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Looking to buy an internal USB 2.0 upgrade card... preferably a 5 port one to replace my existing USB 1.1... Need some thoughts on reliable brands at a decent price, I'm looking at Belkin / Adaptec so far but just not sure yet...

I've always felt you can't go wrong with Adaptec hardware (software is another issue ... you may pay more, but you usually get very good stuff... with that said, I have an Adaptec DuoConnect firewire/usb2.0 card and it's great. I can notice an improvement even with USB 1.1 devices... haven't had the slightest problem with it.

So I'd assume their standalone USB 2.0 cards are the same technology...

Adaptec hardware makes some of the best USB2.0 and firewire cards around. I would really look into getting one from them if the price is good. Belkin is also a reliable company too. If you can get a 5-port USB2.0 PCI card for around $20, that's already a really good deal.

2 Weeks ago, Compusa had a sale on the Adaptac USB2.0 card for $19.99
http://www.cdrlabs.com/phpBB/viewtopic. ... 3431#53431

I was thinking of originally getting the adaptec and am now strongly leaning towards it... I'm basically gonna be using it when I get my new sony external dvd recorder, the DRX500ULX.... I saw an adaptec usb2.0/firewire combo too... Any recommendations on performance between firewire 1394 vs usb 2.0 in regards to the external sony recorders? Appreciate all your info so far on the adaptec cards

Adaptec all the way !!

I have my DRU500a in a firewire case and it runs great. I've always preferred firewire for data storage devices-- it's kinda like the SCSI/IDE debate. SCSI (Firewire) is a more expensive, but can run more independently of the host CPU. IDE (USB 2) is cheaper, but needs to use relatively more CPU time to run....

If you have a choice, I'd go with firewire...

USB2.0 works great...got Canon scanner5000F, DigicamMulticardreader & OrangMicro iBot webcam - full screen fast video !

Guess I can't go wrong with the adaptec firewire/usb2.0 combo card!! Thanks guys

Amen bro !

Here's my take on USB 2.0 cards. If you're running Windows XP.. you can probabaly get away with whatever is on sale that week. The drivers in SP1 will support it.

If you're not running XP, you'll need to buy one from a company that provides their own drivers. I can't talk for Belkin, but I know Adaptec has drivers for Win98SE and newer.

Exactly - I'm running good ole reliable 98se/Adaptec !

The Adaptec Firewire / USB 2.0 combo card is a nice card and I did considered this card at one point in time.

Currently I have the Adaptec USB2connect 3100LP (3 external, 1 internal) and BUSlink's 5-port USB 2.0 PCI Card (4 external, 1 internal). The USB 2.0 chipset for these two cards are NEC. In this case, I rather keep the BUSlink's 5-port USB 2.0 PCI Card.

Edit:
Adaptec DuoConnect Review
http://www.everythingusb.com/hardware/i ... review.htm