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**Flasherly[_2_]** · June 17th 19, 12:31 PM posted to alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt

On Mon, 17 Jun 2019 03:44:21 -0700 (PDT), wrote:

I bought several of these cards, trying to find one that works with older
Centos linux. Most have a PATA Molex plug to import extra power. One has a
floppy disk power plug instead! And one has no extra power.
Now I believe PCIe x1 is good for 10 Watts. The powerless card only has 2
USB sockets, but if both were sucking in 900 mA, you would be cutting it
fine. So would you only use 1 drive on such a card?
Well, anyway the cheaper adapter cards slow down when you plug more than
one device into them. The "superspeed" cards with PCIe x4 would be ideal,
but they are more expensive to buy at random, hoping they will work.....

Got those to work, although didn't run into and notice the PWR
condition, at least for what I was looking at;- Mine worked straight
PCI, neither smaller factored or the larger "graphics" -E slot. One
of the boards I got has four USB slots, as I recall. Didn't do or put
any extensive pwr-draw conditions, just basically verified they worked
for higher USB3 speeds on USB3 pendrives.

Set them up for Chinese written XP drivers for running USB3. Seems
maybe W7 picked them up natively;- can't really recall now, other than
it turned out more about testing than being comfortable with either
card.

That was then and now I've bought and installed newer MBs with the
typical 2 USB3 ports on the MB backplane, next to the rest of the
connections;- USB2 port headers being still standard at cheaper fare
for upto 4 USB2 front case extensions.

I've also bought some cheap 120V to USB 2Amp slot converters, although
amperage varies across makes/prices for converters. They run all
kinds of dedicated stuff, in some audio instances if just to isolate
them from a PWR source on PC USB and potential noise interference.

Typical "run with the pack" stuff when it comes to pricing. Run and
make do with acceptable budget grade gear and it's pretty decent. Want
more, then those niche items can be pretty damned pricey for all of
what some may think they are. (Might have paid $10, if that, for
either the PCI USB cards I have.)

If you can't swing it on a nickel and dime from Ebay's direct Chinese
market, then be prepared to pay on how specialized a product it is
you're asking for.

A new 7" tablet I picked up (for an EBook substitute) comes with it's
own 5A recharging circuit. I use the PC [MB's] USB2 ports, as it is
and as you say -- if 900mA, then so be it. A lithium battery actually
likes that, slow charges and minimal heat;- Unlike people, who like it
invariably hot, heavy, and now already.