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good USB 3.0 card for older XPS?
I'm looking at getting a USB powered WD Passport external drive, and would like to take advantage of the USB 3 speed. I'm pretty sure my 4 year old XPS does not have USB 3.0, and I would like to add it. I see internal cards running from about $20 & up, is there any good reason to get a more expensive card?
Is it possible to convert any of the front ports to USB 3.0? I see some cards advertise they have support for front USB ports.
thanks
shesagordie
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January 20th, 2014 12:00
Glenstro
Over the years Dell has made many different XPS models, which XPS model do you have?
It is not possible to convert any of the Dell front panel USB ports to USB 3.0, they are connected to the motherboard.
The best you can do, is install either a discrete PCIe x1, or a PCI [if available] USB 3.0 card, only the ports on this card will be USB 3.0.
Bev.
shesagordie
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January 22nd, 2014 12:00
Glenstro
If the Mediasonic card has an NEC chipset, then it should work fine in the Studio XPS 435t / 9000.
Bev.
Ps. Edited for content.
Glenstro
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January 20th, 2014 12:00
thanks for the reply - my model is a Studio XPS 435t / 9000, built in early 2010 if I recall.
I was looking at this card - would it be as good as any?
What is the difference between the two cards you list?
That's what I thought about the front ports, I was hoping that I could replace the all but useless woefully underpowered front ports, which won't recognize any USB device I put in them. Actually the card reader in the front hasn't worked in eons as well, but that's another story..
shesagordie
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January 20th, 2014 13:00
Glenstro
Sorry to say, but the link you post to a USB 3.0 card does not work.
The Studio XPS 435T/9000 has three PCIe x1 and one PCI slots.
Check out the following PCIe x1 USB 3.0 controller cards, they all have NEC chips:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815287015
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815287016
Note: USB 3.0 add-on cards require a supplementary power connector, a 4-pin molex to SATA power adaptor is supplied with the card.
The card's ports will be only USB 3.0, all the motherboard's other USB ports will remain USB 2.0.
Bev.
Glenstro
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January 22nd, 2014 08:00
thanks - not sure what happened to that link, here is the card I was looking at:
http://products.ncix.com/detail/mediasonic-hp1-su3-2-port-usb-3-0-pci-e1-control-card-25-50576-1461.htm
shesagordie
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January 22nd, 2014 08:00
Glenstro
Sorry, I cannot make a judgment on the Mediasonic card, the specifications do not say which chipset is installed, the better cards use either a NEC, or a Renesas chipset.
There are reviews published about the card, that maybe worth a read here:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16816322009
Bev.
Glenstro
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January 22nd, 2014 11:00
In the comments in that link someone said that it has a NEC chipset, and a SATA connector for power.
I'll check out the one you linked to as well, but the cursed newegg site keeps redirecting me to newegg.ca
shesagordie
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January 22nd, 2014 13:00
Glenstro
Happy to have helped.
Bev.
Glenstro
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January 22nd, 2014 13:00
ok, thanks for your input :emotion-2:
G