Add-on USB 3.0 for laptop, Does it work?

[uberman]

I've got a few T61's, X201's and other Thinkpads. In another thread someone mentioned adding USB 3.0 for data transfer, backups to portable hard drive.

Does it work and is it reliable?

Naturally, reliability is key since I'd be backing up data. below is a linky I found about this using express card slots. I always called that slot a PCMCIA slot.

http://usb3pcicard.com/how-do-i-upgrade-to-usb-3-0/can-my-laptop-be-upgraded-to-usb-3-0/

 

[corkyg]

The T61 has a PC Card slot that will handle Express 34 or 54. PMCIA has evolved to PC Card and Express Card. The latter come in two widths, 34 and 54. The T61 is supposed to handle both. My T510 only takes a 34.

In theory, it should work OK to have one of those be a USB 3 controller - the slot deals directly with the bus. It is certainly worth a try. Since I have never used it (I use the T510's eSATA slot to a eSATA External Vantec.) I can't attest to reliability. The circuitry in theory is OK.

 

[VirtualLarry]

PCMCIA 16-bit is equivalent to a 16-bit ISA bus. 32-bit CardBus is equivalent to PCI. ExpressCard is equivalent to PCI-Express. I'm not sure how the ExpressCard 34 versus 54 relate, as far as performance.

If your laptop supports it, I would get an ExpressCard USB 3.0 card, it will be the fastest.

 

[Towermax]

I use an express card 54 USB 3.0 in my Dell Latitude D830, and it's a superb upgrade. Really makes transfers to an exterior drive very fast.

 

[uberman]

Thanks for some clarification. I do have USB 3.0 on one of my computers and it makes things considerably faster when backing up.

I was very curious about reliability. For example: When I go to Promise Controllers website I'm inundated with disclaimers saying they're not responsible for data loss. When backing up to an external hard drive I always copy data rather than cut and paste because when I finish I disconnect the drive. Its only after copying and verifying the presence of the backed up data that I disconnect the external hard drive.

Now I must figure out what brand of this add-on card would be the most reliable.

 

[Towermax]

Now I must figure out what brand of this add-on card would be the most reliable.

Don't know what the most reliable is. I'm using this one and it has been completely reliable so far:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1