Pci usb3

[Attila the Bun]

Morning all,

I'm after an opinion...my case has no front mounted USB3 ports which is an inconvenience. My mobo does have 2 rear facing USB3 ports but no USB3 header.

Do I:

1) get a 5.25 USB3 adapter with cables that extend out of the back of the case and plug into the existing ports. About £20.
2) get a 5.25 USB3 adapter with PCI card. About £25.
3) get an external USB3 hub. About £25-£50.
4) wait until I upgrade CPU/Mobo(with USB3 header) later this year and get an updated front panel port assembly for the case. About £350 (£20 for the assembly).

Option 1 is cheap and immediate but is untidy and doesn't give me anymore ports.
Option 2 is cheap and immediate and gives me more USB3 ports but throttles the speed (or so I've read).
Option 3 is cheap and immediate and gives me more USB3 ports but is untidy and takes up limited work space.
Option 4 is my preferred option because it's tidy, efficient and I get to buy new toys but I'm an impatient so and so and want it sorted now-ish.

Can any of you tech types give me any other reasons why I should or shouldn't go for options 1-3 over option 4.

edit: Ignore the title I started to ask a question about PCI/USB3 adapters then thought of other questions

[ajones]

An opinion....

Assuming that you need USB3 connectivity today, go for option 4 and live with the untidyness of a cable stretching from your rear port (ooer madam)

I do have one PC with onboard USB3 and one with a PCI-E USB3 adaptor. I played around with an external USB3 hard drive, but have since given up with that idea and now have loads of USB3 ports unused! At the moment I see no point in USB3 - there's nothing I do that needs it over USB2 (or probably 1.1 for that matter!)

[Attila the Bun]

... go for option 4 ...

Do you mean 3? Because Option 4 is all internal.

[kalniel]

Sorry to say I'd go for option 3 as well - little bit of mess but you get expansion as well as just a port within reach. You can get neat hubs that sit on the case and/or sucker onto the side, if desk space is a premium.

[Attila the Bun]

You can get neat hubs that sit on the case and/or sucker onto the side, if desk space is a premium.

Do you have any good examples of these options kalniel?

[Pob255]

Not sure about a hub, they always reduce speed due to bandwidth sharing, same goes for power output.
Then again what are you using that uses usb3? if you need more usb ports in general then getting a Hub might well be a good move, you'd still be able to use it when you upgrade later.

I know you used to be able to get a very cheap a single port usb desk stand, it wasn't a hub just an extension cable in a plastic dome you can stand on the desk, doesn't increase you port number but does make one more accessible.

edit: and just a note, AFAIK you need pci-e not pci to get full usb3 speed.

[Attila the Bun]

I know you used to be able to get a very cheap a single port usb desk stand, it wasn't a hub just an extension cable in a plastic dome you can stand on the desk, doesn't increase you port number but does make one more accessible.

Now this sounds like a plan...any idea who made them? Yes or no I reckon it's time to get friendly with google again.

edit: and just a note, AFAIK you need pci-e not pci to get full usb3 speed.

thanks...my typo there.

[Pob255]

bit of digging, it was startech and yes they do do a usb3 one http://www.amazon.co.uk/Startech-com.../dp/B004WKRU7U http://www.specialtech.co.uk/spshop/...pid-14849.html
it's more than the older usb2 version http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B001K9BFB..._df_B001K9BFB8

Still a cheaper option than a hub

[Attila the Bun]

http://www.specialtech.co.uk/spshop/...pid-14849.html

Cheers Pob,
This is exactly what I want (and couldn't find)...I know I could just go with a USB 3 extension cable for £4 but that blobby thing at the end means it will sit happily on my desk without the regular escapes to the wiring jungle at the back.