The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    W520 USB 3.0 controller and driver

    Discussion in 'Lenovo' started by pkincy, Apr 12, 2011.

  1. pkincy

    pkincy Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    130
    Messages:
    578
    Likes Received:
    13
    Trophy Points:
    31
    My W520 has a Renesas UBS 3.0 controller and hub with a Renesas Driver dated 12-10-2010.

    The Lenovo site has a new driver for the W520 on its website for NEC USB 3.0 controllers and hubs dated 3-27-2011. Only a week ago.

    NEC and Renesas have merged.

    Should we run the driver update for our USB 3.0 ports or not?

    And what should we use this port for? I presume external HDDs the support the USB 3.0 standard. Anything else I should be thinking about?

    Perry
     
    pkincy, Apr 12, 2011
    #1
  2. talin

    talin Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    4,694
    Messages:
    5,343
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    205
    If it aint broke, don't fix it. You have a fully functional USB 3.0 port now, no need to update the driver unless there is a new version that fixes an issue you may have.
    USB 3.0 ports are backward compatible, so you can use all of your exisiting USB peripherals with it, but have the added benefit that you can use USB 3.0 peripherals as well if you so desire.
    Hope that helps.
     
    talin, Apr 12, 2011
    #2
  3. Kaso

    Kaso Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    744
    Messages:
    3,546
    Likes Received:
    33
    Trophy Points:
    116
    I use USB 3.0 for file transfers to/from a portable HDD, like the Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex 1.5TB. Newer video cameras also support USB 3.0.
     
    Kaso, Apr 12, 2011
    #3
  4. Volker

    Volker Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    49
    Messages:
    232
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    30
    USB 3.0 flash drives are useful, too.
     
    Volker, Apr 12, 2011
    #4
  5. pkincy

    pkincy Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    130
    Messages:
    578
    Likes Received:
    13
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Thank you all. I don't know whether it is working or not, but will order a large USB 3.0 HDD for backup and let you know.

    I did run Lenovo system update and it didn't pick up on the driver as a needed update.

    Perry
     
    pkincy, Apr 12, 2011
    #5