Need a (short) USB3 card

theukmoog · 4 Mar 2016 at 11:01

I'd like to add USB3 to my antique Gigabyte EX58-UD5 motherboard.

I bought a CSL PCI express card that adds 2 external USB3 and has an internal header to connect to the USB3 case cable on my new case.

However, the card doesn't fit.
I only have one appropriate slot on the motherboard and it's too close to a heatsink to allow the card to fit.

Images enclosed...

USB3 card...

Motherboard...

I've found one or two card that look like they'd fit but they don't include an internal header, just the external ports, and it's the internal header that I really want, so I can use the USB3 ports on the top of my new case.

Anyone have any pointers to a card that might fit?

HecFam · 4 Mar 2016 at 11:05

If you have any spare blanking plates at the bottom of your case, You could use a PCI x1 Riser cable,

I have a PCI x1 sound card that wouldn't fit, so i bought a USB3 PCI x1 to x16 riser and fit the card in one of the spare slots i had at the bottom of my case.

I assume this will give you the full speed of USB3.

OJ46 · 4 Mar 2016 at 11:06

If you just want internal you could try the "Silverstone EC01-P Internal PCIe USB 3 Card dual Port" < Can't link as found elsewhere or try "Silverstone SST-EC04-P PCI-e Card USB 3.0 4 Port" if you want both. Both cards look very small so should be OK

Armageus · 4 Mar 2016 at 11:08

Doesn't it fit in the orange slot? From the pictures doesn't look like it would be an issue

theukmoog · 4 Mar 2016 at 11:14

Armageus said:
Doesn't it fit in the orange slot? From the pictures doesn't look like it would be an issue

Can I do that?
It would physically fit but I assumed you couldn't put a smaller card into a bigger slot and didn't want to try it and fry the motherboard!

Armageus · 4 Mar 2016 at 11:15

theukmoog said:
Can I do that?
It would physically fit but I assumed you couldn't put a smaller card into a bigger slot and didn't want to try it and fry the motherboard!

Yes you can put a PCI-E 1x card in a 4x or 16x slot with no issues.

theukmoog · 4 Mar 2016 at 11:17

OJ46 said:
If you just want internal you could try the "Silverstone EC01-P Internal PCIe USB 3 Card dual Port"

OcUK sell that... https://www.overclockers.co.uk/silv...i-e-controller-card-sst-ec01-p-ca-126-sv.html
but from the look of it it needs power at the back, just where the heatsink gets in the way

HecFam · 4 Mar 2016 at 11:17

theukmoog said:
OcUK sell that... https://www.overclockers.co.uk/silv...i-e-controller-card-sst-ec01-p-ca-126-sv.html
but from the look of it it needs power at the back, just where the heatsink gets in the way

That one doesn't actually have any ports also, just the USB3 header.

Borealis · 4 Mar 2016 at 11:22

You can stick it in the orange slot. I had a PCI-E x1 sound card plugged into a x16 slot with no issues whatsoever.

theukmoog · 4 Mar 2016 at 12:52

Well, you learn something every day... many thanks all... have plugged it into the larger orange slot and it's working perfectly.

A quick benchmark confirms an increase from an average read speed of 31MB/s to 185MB/s on the first memory stick to hand.

Very happy!

Kurgen · 4 Mar 2016 at 19:26

just seen this post... does this pic look familiar ; ) I also have a SATA3 card on the other side of the GPU, I don't think the performance increase was worth it tho