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Review on StarTech.com SuperSpeed USB 3.0 Card Adapter - Dual Port Flush Mount ExpressCard 54mm Controller with UASP for Laptop (ECUSB3S254F) by Sam Bhushan

Revainrating 4 out of 5

Don't expect too much

Dell Latitude E6400Silicon Power 512GB SSD 3D NAND A55 as OS HDDCrucial MX500 CT1000MX5003 SSD0 data stick, because the FAT.32 as test device has been my number one temporary data transfer device for the past 3 years. This laptop is 13 years old and can still handle a workload like the newer I5 and even some of the newest I7s that have proven to be bloated with viruses. All the old workhorse needed was some extra TLC and upgraded parts. Compared to existing USB 2.0 ports, I have a recently upgraded USB 3.0 via ExpressCard54 where the current USB 2.0 port only delivers 34.61 MB/s reading and 7.34 MB/s. Write for a USB 3.0 stick, an update is welcome in my book. Surprisingly, it was taxed at up to 242.41 MB/s read and 129.81 MB/s write. Users of newer computers are reporting read speeds of 90-120MB/s and write speeds of 20-50MB/s for their newer systems with built-in USB 3.0 for this flash drive. 8GB USB 2.0 for the fun I found in my junk heap. The manufacturer states a possible read speed of 21.61 MB/s and a write speed of 7.96 MB/s. With the ExpressCard add-on I can get 24.75 MB/s read and 6.92 MB/s write, while the integrated USB 2.0 delivers 23.91 MB/s read and 7.76 MB/s write. Near enough? Using a Crucial MX500 SSD as a test drive with 500MB and 1000MB transfer rate, rated up to 560MB/s read and 520MB/s write, well let's just say read and write are not that good. like the maximum speed of 3.2 GB/s (400 MB/s) or even the minimum 1.6 GB/s (200 MB/s) that an express card has to offer. Do I need a new laptop with new bells and whistles? The kid in me screams at the specs of a laptop for video editing and gaming. The old man in me scoffs and wonders how often I'll be free enough to play games and edit the sound effects in my videos. A simple upgrade will keep this laptop going for about 5 more years without spending more than $800. Installation is easy enough and it shows up in Windows 10 right away. That's enough for me.

Pros
  • 2-Port USB 3.0 Adapter Card 54mm USB3 Card / EC USB 3.0 Card with UASP
Cons
  • Low Maintainability