Add USB 3.0 to an Optiplex 980

Dean-MN

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Nov 10, 2013, 3:22:33 PM11/10/13

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The subject computer is an Optiplex 980MT Core i7 860 @2.80 GHz (Lynnfield,
Quad Core, Hyperthread), Intel Q57 Express Chipset, 4GB RAM and Windows 7
64-bit.
I would like to add USB 3.0 and am in a fog about the proper card to add.
The MB has three PCI slots open. One each PCI, PCIe x4 & PCIe x16. There is
a PCIe x1 slot open but it is on the front lower part of the MB and does not
have an opening to the outside of the case. It is used for a wireless card.
The USB 3.0 card will have a powered USB 3.0 hub attached to it and will be
placed on my desk for easy access.
I have read about there being problems with USB 3.0 on some Dell models. Has
anyone done this type of upgrade and can offer a suggestion.
I routinely move .5 GB files between a NAS and SD cards. The Ethernet
network is gigabit and is quick enough until the data goes to USB 2.0 then
it slows. ...Dean

Ben Myers

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Nov 14, 2013, 4:33:43 PM11/14/13

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Haven't done it myself, but a PCIe 1x card would be far more likely to perform well than a PCI card. Of the PCI 1x USB 3.0 cards on Newegg, Startech, Vantec, Rosewill and Koutech are all brand names that I recognize, and I would feel comfortable using any of them. Some USB 3.0 cards require a separate power connector, either older 5v12v 4-pin white Molex or newer SATA. Make sure your system has one available, and, of course, match the card to an available connector.

There are also very inexpensive cables that have a 4-pin Molex connector at one end and SATA power at the other... Ben Myers

Ben Myers

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Nov 14, 2013, 4:35:05 PM11/14/13

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On Sunday, November 10, 2013 3:22:33 PM UTC-5, Dean-MN wrote:

I forgot. Install the PCIe 1x card in the PCIe 4x slot. Better to leave the higher capacity PCIe 16x slot open... Ben

Dean-MN

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Nov 14, 2013, 8:05:48 PM11/14/13

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"Ben Myers" <ben.m...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:06fb5e61-b169-447b...@googlegroups.com...

Thanks, Ben. I did a Google search on if a PCIe x1 card would fit into a
PCIe x4 slot and read the replys until one came up saying an emphatic NO.
Another Google search returned a YES, Go figure. I'll trust your answer and
shop for a PCIe x1 card... Dean

Nick

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Nov 15, 2013, 11:20:00 AM11/15/13

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On Thu, 14 Nov 2013 19:05:48 -0600, in alt.sys.pc-clone.dell, "Dean-MN"
<Re...@To.Group> wrote:

>
>"Ben Myers" <ben.m...@gmail.com> wrote in message
>news:06fb5e61-b169-447b...@googlegroups.com...
>>

>> I forgot. Install the PCIe 1x card in the PCIe 4x slot. Better to leave
>> the higher capacity PCIe 16x slot open... Ben
>
>Thanks, Ben. I did a Google search on if a PCIe x1 card would fit into a
>PCIe x4 slot and read the replys until one came up saying an emphatic NO.
>Another Google search returned a YES, Go figure. I'll trust your answer and
>shop for a PCIe x1 card... Dean

As Ben said, the PCIe x1 card can go in an x4 slot (or an x8 or x16 slot).
I've done it, in an older Dell that didn't have a free x1 slot.

The person who said 'NO' may have been thinking of the older PCI and PCI-X
cards, which aren't compatible with the more recent PCIe standard.

--
Nick <mailto:tans...@pobox.com>

"The best laid schemes o' mice an' men Gang aft agley." Robert Burns