USB 2.0 pci Card

Kevin_rc_ie

I need to upgrade my pc to usb 2.0. I have no free pci card slots. However, I have a firewire thing taking up one of the slots (i use this about 3 times a year). I was considering just swapping this for a usb card and hope i don't NEED to use firewire for sometime. I was looking at peats http://www.peats.ie/cgi-bin/shop/db.cgi?view=1&id=6524&type=6&sid=800625x0

2 port card and it seemed really good quality (20 euro). But I've seen similar for a lot more expensive and I was wondering if this is any worse than other usb 2.0 pci cards?

I was looking at komplett.ie and maplins.co.uk and they have ieee firewire usb 2.0 combo cards.

So does anyone know if there is any disadvantages to the peats card (i dont mind having only 2 ports)?
Does maplins sell the combo card over the counter? How much?

I assume with these cards its just a matter of sticking them in and using them, i imagine if they fit my slot on my pc they will work? i should be ok for drivers (win xp fully updated).

so if anyone can help me with that i'd be very grateful, i heard Ger works in maplins so he might be a good source of info ;-)

tribble

At this stage USB2 is fairly trouble free.
Was problems in the early days with power (dell) and drivers (microsoft).
A combo card would probably be best for you but if it's only 3 times a year then it may not be worth the extra expense.

enda1

I bought the unbranded one from maplin. 4 external + 1 internal usb 2 ports. It has an NEC chip. I cant seem to install it though. I have a few free pci slots and an abit kg7-lite mobo. I ahve winxp-pro sp2 fully updated.

When i put the card in and start the computer it tries to load from cd rom. It wont recognise the card or something and wont load the os.

Any suggestions, bios etc., or is the card just damaged.

(P.S. the card has a power input jack, 4 pin in a line, but cant find anywhere to attach this on mobo or from psu cables. Instalation manual doesn't mention it and it seems optional.)

StRiKeR

I bought a 5 ports PCI USB 2.0 card in cantec only cost 20euro, its via chipset haven't install it yet but I say it should be ok since I had via chipset before!, have 6 usb onboard already but needing more!

Kevin_rc_ie

so no one has an idea what the price is in shops (non internet)for the usb2/ieee combo card?

StRiKeR

sorry no idea on combo card, I got 2 firewire at the front connected to the mobo!

popey21

I bought the 2 PCI card from Peat’s last Saturday. The two they are doing are Trust USB 2.0 5 port card (€21.50) and USB 2.0 2 port card ( €18) that’s the cheapest i have seen around. The one in maplin were near €40. I recommend the 2 port one its solid no problem at all. And there never been a driver update for it because it’s solid. The 5 ports one seem to have problems with my 160gb Iomega hard drive but seems ok with everything else. If you do a search on the web you should find that the via base usb 2 card are the most problematic. As I said the 2 ports one are solid no problem with all devices I have tried on it.