6 replies to this topic

[CBick]

Expansion Slots:
Slot 1: PCI-Express Gen 2 x16 connector with x16 link
Slot 2: PCI-Express Gen 2 x1 connector with x1 Link
Slot 2-2: PCI-Express x4 slot for optional management card

Above is a list of the expansion slots on my HP Proliant N40L MicroServer.
I have installed an eSata card in slot #2 of the MicroServer.
I now want to install either a USB 2.0 or USB 3.0 in slot #1 but (I really only need USB 2.0 but, USB 3.0 would be ok, as long as, it is backword compatible with USB2.0)
I am really confused on which one to order.
Newegg is not clear on if a card is PCI-Express Gen 2 x16 connector with x16 link or not.

Would someone be so kind, as to let me know which one to order?
Do they even make a USB 2.0 card for this slot?

Regards
Chris

Edited by CBick, 15 April 2012 - 06:00 PM.

[Greg Welch]

Buy that USB 3 by rocket raid on ebay for about 35-40 bucks thats what i did

[Joe_Miner]

Expansion Slots:
Slot 1: PCI-Express Gen 2 x16 connector with x16 link
Slot 2: PCI-Express Gen 2 x1 connector with x1 Link
Slot 2-2: PCI-Express x4 slot for optional management card

Above is a list of the expansion slots on my HP Proliant N40L MicroServer.
I have installed an eSata card in slot #2 of the MicroServer.
I now want to install either a USB 2.0 or USB 3.0 in slot #1 but (I really only need USB 2.0 but, USB 3.0 would be ok, as long as, it is backword compatible with USB2.0)
I am really confused on which one to order.
Newegg is not clear on if a card is PCI-Express Gen 2 x16 connector with x16 link or not.

Would someone be so kind, as to let me know which one to order?
Do they even make a USB 2.0 card for this slot?

Regards
Chris

Hi Chris!

I purchased and installed the Western Digital SuperSpeed USB 3.0 PCI Express (PCIe) Card in my MicroServer with great success. It's available at Amazon and Newegg. I bought it at Amazon for about $20 but I see the price is up around $26 now -- still a good deal in my estimate.

It fits in either Slot 1 or Slot 2. I currently have it in my Slot closest to the long edge of the Mother Board.

I'm finishing up a paper right now that I hope will be posted to the blog where I explain how I used the WD USB 3.0 PCIe Card in the MicroServer with the GoFlex USB 3.0 4TB external drive. The specs are good but not as good as you would get plugged into the USB 3.0 MB connectors on a Z68 for instance. Not a surprise to me there.

The paper will have pictures of the installation -- a nice little card running in Server 2008-R2 right now with no problems.

[ikon]

are the speeds better than USB2?

[CBick]

Thank you! That helps alot.

[Joe_Miner]

are the speeds better than USB2?

For a USB 3.0 device I saw speeds about 5 times over that with USB 2.0 when plugged into the WD USB 3.0 PCIe card. When a regular USB 2.0 device was plugged into the card I saw about a 16% speed improvement.

[ikon]

For a USB 3.0 device I saw speeds about 5 times over that with USB 2.0 when plugged into the WD USB 3.0 PCIe card. When a regular USB 2.0 device was plugged into the card I saw about a 16% speed improvement.

Good to hear. I have one of these cards. I don't have anything to plug it into ATM, but nice to know it will work better than the Renasis based cards I now have - they've been a great disappointment.