jerrypettit
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Need a USB3 interface
I've been using a Presonus Firebox with a Firewire connection, but my new computer--running Windows 8--only has USB3 ports.
I need the interface to plug in my midi keyboard AND my microphone. Any recommendations? (I don't need a lot of inputs and outputs, and wouldn't mind saving a few dollars...)
Thanks in advance.
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garrigus
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Re:Need a USB3 interface
2013/03/03 10:04:07
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cclarry
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Re:Need a USB3 interface
2013/03/03 10:10:06
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There are no USB 3.0 Interfaces available yet that I'm aware of...
Your 3.0 ports should be backwards compatible with 2.0 devices...
Any USB 2.0 Interface will work...
If your devices are both USB then you can use a hub if you only
have 1 USB port on your laptop..
Need a little more info then you've provided..
If your Keyboard is strictly MIDI and your Mic requires 48v Phantom Power
and is Lo Z....
Then probably the MOST bang for your buck will be the Roland Quad Capture.
They sell for $269 but you can usually find a sale at Guitar Center or one of the big
retailers to get that price down...
Excellent unit for the price..has two VS Preamps and MIDI in and out...built in Compressiion
on the preamps and records up to 192 Khz Sample Rate...and the drivers have extremely
low latency...
Also the Focusrite 8i6 is a very good unit...$299, but always look for a sale...SAVE MONEY
to buy other goodies..LOL
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jerrypettit
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Re:Need a USB3 interface
2013/03/03 11:13:37
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Brando
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Re:Need a USB3 interface
2013/03/03 11:30:31
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Be careful. It's not so simple with all devices. The Presonus 1818vsl for example is known to have issues when hooked up to USB3 - I own it and it works fine with USB2. I recommend that for whatever unit you are looking at, you get a users perspective from someone who is using it successfully with USB3.
Brando
Cakewalk, Studio One Pro, Reaper Presonus Audiobox 1818VSL ASUS Prime Z370-A LGA1151, 32GB DDR4, Intel 8700K i7, 500 GB SSD, 3 x 1TB HDD, Windows 10 Pro 64
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cclarry
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Re:Need a USB3 interface
2013/03/03 11:44:35
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Brando
Be careful. It's not so simple with all devices. The Presonus 1818vsl for example is known to have issues when hooked up to USB3 - I own it and it works fine with USB2. I recommend that for whatever unit you are looking at, you get a users perspective from someone who is using it successfully with USB3.
Brando is correct. Some devices have issues when plugged into USB 3.0 ports...as not all USB 3.0 ports allow backwards compatibility. The VAST majority do...but not all. And even some that claim to be backwards compatible have problems.
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AndyDavis
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Re:Need a USB3 interface
2013/03/03 12:28:19
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Focusrite has specific instructions, updated drivers, and software to support USB 3.0 on their website. FWIW - Amazon sells the 8i6 for $216.
I am working from the assumption that you have a laptop which precludes adding a FW expansion card. If not, then that route is going to be much, much cheaper. Search the forum, there are good recommendations about which cards are good ones.
Don't ask the question if you cannot live with the answer.
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Susan G
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Re:Need a USB3 interface
2013/03/03 12:46:18
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cclarry
Brando
Be careful. It's not so simple with all devices. The Presonus 1818vsl for example is known to have issues when hooked up to USB3 - I own it and it works fine with USB2. I recommend that for whatever unit you are looking at, you get a users perspective from someone who is using it successfully with USB3.
Brando is correct.
Some devices have issues when plugged into USB 3.0 ports...as not all USB 3.0 ports allow backwards compatibility.
The VAST majority do...but not all. And even some that claim to be backwards compatible have problems.
I agree. I had BSODs (which I hadn't seen in years) when I plugged a Komplete Audio 6 into a USB 3 port. NI has a driver (can't remember if it's still beta or not) which was supposed to address USB3 issues, but it didn't fix it on my system. No such problems using the USB2 port. -Susan
2.30 gigahertz Intel Core i7-3610QM; 16 GB RAMWindows 10 x64; NI Komplete Audio 6.SONAR Platinum (Lexington) x64
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kevo
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Re:Need a USB3 interface
2013/03/03 13:49:16
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Unless you are dead set on getting a new audio interface, a USB2 interface is cheaper.
Intel BOXDZ77BH-55K Intel 7 Series Motherboard - Intel Core i5-3570K - 8GB Patriot G2 Series PC3-12800, DDR3 1600MHz - Seagate ST1000DM003 Barracuda 1TB Hard Drive - 7200RPM, 64MB, SATA 6Gb/s - Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64 - Sonar Plat - Not Overclocked
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vintagevibe
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Re:Need a USB3 interface
2013/03/03 13:52:01
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And even some that claim to be backwards compatible have problems. kevo
Unless you are dead set on getting a new audio interface, a USB2 interface is cheaper.
Compared to what?
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Pragi
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Re:Need a USB3 interface
2013/03/03 14:03:54
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Hi,
isn´t it possible to install a PCIe Firewire card Windows 8 Compatible
to your PC?
Then you don´t have to buy another interface.......
Pragi
Sorry, I even read that the firebox is not Win 8 compatible........
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randyman
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Re:Need a USB3 interface
2013/03/03 14:15:53
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ditto on that (all usb 3 are not backward compat). My focusrite 8i6 just spazs out on a usb3 port (and they don't have any verified usb3 drivers up - just looked) - but works so perfectly in the 8 other usb ports on the machine 
A rack of noisemakers is not a definitive substitute for creativity. (though it does seem to help) what I spend my lunch time doing: (don't laugh - its just for fun!) www.soundclick.com/rnewburn
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AndyDavis
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Re:Need a USB3 interface
2013/03/03 15:04:00
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Randy Did the Focusrite USB 3.0 instructions not work for you? They indicate that there is an order dependency. I ask because I have been toying with the idea of a 8i6 and I wanted to plug it into my USB 3.0 port.
Don't ask the question if you cannot live with the answer.
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AndyDavis
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Re:Need a USB3 interface
2013/03/03 15:08:25
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If you had a chance to borrow a Firewire interface card, you might try the Win7 drivers with your new box.
M-Audio doesn't support the FW-Solo on Windows 8, but the Windows 7 drivers have been working very well for me (better than in Win 7 actually).
Don't ask the question if you cannot live with the answer.
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Mystic38
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Re:Need a USB3 interface
2013/03/03 17:33:48
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This most certainly is an incorrect statement... To the OP: Before you purchase any audio interface, visit the manufacturers site, or user forums and validate that they will interoperate with USB3.0, if you know which USB3.0 chipset is in your new machine, check to see if that operates with USB2.0 audio interfaces.. there have been more than plenty of issues in this area. There has been a rash of USB3.0 driver updates, and driver updates for audio interfaces for USB3.0 support.. do NOT assume any will simply work unless you know for sure.
garrigus
USB 3 is backwards-compatible. So you don't specifically need a USB 3 interface. Any USB 2 interface will work as well... just so you know.
Scott
--
Scott R. Garrigus - http://garrigus.com/ - SONAR X2 Power! - http://garrigus.com/?SonarX2Power
* Author of the Cakewalk Sonar and Sony Sound Forge Power book series: http://garrigus.com/?PowerBooks
* Author of the Cakewalk Sonar ProAudioTutor video tutorial series: http://garrigus.com/?ProAudioTutor
* Publisher of the DigiFreq free music technology newsletter: http://digifreq.com/?DigiFreq
* Publisher of the NewTechReview free consumer technology newsletter: http://newtechreview.com/?NewTechReview
HPE-580T with i7-950, 8G, 1.5T, ATI6850, Win7/64, Motu 828 III Hybrid, Motu Midi Express, Sonar Platinum, Komplete 9, Ableton Live 9 & Push 2, Melodyne Editor and other stuff, KRK VXT8 Monitors Virus Ti2 Polar, Fantom G6, Yamaha S70XS, Novation Nova, Novation Nova II, Korg MS2000, Waldorf Micro Q, NI Maschine Studio, TC-VoiceLive Rack, 2012 Gibson Les Paul Standard, 2001 Gibson Les Paul DC, 1999 Fender Am Hardtail Strat, Fender Blues Jr, Orange TH30/PPC212, Tak EF360GF, one mic, no talent.
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Jim Roseberry
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Re:Need a USB3 interface
2013/03/03 17:56:27
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As was mentioned, there are currently no USB3 audio interfaces... and none that have even been announced.
The best USB2 units yield excellent performance and low round-trip latency.
You'll want to connect most USB2 audio interfaces to a USB2 port.
There's no advantage connecting to a USB3 port.
Some USB2 units (FastTrack Ultra 8R) simply won't work when connected to a USB3 controller.
Unless you're using a Z series chipset motherboard, the USB3 controller isn't integrated into the chipset.
The USB3 ports are provided via 3rd-party add-on controllers.
Liken the scenario to using a non-TI chipset Firewire controller.
Increases the odds of compatibility issues... or reduced performance
ie: You can connect a RME Babyface to a 3rd-party USB3 port... and it'll work. But you can run heavier loads (glitch-free) at the smallest ASIO buffer size when connected to a USB2 port (integrated into the chipset).
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gswitz
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Re:Need a USB3 interface
2013/03/03 18:07:31
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The Fireface UCX is compatible to USB 3 chipsets. http://www.rme-audio.de/en_products_fireface_ucx.php practical limit of 96K 24 bit mono tracks. USB 2.0 = 107 Mono tracks SATA/300 = 230 mono tracks - Bob Katz - Mastering Audio the art and science - p 309 I'm so not there!!
StudioCat > I use Windows 10 and Sonar Platinum. I have a touch screen. I make some videos. This one shows how to do a physical loopback on the RME UCX to get many more equalizer nodes.
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JonD
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Re:Need a USB3 interface
2013/03/03 18:13:06
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SonarPlat/CWbBL, Win 10 Pro, i7 2600K, Asus P8Z68 Deluxe, 16GB DDR3, Radeon HD5450, TC Electronic Impact Twin, Kawai MP11 Piano, Event ALP Monitors, Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro, Too Many Plugins, My lucky hat.
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garrigus
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Re:Need a USB3 interface
2013/03/03 19:48:07
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Paul P
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Re:Need a USB3 interface
2013/03/03 23:05:02
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I'm having trouble believing that some usb2 devices don't work properly in a usb3 port.
Someone's not doing their homework, again.
I thought standards existed for a reason, like to not have compatibility issues. This is depressing :-(
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jerrypettit
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Re:Need a USB3 interface
2013/03/04 07:58:42
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Thanks for all of the input.
I think what I'm going to do is call my guy at Sweetwater. I've worked with them for 20 years or so. I'll explain my concerns and even though it might cost a little more money, I believe they would take back any unit that wasn't working for me.
I'm reticent to continue Firewire--I think it might be a dying technology. And, yeah--my Firebox might have issues with Windows 8 drivers anyway.
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Jim Roseberry
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Re:Need a USB3 interface
2013/03/04 10:10:25
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I'm having trouble believing that some usb2 devices don't work properly in a usb3 port. Someone's not doing their homework, again. Mainly a problem with 3rd-party USB3 ports Situation is very similar to using non-TI chipset Firewire controllers
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Jim Roseberry
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Re:Need a USB3 interface
2013/03/04 10:11:27
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I think what I'm going to do is call my guy at Sweetwater. I've worked with them for 20 years or so. I'll explain my concerns and even though it might cost a little more money, I believe they would take back any unit that wasn't working for me. Their customer support is good... so I'm sure they'll work with you.
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rabeach
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Re:Need a USB3 interface
2013/03/04 11:16:46
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Mystic38
This most certainly is an incorrect statement...
To the OP:
Before you purchase any audio interface, visit the manufacturers site, or user forums and validate that they will interoperate with USB3.0, if you know which USB3.0 chipset is in your new machine, check to see if that operates with USB2.0 audio interfaces.. there have been more than plenty of issues in this area. There has been a rash of USB3.0 driver updates, and driver updates for audio interfaces for USB3.0 support.. do NOT assume any will simply work unless you know for sure.
garrigus
USB 3 is backwards-compatible. So you don't specifically need a USB 3 interface. Any USB 2 interface will work as well... just so you know.
Scott
--
Scott R. Garrigus - http://garrigus.com/ - SONAR X2 Power! - http://garrigus.com/?SonarX2Power
* Author of the Cakewalk Sonar and Sony Sound Forge Power book series: http://garrigus.com/?PowerBooks
* Author of the Cakewalk Sonar ProAudioTutor video tutorial series: http://garrigus.com/?ProAudioTutor
* Publisher of the DigiFreq free music technology newsletter: http://digifreq.com/?DigiFreq
* Publisher of the NewTechReview free consumer technology newsletter: http://newtechreview.com/?NewTechReview
I respectfully disagree. The usb3 specification is fully backward compatible with usb2. Any non-backward compatibility between usb2 devices and usb3 is the result of shoddy drivers and cheaply made chipsets not built to the full usb specification.
post edited by rabeach - 2013/03/04 11:23:39
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Jim Roseberry
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Re:Need a USB3 interface
2013/03/04 11:27:07
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I respectfully disagree. The usb3 specification is fully backward compatible with usb2. Any non-backward compatibility between usb2 devices and usb3 is the result of shoddy drivers and cheaply made chipsets not built to the full usb3 specification. I've installed a LOT of USB-2 audio interfaces... and I can tell you that some (ie: FastTrack Ultra 8R) just won't work at all with 3rd-party USB3 controllers... and others will "work" albeit at less that maximum performance (ie: RME Babyface). This isn't really much of an issue... because most machines have USB2 ports integrated into the chipset. Running a USB2 device via a USB3 port (even an integrated USB3 port on a Z77 chipset motherboard) results in no performance gain. So... connect a USB2 audio interface to a USB2 port. 
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Matt.Focusrite
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Re:Need a USB3 interface
2013/03/04 11:57:54
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Since they've been mentioned, I just thought I'd chime in to clarify that all of Focusrite's Scarlett range of USB interfaces are compatible with USB 3 ports providing that you have the latest version of the drivers (currently v2.4) installed. For the 18i6 and 8i6, all you need is the latest version of Scarlett Mix Control (currently v 1.2).
Matt Pliskin // Focusrite Technical Support
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Cactus Music
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Re:Need a USB3 interface
2013/03/04 12:28:18
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It seems that some of you are missing the point that Jim has made- Not all USB ports are created equal. So even if your interface say's it supports USB 3.0, You could face issues because the USB 3.0 port in question might not be fully integrated to the MOBO.
Most likely explanation is that as consumers are now expecting a USB 3.0 port on their new purchases, manufactures are hobbling them together in a hurry to meet the demand. I'm sure you all remember the transition from USB 1 to 2 and the little notification telling you your device will perform faster etc.
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rabeach
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Re:Need a USB3 interface
2013/03/04 12:50:07
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Jim Roseberry
I respectfully disagree. The usb3 specification is fully backward compatible with usb2. Any non-backward compatibility between usb2 devices and usb3 is the result of shoddy drivers and cheaply made chipsets not built to the full usb3 specification.
I've installed a LOT of USB-2 audio interfaces... and I can tell you that some (ie: FastTrack Ultra 8R) just won't work at all with 3rd-party USB3 controllers... and others will "work" albeit at less that maximum performance (ie: RME Babyface).
This isn't really much of an issue... because most machines have USB2 ports integrated into the chipset.
Running a USB2 device via a USB3 port (even an integrated USB3 port on a Z77 chipset motherboard) results in no performance gain. So... connect a USB2 audio interface to a USB2 port.
I understand that there are issues. I just wanted to point out that the usb3 specification allows for stable backward compatibility with usb2 devices. I do not believe there was any intent to provide for enhanced performance of a usb2 device used in a usb3 port. But I have not read the spec so I’m not sure about that. I believe the intent was for usb3 to allow for both usb2 and usb3 communication on the usb3 bus.
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Zonno
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Re:Need a USB3 interface
2013/03/04 14:42:13
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This is what Roland says for the Quad Capture and Octa Capture
* Intel chipset recommended.
* QUAD-CAPTURE may not perform to its full specs when used with an added USB 2.0 interface card.
* This product cannot be used with a USB 3.0 port that is not compatible with USB 2.0 specification.
* If this product does not work correctly when connected to a USB 3.0 port, you will need to connect it to a USB 2.0 port.
* Even if connected to a USB 3.0 port, this product will operate as a USB 2.0 device; the performance of the product will not change.
Cakewalk, Reason 10, KOMPLETE 11, BIAB 2018, Roland OctaCapture, Finale 26, PCR-300, HP ZBook, Guitars __________________ Any text above is a random collection of characters which bear no meaning whatsoever. The reader will be held liable for any damage due to interpretation of these characters.
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rabeach
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Re:Need a USB3 interface
2013/03/04 15:14:40
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Zonno
This is what Roland says for the Quad Capture and Octa Capture
* Intel chipset recommended.
* QUAD-CAPTURE may not perform to its full specs when used with an added USB 2.0 interface card.
* This product cannot be used with a USB 3.0 port that is not compatible with USB 2.0 specification.
* If this product does not work correctly when connected to a USB 3.0 port, you will need to connect it to a USB 2.0 port.
* Even if connected to a USB 3.0 port, this product will operate as a USB 2.0 device; the performance of the product will not change.
IMHO the most likely reason people are experiencing an issue is because of corporate strategies utilized by Intel to retain control over required details to implement usb3 for as long as possible. Resulting in less than desirable e.g. inferior chipsets in the market for a short period of time unless you use Intel.
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