ExpressCard with USB 3.0 - FLUSH

[bladerunner2000]

I've got a 17" MacBook Pro 2011 with an expresscard slot and would like to give it a USB 3.0 slot. However, I'm seeing many options for expresscards but they've all got that large bulky USB slot that sticks way out. Are there any USB 3.0 cards that are flush and WORK with OS X? I've got 10.10.5 installed on my laptop. Ideally, would like to have something like this:

I've seen some cards similar to that on eBay for under 10 bucks, but not sure if they're any reliable. Also seen some on newegg, but not sure if these will work. Do these need drivers or anything of the sorts? Is it safe to assume they're plug and play?

Cards on Newegg:
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Produc...&cm_re=expresscard-_-9SIA9V33HR1810-_-Product
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Produc...&cm_re=expresscard_usb-_-39-158-052-_-Product

 

[ron1004]

Don't get that one.

2 Port USB 3.0 ExpressCard 34 Adapter *MacBook Pro 15"/17" *OSX Native Supported
http://www.ebay.com/itm/252034394010?afsrc=1&rmvSB=true

Looks like the seller doesn't have stock now - send him a message and ask when he'll have them available.


I have a similar 2 port one that works with kext edits - I'll send it for the price of postage.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-list...lp_new?tag=macrumors-20&ie=UTF8&condition=new



https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/usb-3-0-expresscard.911141/page-6

 

[ron1004]

I've got a 17" MacBook Pro 2011 with an expresscard slot and would like to give it a USB 3.0 slot. However, I'm seeing many options for expresscards but they've all got that large bulky USB slot that sticks way out. Are there any USB 3.0 cards that are flush and WORK with OS X? I've got 10.10.5 installed on my laptop. Ideally, would like to have something like this:

I've seen some cards similar to that on eBay for under 10 bucks, but not sure if they're any reliable. Also seen some on newegg, but not sure if these will work. Do these need drivers or anything of the sorts? Is it safe to assume they're plug and play?

Cards on Newegg:
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Produc...&cm_re=expresscard-_-9SIA9V33HR1810-_-Product
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Produc...&cm_re=expresscard_usb-_-39-158-052-_-Product

How did you get on with this project?

 

[bladerunner2000]

How did you get on with this project?

I read the reviews on it on Amazon and a lot of people we're still having issues. I'm hesitant on picking it up. What I decided to do, for the time being anyway, is take out the optical drive from the Macbook and put in the HDD i need to use for storage.

The MacBook is actually a work laptop but I hate having to take it home all the time. I thought I could get away with an external, but USB 2.0 speeds are too slow for me. So, what I'm going to do is put a 2tb inside where the ODD is, and keep a separate backup drive with all the files there so I can keep at home if I ever need to get something done remotely and not have to lug around the macbook.

 

[ron1004]

The negative comments on Amazon focus on driver issues and the card ejecting when disconnecting the USB device.

The folks here are more tech savvy and will assist with drivers, and see my method of securing the card.

Well worth a try at a mere $15

I prefer the $35 one on eBay that does not require drivers, but he's out of stock now.

 

[bladerunner2000]

The negative comments on Amazon focus on driver issues and the card ejecting when disconnecting the USB device.

The folks here are more tech savvy and will assist with drivers, and see my method of securing the card.

Well worth a try at a mere $15

I prefer the $35 one on eBay that does not require drivers, but he's out of stock now.

Christ, I took the Seagate 2TB Backup Plus Slim, dismantled it, put it into the opti-bay caddy, fired up the laptop and it's giving me weird clicking noise every 15-60 seconds (afaik, head parking). I am using a cheap caddy, could be it, but I have another good one on another laptop. I've got the Samsung HDD (yes, its whats inside the Seagate enclosure), in the caddy, but if I put my 850 EVO into the caddy, the laptop won't boot and I just get a folder with a question mark flash repeatedly.

I don't want the clicking noise as it will cause wear on the drive, so I may be forced to use it as an external. I'll probably gamble with that ExpressCard if I can't get the drives working properly as internals.