need USB3.0.
 
OK, so buy an add-on card, 2:43AM!
 
So while that seems like a simple suggestion, the Internets and storefronts (Newegg in particular) are riddled with horror stories of add-on USB3.0 cards frying their devices! Apparently, either the cards are faulty or their Molex, 4-pin power port is backwards!!!  Something definitely isn't right, and that's some scary sh*t, especially when dealing with high-end synths with USB and/or moderately priced HDD's.
 
So anyone have any luck with a particular brand and model and DID NOT end up frying their devices?  If so, post some information to help me out in my quest.  Looking to keep the price tag ≤$30 and it should have at least 2 external ports.  Thanks in advance.
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johnnyV
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Re: PCIe USB 3.0 Cards - Anyone Have One? 2014/11/09 23:26:47 (permalink)
Like you I was using a 5 year old machine so I ordered a PCIe USB 3.0 card for $ 20, It put my DPCLAT latency through the roof! So I had to remove it. It was not a brand name, I just looked at the box,, It say's nothing , no name at all... just some Chinese POS I guess. Anyhow it would seem a simple add on if it works. But in the end it's one of the reasons I decided it was time to build a new rig. 

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#2
fireberd
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Re: PCIe USB 3.0 Cards - Anyone Have One? 2014/11/10 06:39:06 (permalink)
Having USB 3.0 will not increase USB speed.  It will ONLY increase speed if you have a USB 3.0 device (e.g. USB 3.0 external hard drive). 
 
Connecting USB 2.0 devices to a 3.0 port, the 2.0 devices will run at 2.0. speed.
 

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2:43AM
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Re: PCIe USB 3.0 Cards - Anyone Have One? 2014/11/10 07:24:13 (permalink)
fireberd
Having USB 3.0 will not increase USB speed.  It will ONLY increase speed if you have a USB 3.0 device (e.g. USB 3.0 external hard drive). Connecting USB 2.0 devices to a 3.0 port, the 2.0 devices will run at 2.0. speed.



Correct.  I would be utilizing the 3.0 speed for a 3.0-capable, external HDD.  Anything else would operate at 2.0 speeds.  But if the result would be fried devices, or a fried motherboard, then no devices will be installed!
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2:43AM
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Re: PCIe USB 3.0 Cards - Anyone Have One? 2014/11/11 07:23:59 (permalink)
Hmm. It seems that the majority may not be using add-on USB3.0 cards?  Not many replies, but I will give the thread a little more time.
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TerraSin
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Re: PCIe USB 3.0 Cards - Anyone Have One? 2014/11/12 16:47:17 (permalink)
These types of devices are typically made by no-name companies and have terrible support if any at all. One of the reasons being that every board made these days comes with 3.0 as a standard now and there is very little market for companies to spend money on making addon cards when our society cycles through electronics every 2-3 years.
 
My suggestion is with a computer that old to bite the bullet and either buy a new computer or upgrade the mobo you're using. With Black Friday sales started/coming, you can get some pretty amazing deals on sites like NewEgg. I typically build my computers once every two years and cycle them out throughout my house as I do but I save a buttload by buying Black Friday weekend. The newest computer I've built is about 2 years old now and I would be upgrading this year but with the new processors coming out in Jan, I'm holding off because I've hit a wall with upgrading in the Ivy Bridge family and the next step would be Haswell but it's simply too expensive at this point to justify it. The RAM alone was going to cost me about $1800 for 64 gigs. With Broadwell coming out in Jan, Haswell should drop a bit in price and hopefully DDR4 RAM will as well.
 
Being yours is so old, you could probably get a very good deal on parts for an Ivy Bridge processor which would likely fit your needs quite well.
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2:43AM
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Re: PCIe USB 3.0 Cards - Anyone Have One? 2014/11/13 08:40:34 (permalink)
Great, TerraSin...you have planted the itch. Thanks a lot!
 
So with that itch, I started scratching. It may be a good idea to upgrade the necessary parts. Haswell processors, right now, are at an OK price, and it's doubtful they'll go on sale.  Processors don't fall into the "sale" category very well, but you never know.  The i7-4770K is $334.99.  I imagine this is a beast of a processor. Or the i7-4790K...I'm still trying to figure out the i7 part numbers!
 
Basically, if I upgrade, it would consist of the following: CPU, Mobo with as many USB ports as I can get plus ultra-low DPC latency, RAM 16GB would suit me fine, silent CPU cooler (as my current, Artic Freezer 7 won't fit the LGA1150).  Everything else in my current setup would be used in the proposed, new rig.

Again...thanks for planting the itch!
 
That still doesn't solve my immediate dilemma, however.  At this time, I am still stuck with USB2.0 with the intent to connect a USB3.0 backup, HDD.  I guess I can live with the slower transfer speeds. It's not like I'm moving massive amounts of data back and forth anyway.
 
Also...on a side note...at least upgrading will [hopefully] solve my stupid latency issues that I've enjoyed for the last 2 years. I've had nothing but problems and frustration over the years.  Because I spent more time troubleshooting, I spent less time being creative.
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TerraSin
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Re: PCIe USB 3.0 Cards - Anyone Have One? 2014/11/13 09:55:27 (permalink)
You're welcome. :D
 
Like I said, wait till about Black Friday to do the majority of your shopping. I save a ton of money, especially on the processors, by waiting it out. I wanted to see if the x99 stuff would drop in price but I don't think that will happen yet. The biggest expense for me is going to be DDR4 because I need to jump to 64gigs from my 32. >_<
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YouDontHasToCallMeJohnson
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Re: PCIe USB 3.0 Cards - Anyone Have One? 2014/11/26 13:38:07 (permalink) ☄ Helpfulby 2:43AM 2014/11/26 22:31:48
I have been look as well.
 
Found 2 on amazon with good reviews:
For this one, even the bad reviews are good:
http://www.amazon.com/KDLINKS%C2%AE-Extension-Internal-Connector-Desktops/dp/B00DSXG4YW/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top
 
this was has 291 reviews, 20 unhappy ones
http://www.amazon.com/Inateck-Superspeed-Ports-PCI-E-Expansion/dp/B00B6ZCNGM/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top
 
Prolly the only way to know is to try one. As others have written audio performance may suffer.
 
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2:43AM
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Re: PCIe USB 3.0 Cards - Anyone Have One? 2014/11/26 22:41:15 (permalink)
^^^
Thanks!  Those reviews look very promising.  All others I have seen have quite a few 1 star reviews that note fires, smoke, melted boards, defective devices, etc.
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johnnyV
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Re: PCIe USB 3.0 Cards - Anyone Have One? 2014/11/26 23:34:21 (permalink)
There's no life changing events with USB 3.0. I have 2 external drives that use it. I don't even notice as most of the transfers are not that big, like say 2 Gigs. So USB 2 is just fine. I would not bother looking for the PCI cards. Save the $20. 
 
Another thing is so many devices don't even work with the USB 3.0 ports. I couldn't figure out why my Yamaha DTX drum driver wouldn't install until I swapped it to a USB 2 port and it worked. 
Now I'm wishing my MOBO had more USB 2.0 ports! It only has 4 so I'm having to use a Hub already. At this point only external Hard drives seem to work with the USB 3.0. 

Sonar X3e Studio - Waiting for Professional
 Scarlett 6i6
Yamaha Gear= 01v - NSM 10 - DTX 400 - MG82cx
Roland Gear= A 49- GR 50 - TR 505 - Boss pedals
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Mackie Gear= Mix 8 - SRM 350's 
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BassDaddy
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Re: PCIe USB 3.0 Cards - Anyone Have One? 2014/11/27 05:21:45 (permalink)
I put in a no name PCIe X1 usb 3.0 with no problems. No molex connection on it. That's what sounds scary to me. I have a 2TB external 3.0 with its own power source, as they all are, so no need for buss power. I do have 3.0 on the mobo too so no problem there. Everything I have works on both pcie and mobo usb 3.0. I removed all pci cards and that's when I stopped getting any wierdness. No pci usb cards with devices in use while Sonar is open has added to my stability a lot. Should it be that way? I just know for me, it is.
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Grem
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Re: PCIe USB 3.0 Cards - Anyone Have One? 2014/11/27 05:41:48 (permalink)
2:43am- Check out Jim at studiocat.com if your thinking about getting parts to upgrade. He has an advise service that would maybe save you a lot of headaches with compatibility problems. I've had advise from him on every DAW I ever had or built. Stand up guy.

Grem

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YouDontHasToCallMeJohnson
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Re: PCIe USB 3.0 Cards - Anyone Have One? 2014/11/27 13:20:23 (permalink)
This past year I worked on a number of new computers with usb 3 ports.
 
Creating disk images was way quicker with a 3.0 external disk than with the 2.0 disks.
 
I purchased a couple of 3.0 enclosures, moved the disks. Now it is feasible to visit these client's offices and create new images in about 20 minutes.
 
I have had to use images to replace dying disks for 2 clients in the past 3 months. Very happy to have had them.  The more frequent I can create such the more comfortable I am.
 
I am not ready to replace the current music computer. And since I create an image about monthly, before any major windows updates and any new programs, it will be gooder to be able to create an image faster.
 
#14
Grem
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Re: PCIe USB 3.0 Cards - Anyone Have One? 2014/11/27 14:30:34 (permalink)
Yes on the 3.0 transfer of LARGE files. Small ones not so much difference. But when your transferring a restore image file, that's in the 100's of gb, USB 2 is SLOWWWWWW

Grem

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Jonbouy
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Re: PCIe USB 3.0 Cards - Anyone Have One? 2014/11/29 19:54:31 (permalink)
Rather than messing with a USB card which may or may not work on your machine and then adding on the extra cost of a USB 3.0 mode external drive why not just fit a hot-swap bay to your desktop?
 
Providing your Mb (BIOS) supports hot swapping it will be as fast as your internal drives anyway and you can stick whatever drive(s) you prefer in it rather than being stuck with what comes packaged in an external box.  Actually even if your machine doesn't support 'hot-swapping' you can always do your 'swaps' when the machine is powered down.  For backup purposes that's my preferred method of working with a bay anyway.
 
Cheap, fast and effective.  It works for me.
 
No good if you want a portable bus powered drive for your laptop of course but for backing up a studio desktop it works like a champ.

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johnnyV
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Re: PCIe USB 3.0 Cards - Anyone Have One? 2014/11/30 23:59:00 (permalink)
Well it's pretty cheap to add a couple of 1 or 2 TB Sata 7200 drives to a desktop. Just make sure you have a good Power supply. 

Sonar X3e Studio - Waiting for Professional
 Scarlett 6i6
Yamaha Gear= 01v - NSM 10 - DTX 400 - MG82cx
Roland Gear= A 49- GR 50 - TR 505 - Boss pedals
Tascam Gear=  DR 40 - US1641 -
Mackie Gear= Mix 8 - SRM 350's 
i5 Z97 3.2GHZ quad 16 Gig RAM W 8.1  home build
Taylor mini GS - G& L Tribute Tele - 72 Fender Princeton - TC BH 250 - Mooer and Outlaw Pedals  Korg 05/RW
 
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