Understanding PCI Express?

[Playdo]

Now, I'm looking into buying a USB 3.0 portable HD.

I presume that I'd need a PCI Express card for a USB 3.0 port?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Transcend-E...JG8Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1299207289&sr=8-1 - Interface (Bus) Type: PCI Express 2.0 x1

Will this work on my PC?
http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=2743#sp
http://www.coolermaster.com/product.php?product_id=2908

 

[cosine_omerta]

As long as you have an available PCIe x1 slot, then yeah, it'll give you two USB 3.0 ports to use for whatever you want. In the comments though it looks like it needs its own power from your PSU through a molex connector. Make sure you have that available.

Other than that, I suggest a better brand name on it. This one seems hit or miss in the quality department.

 

[Playdo]

In the comments though it looks like it needs its own power from your PSU through a molex connector. Make sure you have that available.

Do you know if I have one of these or how can I find out? Is this just an adapter that I add on?

Do other USB 3.0 cards require this and if not, which ones wouldn't?

Thanks

 

[mihir]

If you any free PCI x1 slot free then it will be possible.You have 3 slots but I dont think you would have used all of them

 

[Drenlin]

Do you know if I have one of these or how can I find out? Is this just an adapter that I add on?

Do other USB 3.0 cards require this and if not, which ones wouldn't?

Thanks

Your power supply should have 4-pin Molex connectors on it already. They look like this:

They might be a different color...mine are black. Doesn't make a difference though.

 

[Playdo]

So I'd just plug the USB 3.0 card into one of my PCI Express x1 slots and into a 4-pin Molex connector coming out of my PSU and I'm set to go?

Can anyone recommend any decent USB 3.0 cards that are available in the UK (the cheaper the better)?

 

[FATALiiTYz]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/USB-3-0-PCI-E...erfaceCards&hash=item43a2bbb845#ht_1466wt_905

Do you alreay have a USB3.0 drive?

If not what are you looking to buy? (ie. a portable or external drive, 500gb/1tb)

For reference: A portable hard drive does not need an external power source where an external does.

 

[Playdo]

No, I don't already have a portable USB 3.0 drive.

I'm looking to buy a 1TB portable drive. Though I'd also like the option to use it for an external desktop later too.