3.3v USB 2.0 PCI Card???

CaptnIgnit

Junior Member
Feb 9, 2004
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has anyone found a PCI USB 2.0 card that is only 3.3v? i have a dell poweredge 600sc and have already gone through a headache with them to no avail. I have tried 3.3v/5v cards already but they still require to much power and the system will not turn on. if anyone knows of a card that is only 3.3v please let me know!

Thanks
 

Peter

Elite Member
Oct 15, 1999
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Can't be. Every USB plug is supposed to have a 5V supply line. Where's that going to come from if your PCI USB card doesn't connect to the 5V rail?

Who's given you the "too much power" idea anyway? Dell support? Hello? If the system can't stand the .5W or so that a PCI USB chip draws (if at all), then it's a case for the landfill anyhow.
 

CaptnIgnit

Junior Member
Feb 9, 2004
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i was hoping it would be able to draw power from an extra molex connector.

my hunch is that they are guessing. it is the only thing that makes sense to me as well, considering how it responds with the card plugged in. it needs 5v and the PCI bus can only give 3.3v.
 

Peter

Elite Member
Oct 15, 1999
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If this were true, the PCI slots would have to be keyed accordingly, and a card requiring 5V wouldn't even fit.

They're bullsh*tting you, clueless as they apparently are. The truth might be that the board's BIOS is screwing up when it sees an add-on USB controller.
 

CaptnIgnit

Junior Member
Feb 9, 2004
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no, the card itself is keyed for 3.3v and 5v but it requires the 5v to work. the PCI bus only puts out 3.3v, i don't have to time to bother researching this further, i'm just curious to see if i can find a 3.3v only USB 2.0 card. if not then they will just have to deal with USB 1.1
 

Peter

Elite Member
Oct 15, 1999
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If the PCI bus is 3.3V-only, then the slots SHOULD have the 3.3V key tab in place. The USB 2.0 card, requiring 5V if only for the port power supply, shouldn't be keyed "universal" either.
If you truly have 3.3V-only PCI 2.3 slots there, then it's no PCI USB card for you.
(That's one of the reasons why everyone stuck with 3.3V/5V PCI 2.2 ...)