Edit, 1/8/17, this thing is really perfect for Dell 6510 and 6410, and is the ONLY 3.0 adaptor I can find which fits them. The 'Trick' below really works. Key also is to gently remove the stick you use. It works SO FAST with a 3.0 stick even on 11 GB I almost missed the finish by blinking. The 3.0 stick I use is Kingston Green 115GB. So if you don't mind the thing sticking out, and you do the 'Trick' below you'll be happy with this. I'm going to buy another.
EDIT, 7/6/15: the 34mm DOES fit in the 54mm slot with the adaptor. Trick is to PUSH (not slide) the adaptor onto the pictured 2 port 34mm thingy (which sticks out). For the Dell 6510, the adaptor fits on the RIGHT hand side. It fits even better in the PC card slot (also 54mm) of the Dell Latitude D630, with a very satisfying click. But the RENASAS driver doesn't seem to be working. Will have to read the reviews to see if anyone knows what's the right driver.
EDIT, 3/13/14: Note to Dell Latitude 6510 owners: the 54mm card doesn't fit too well in Dell 6510's slot; it won't register, either, even after installing the drivers, because I suspect it doesn't actually plug in. I tried it on both my 6510s' 54mm slots, and neither one 'took'. The 6510's slot for 54mm card is a tad deeper than the 6530's, that's why. I even experimented with switching the Dell OEM brackets between the two machine models; the 6530's bracket, won't mount flush, won't lock, in the 6510. So it's not a problem with the StarTech card, but with the 6510. Still: for the 6530, the StarTech card is perfect. So if you're trying to find a 54mm for your Dell 6510, try some other brand, not StarTech's.
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Original 34mm external Express Card Review
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This part of the post is a review of the 34mm version, which sticks out the side of the machine in the picture. I don't like it as well as the 54mm version, below. Above this line, in later edits, I'll update the review. Amazon won't let me post separate reviews for these two very different Express cards. As for the 34mm, it looks exactly as pictured, and the laptop there pictured, is a Dell Latitude 6510. I have two of them. So the picture is exactly accurate. What's not accurate, are the instructions. The 34mm actually has instructions, but they are wrong, regarding what file you'd pick from the CD. Else, the instructions on how to push in the unit until you hear a click, are great. Just as with SD cards, you want to be a bit gentle here. BE SURE YOU FOLLOW the insertion instructions given (insert slowly, gently, wait for that 'click'; reverse process, to remove).
On the Latitude 6510, which is a business-class machine, it works well. Stable. Key is to follow those insertion instructions. Press too hard, or remove whatever you plug into the hub too forcefully, and you'll end up removing the entire unit. I would rather have it flush like the 54mm below, but hey: this works. It's supposed to work on anything with an external 34mm Express card, all the way back to Win98. I didn't test that claim. There's no claim it will work in Win7. It does, in 32-bit (Pro). I didn't test this or the one below yet, for Linux; I refuse to learn Win8, sorry.
Your computer can be on when you insert the 34mm card. Windows 7 will claim no recognition, after you first insert the card, before you run the CD to install the drivers. Ignore Windows. Insert the tiny CD. Next, the file folder you want to use for 3.0 installation, is the 'PEX' folder, which will have '3' in it somewhere. (The folder name might change, but look for that '3'.) The only file in it, is the 'Ren..' setup file; its actual name is so long, you won't know that's what it is. Just double click to run it. Takes maybe 30 seconds, and you'll see Windows 7 recognize the driver and say everything's fine.
Now you have two more USB ports. Will they run at true 3.0 speed? I don't know, and don't care. I just wanted more ports. They recognized my Kingston 115GB stick just like XP did, and in the same amount of time. That's enough for me. Yell at me if you want me to say more.
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Original 54mm external Express Card review
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I bought the 54mm for my Express Card slot on my Dell Latitude 6530s; they have Windows 7 Pro 32-bit. That slot is on the right, if you have that laptop. Slides right in, good connection. HOWEVER, the instructions are ZERO. There is a CD, but there's no way you can tell that there are any setup files on it. I had to guess what to do, looked at the CD and didn't find any 'setup.exe'. So, taking a chance AFTER plugging in the card (and then booting the machine, which of course didn't recognize the card), I selected the 3.0 folder. Then, just clicked on the first file I saw, the one beginning with 'Ren' .. turned out that WAS a setup.exe file. It worked automatically, and now the card works just fine. I didn't even have to reboot.
Box says it's compatible all the way back to Win98, but doesn't claim Win7 compatibility. So now you know it can play in Win7 32-bit, and how. Win8? I've no idea. That OS is abominable, sorry.
These cards are also stable inside the slot, so for my laptops, they will travel well. There's also an extra power-to-USB cord which can be plugged into the unit (sticking out of the side), with the USB end, plugged into some power adaptor with a USB interface. I didn't try that option yet, as I don't seem to need it.
One caution: I've read a lot about 3.0 ports on computers, how usually you can't run more than one at a time at that speed. Doesn't bother me. Every laptop needs more USB ports, so for me this is perfect. For you, maybe not. I do not yet know if I'll be able to get more than one port at 3.0 speed. The Dell 6530s already have one native 3.0 speed port (on the right, and it doubles as a charger). If I have problems, I'll edit this review at top, so you won't have to read this again.
Am a happy camper, either way. Instead of having only four USB ports on my lappie, I now have six. Yay.
Oh, did I mention this thing is cute? Gonna buy more!
| Number of USB 2.0 Ports | 2 |
|---|---|
| Number of USB 3.0 Ports | 3 |
