usb 3.0 on a pcie x1?

[Fluke?]

Hi all,
Does anyone know if I can use a usb3.0 pci-e card on a pci 1.0 motherboard? (Abit ip35-e). I plan on using it for my new WD Passport usb 3.0 drive.

I've been looking at something like the Akasa one here http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HD-019-AK
but it looks like it wants a pci-e 2.0 motherboard.

Another worry, if it will work, will it effect the performance of my GTX470, which also wants pcie x2.0 but is running on a x16 1.0 lane.

Thanks in adance peeps!

 

[mmj_uk]

Does anyone know if I can use a usb3.0 pci-e card on a pci 1.0 motherboard? (Abit ip35-e). I plan on using it for my new WD Passport usb 3.0 drive.

I'm not 100% certain but I think all PCI-E 2.0 cards are backward compatible with 1.0 they just run at half the speed, this brings me to main problem which is that PCI-E 1x 1.0 is only 250MB/s (PCI-E 1x 2.0 is 500MB/s) and USB3 runs at speeds of up to 500MB/s which is why they recommend a 2.0 slot.

It should not be a problem though with a single mechanical drive, you would need to be running multiple drives or a fast SSD off of the card to be held back.

Another worry, if it will work, will it effect the performance of my GTX470, which also wants pcie x2.0 but is running on a x16 1.0 lane.

Only if the slot you intend to plug the USB3 card shares bandwidth with the slot your graphics card is already in, you will have to consult the manual.

 

[Nightglow]

Yes you can.

 

[Fluke?]

Thanks guys, I took the plunge anyway so we'll soon find out.