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Adding USB 3.0 card
I want to add USB 3.0 to my Optiplex 780MT. I want a card with a 19/20 pin connector for the front 2-port anker panel I have.
I am looking at this one:
It has a molex power input and I don't have a free power plug and they are SATA.
I am thinking of getting this splitter:
and this extension cable to go down to it:
Does this look like a good setup?
I also thought about getting a front panel with an SD card reader with the USB 3.0, but then you have to get a pci card with the correct ports for it. Maybe my MB has some ports on it. I need to find the MB diagram. I know it doesn't have a USB 3.0 port as it is too old. I have noticed a few cards where the card reader runs over USB 2.0 and I would prefer it to run over the 3.0. Some of the card tell you how many extra front ports they can support. What do you guys think?
speedstep
8 Wizard
8 Wizard
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47K Posts
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June 24th, 2015 06:00
The USB3 card will be faster but not as fast as you might want due to X1 pci-e bandwidth. PCI-E version 3.0 slots are not on the 780. Power wise there should not be an issue.
There is an internal FLEX BAY connector for Card Reader but its not usb3.
Dell 19-in-1 Media Card Reader TEAC CA-400 1930960B12 2VP58 02VP58
Dell Flex Bay Media Card Reader Cable 19" GH483
http://downloads.dell.com/rmsd/R264564.zip
http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/04/Drivers/DriversDetails?DriverId=R264564
TEAC CA-400 Enhanced 19-1 Card Reader Driver
Dell 19-in-1 Media Card Reader TEAC CA-400 1930960B12 2VP58 02VP58
Dell Flex Bay Media Card Reader Cable 19" GH483 Optiplex 960, 780, 755, 745
Version
USB\VID_0BDA&PID_0181.DeviceDesc="CA-400"
USB\VID_0644&PID_0200.DeviceDesc="CA-200"
USB\VID_0644&PID_0201.DeviceDesc="CAB-200"
Compatibility
Systems
Operating Systems
Applies to
Brent1978
44 Posts
0
June 24th, 2015 08:00
Thank you for your reply. I only have one front access panel open, so the USB 3.0 is my first choice. I would take one that had both, but it is hard to find one and then a pci card with the right connectors that match it. Also some of those cards I look at on Amazon have reviews of people saying they over-volted the motherboard.
I know the anker card says it can take two extra ports on it's internal 20 pin port and I have an anker two-port front panel. The only thing is I don't have an extra sata power plug and the card takes molex. My plan is to uses a splitter and a sata to molex adapter.
There are some cards that have sata power, but some are more than I want to pay, some don't have the 20 pin connecter and I think anker is a well know brand. Maybe I will look a little more for one with sata and a 20 pin.
I know it won't work as fasts as a more modern computer, but I want to get as much of a speed improvement as I can.
Brent1978
44 Posts
0
July 3rd, 2015 17:00
I received my parts in the mail and installed them. My only problem was I saw no way to screw in the front panel, in the floppy drive bay, form the other side. I looked at the service manual and they show how to remove the floppy drive, but nothing about screw on the other side. It is a little loose, but I can plug into it. The drive bay looks riveted in place. I would like to secure it better. Any ideas?
If you are interested in my build:
I put in this Anker USB 3.0 card:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007SJGGAE/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=2AXM8FJRY1OOY&coliid=I30N9JIDSD3GRF&psc=1
an Anker 2 port front panel:
http://www.amazon.com/Anker%C2%AE-Front-Panel-Connector-Adapter/dp/B00J4EZE4U/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1435965694&sr=8-1&keywords=anker+2+port+usb+3+front+panel
I used this cable to split a SATA power cable from my DVD drive:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002N2EHVQ/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=2AXM8FJRY1OOY&coliid=I22DSTCGKKIVMR&psc=1
I used this cable to convert the SATA power to Molex and allow it to reach down to the card:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GK8SYCW/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=2AXM8FJRY1OOY&coliid=I3A0RYCAREKM74
Brent1978
44 Posts
0
July 6th, 2015 14:00
Does anyone know how to get a screw into the other side of the floppy bay?
Brent1978
44 Posts
0
July 6th, 2015 15:00
Thank you for the reply. I was hoping to get my USB 3.0 front panel snugged down. Maybe I can find a big fat screw that I can fit in the drive grove at put it in behind the panel to keep it firmly against the front.
shesagordie
10 Elder
10 Elder
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46K Posts
0
July 6th, 2015 15:00
Brent1978
There is no way to install a screw on the second side of any drive, because the opposite side panel cannot be removed, to obtain access. see page 54 Here:
ftp.dell.com/.../optiplex-780_Service%20Manual2_en-us.pdf
Bev.