E5520 usb3 pci express card

You're looking at PCIe cards meant to be installed into desktop systems.  There are no PCIe cards that you can install into a laptop to create USB 3.0 ports.  First of all, laptop internal card connectors are physically different from desktop PCIe slots.  But second, even if a card physically fit, there's no way to then plug a USB 3.0 device into that card because it's sitting inside a laptop.  If you were expecting that you could install a card into your laptop to turn all of your existing USB ports into USB 3.0 ports, that's not how it works.  Those ports are physically wired to a USB 2.0 controller on the motherboard.

The only thing you MIGHT be able to do is use to find a USB 3.0 to ExpressCard adapter to plug into the ExpressCard slot on the exterior of your system, since the ExpressCard slot is wired to the PCI Express bus on your system.  However, the USB 3.0 ports would stick out from the side of the system on that card, and it's possible that the ExpressCard slot's PCI Express bandwidth isn't enough to support full speed USB 3.0.  I haven't checked the specs on that system's ExpressCard slot.

Welcome to the Dell Community  @t.w.h 

@jphughan I think this is what the OP is referring to???

https://www.ebay.com/itm/54mm-Express-Card-ExpressCard-to-3-Port-USB-3-0-Adapter-Converter-For-PC-Laptop/252386974671?hash=item3ac36f9bcf:g:h2kAAOSwOKlciGv1

I will pull an E5520 from my warehouse and measure the dimensions tomorrow.

I can then have my eBay Rep contact the seller for the exact measurements.

The 54mm width is good but I just wanted to check the height??

Best regards,

U2

NOTE: Not sure what the speed would be or if it is compatible but it could be worth a try???

@U2CAMEB4ME  the height of ExpressCards is standardized.  It's just the width that has multiple options, I think 34mm and 54mm but I can't remember for certain.  The larger slots are compatible with narrower cards, so if that system has a 54mm ExpressCard slot, then it will definitely fit and work.  The only question is whether it will be bottlenecked by the ExpressCard interface.  I think ExpressCard slots only get a PCIe x1 interface.  The original PCIe spec only allows 2 Gbps per lane, and PCIe 2.0 offers 4 Gbps per lane.  But USB 3.0 can do up to 5 Gbps.  So it will still be faster than USB 2.0, but it won't be full USB 3.0.  (There is also PCIe 3.0, but that's too new for that system.)

Thanks @jphughan 

I thought the height standard was 5mm but I did not want to say it was without making sure.

I have tens of thousands of laptops in my warehouse but only one at home and it's an HP.

The E5520 was released 2011/2012 and PCIe 3.0 was realesed in late 2010.

If I an E5520 I'll put an image on it and see what it has.

Best regards,

U2

I have one of these E5520 laptops and I was thinking of getting a pci express card usb3. The one mentioned above is on Ebay USA and I am in UK. I also notice at the connection end it goes narrow why is this if the slot is 54mm which I think mine is. Are all these cards nameless?

Iv'e also noticed these cards vary in price from around £10 to nearly £30 so what is the diffrence?

@t.w.h 

Your Express Card and slot.

54mm Wide x 5mm tapers down to 34mm at the rear.

I pulled an E5520 from my warehouse and installed W10 Pro 64Bit.

Then I ran HWinfo64.

PCI Express Version 2.0

Maximum Link Speed 5.0 GT/s

Like @jphughan said "It will be faster than 2.0"

But without having the card I cannot say how fast and if it will reach 3.0 speeds.

Best regards,

U2

Photos approved.

Regards,

U2

CSL - USB 3.0 SuperSpeed PCMCIA Express Card 54mm 2 Port compatible Windows 10 for Notebook Laptop - Internal USB 3.0 Hub.

This is what I'm talking about.

@t.w.h 

Yes your laptop has PCI Express version 2.0

As advertised the card has 2 USB 3.0 ports data rate of up to 5 GBit/s

Regards,

U2

hello. I'decided to add express card with usb3.0 ports. but my ntb had PCMCIA controller. So I've bough Express Card controller to this model on ebay. Then I've bought  Express card controller on allegro (polish auction portal).. Usb ports are not visible in system. Also I don't know how controller should be recognized in hardware tab.

What should I check?....