USB 3.0

[alex]

Oh yes, I

[Alan]

Nah not even close. Assuming you have PCI-express(not the old PCI), a PCI-E x 1 slot would already be fast enough to handle USB3.


Do you have any new USB 3 devices by the way? Another fast solution for external HDD for example is e-Sata (which in combination with Sata 600 is even faster than USB 3).
<div style="clear: both;"]</div>

Well, I'm even further back than that, since none of my PCI slots are PCI-express. All the old style PCI connections. I guess it's a lot like working with stone knives and bear skins. []


I do have a slot being taken up by a dual port eSATA, for a couple of docking stations. Maybe I can find a card that will have both eSATA and USB 3.0.


Edit: I spoke too soon about the PCI slots. After looking past all the dust bunnies, there was one. Occupied with something I never use.

[Daniel Browning]

My PC is "old" enough not to have a USB 3.0 connection. But, even if I installed a PCI card to adapt the motherboard to such a connection, won't the PCI buss limit the transfer speed anyway?

99% of the time, yes, USB3 will be limited by the bus. That's true in most cases even if you use a PCI Express 2.0 x1 card (which is theoretically capable of 500 MB/s). It's even true if you bought a brand new computer that has the USB 3.0 directly on the motherboard and even advertises full 400 MB/s USB 3.0.


There is a *huge* disconnect between advertising and reality, especially when it comes to USB 3.It took me several months, three computers, and several thousand dollars to finally get a computer that is capable of the the full 4.8 Gbps USB 3.0, so I feel I'm qualified to speak about it. I needed the full speed in order to capture, modify, and output live uncompressed 10-bit 1080p video (192 MB/s two ways) with a USB3 capture device.


99.99% of computers that advertise "True USB 3.0 @ 4.8 Gbps (400 MB/s)!" are not actually capable of speeds anywhere near that level (not even the speed of the USB 3 device itself). For example, my first motherboard, an Asus P7P55D, claimed this, but was actually only capable of less than half that speed. The second computer I tried with an add-in PCI express 2.0 x1 USB 3.0 card, but that too didn't work at the full "SuperSpeed". It wasn't until I bought an ASUS P6X58D-E that I was able to hit the fuill 4.8Gbps.


So why don't computer and motheboard manufacturers use the full speed? Because PCI express lanes to the CPU are expensive and in short supply. They have to divide them up among add-in slots, SATA controllers, etc. And it doesn't make for good marketing when you say "our USB3 is throttled from 400 MB/s to 100 MB/s so we could dedicate 75% of those PCI lanes to the 6 extra SATA ports on the motherboard!". Instead, they just lie and say "USB 3.0 400 MB/s!". (Lucifer was Director of Marketing in heaven before he got kicked out, you know. That's where he got his nickname "Father of Lies".)


So, theoretically, it is possible to have a PCI Express 2.0 x1 add-in card that provides the full USB 3.0 400 MB/s (4.8Gbps), but in practice no such configuration exists because no manufacturer truly dedicates a full 400 MB/s between the pci-x1 lane and the processor. (At least it certainly didn't exist between Sep 2010 and Feb, 2011).


All that said, USB3 is still going to be faster than USB2 (which tops out around 35 MB/s for me), so I recommend an add-in card anyway. (Personally, I use eSATA for hard disks.)

[Alan]

All that said, USB3 is still going to be faster than USB2 (which tops out around 35 MB/s for me), so I recommend an add-in card anyway. (Personally, I use eSATA for hard disks.)
<div style="clear: both;"]</div>

Good advice. I'll get the card.

[iso79]

I wish they would skip USB3.0 and make Thunderbolt a standard

[Dave Johnston]

I wish they would skip USB3.0 and make Thunderbolt a standard

Then everyone would have to get new cords for their cameras..... and iphones... [:P]

[iso79]

[quote user="Dave Johnston"]


Then everyone would have to get new cords for their cameras..... and iphones... :P


[/quote]


So what? Remember the serial cable, and even USB 1.0 days? It