Buffalo USB 3.0 PCI Express card

SuperSpeed drives and cards compared

By Shaun Dormon • Get more from this author

22nd July 2010 07:02 GMT

CPU usage is a hot topic with regards to USB 3.0, and whilst all three cards use very little CPU time, on average, there was a 2 per cent increase seen when using the Western Digital card. And if you want to be picky, the WD card was 1.6MB/s below Buffalo’s IFC-PCIE2U3 in the writing department.

Has the edge in some scenarios, but a tad pricey

Verdict

Until a choice of dual controller chip hits the mass market, it’s evident that USB 3.0 PCI Express adaptor cards are going to exhibit strikingly similar performance. So, apart from some powering options, USB 3.0 card buying decisions will surely be based on the cheapest offering. And while some PCI Express adapters are included with storage products, if you’re shopping for a card, the Buffalo IFC-PCIE2U3 certainly seems up to the task. ®