Adding new USB3 ports to my Linux Desktop computer

I have been wanting to add external USB3 ports to my old AMD64 PhenomII X3 Linux desktop computer running on an old debian v7.1 OS. So, after lurking around AliExpress, I gathered all the products and listed them below. Originally, I just wanted to add some external USB3 ports. So, item #1d listed below seemed to be a perfect solution. However, the more I digged, the more I found. For instance, item#2 looks pretty interesting because it also provides 1 eSATA port and it doesn't look like it uses any VIA chipset. However, these ports are all located at the back of my computer and a bit harder to reach. So, comes in item #4d (5.25" Media Dashboard USB3.0 HUB All-in-one card reader with ESATA Slot LED), but at more than 2x price the item #2. However, I am a bit confused where to connect the blue connector that looks like 1/2 the size of a PATA connector. If this is an internal USB3 connector, then I guess I can't use it on my computer (Asus M3A76-CM mobo) that doesn't have any USB3 ports. Does anyone have any idea?

1. 1. 4-Port USB3 PCIe Card
   2. 5 Port USB 3.0 to PCIe Card
   3. ORICO PVU3-5O2I Desktop 5 Port USB3.0 PCI Express Card
   4. Original N204 Plus ACS PCI-E to 4-Port USB3
2. 2-Ports USB3 + eSATA 3 + SATA 3 + 20 Pin extender PCIe
3. 1. 3.5" Front Panel 4-Port USB3 + HD Audio 3.5mm Earphone Jack Mic Interface
   2. 3.5" Front Panel 4 Ports USB3
4. 1. 5.25" Front Panel USB3/2 + IEEE 1394 + ESATA + HD Audio + Multi Card reader CF SD
   2. 5.25" Media Dashboard USB3.0 HUB All-in-one card reader with ESATA Slot LED

Great move habibie! That motherboard supports PCIE 2/SATA 2 (same as mine) so the USB 3.0 is fantastic really. And when you copy a Pogopug USB (if the stick is 3.0) that goes blazing fast.

Having said that, if you've got the space, absolutely go for the front panel/breakout box. I sort of regret not having one, or at least a PCIE card that has the 20 or so pins so you can add a breakout box.

Also my chipset is Fresco Logic and I bought two identical cards, one for ThinClient with the CPU of a mosquito, and the other for desktop, with reasonable quad core. They both transfer files real fast. Minimum 2 x USB 2 speeds, and maximum over 10x, depending what you're copying files to.

Tough call, I like the chipset on this one but don't know what's going on with the 20-pin port for breakout box. I don't even know if you can add an eSATA after the fact using the same plugs.

Cool though, you're aiming high!

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-= Cloud 9 =-



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 04/19/2016 01:26PM by JoeyPogoPlugE02.