StarTech 4Port PCIe USB 3.0 Controller Card w/ 4 Independent Channels

The PEXUSB3S44V 4-Port PCI Express USB 3.0 Card lets you add four, dedicated 5 Gbps USB 3.0 ports to your PCIe x4-enabled PC. This independent port architecture improves USB 3.0 performance by transferring data on four individual channels to your computer, giving you faster file transfers.

When multiple devices are connected, traditional single bus USB 3.0 cards share your maximum bandwidth between all ports. By employing four host controller chipsets, each port operates on a separate independent transmission channel. Dedicating up to 5 Gbps to each USB port reduces performance bottlenecks, and effectively quadruples your total available to bandwidth to 20 Gbps.

Enhanced with UASP support (USB Attached SCSI Protocol), this USB 3.0 controller performs up to 70% faster than conventional USB 3.0 when paired with a UASP supported enclosure (Note: UASP requires a compatible operating system). Using a more efficient protocol than the traditional USB BOT (Bulk-Only Transport), UASP technology optimizes transfers by allowing multiple commands to be processed simultaneously, significantly increasing transfer speeds for less wait time on data transfers. See our UASP test results below for further details.

For high-power USB devices, this PCIe USB 3.0 card includes an optional SATA or LP4 power connector to connect to your system power supply and deliver up to 900mA of power per port to USB 3.0 bus-powered devices (500mA for USB 2.0). The USB 3.0 card also supports USB Battery Charging Specification 1.2 (Apple Mode only), letting you charge compatible Apple devices (iPhones and iPads) faster than a standard USB 3.0 port.

The controller card is compliant with USB 3.0 standards while offering backward compatibility with existing USB 2.0 / 1.1 devices. For added versatility, the USB 3.0 PCIe card is equipped with a standard profile bracket and includes a low-profile/half-height bracket for installation in small form-factor computers.

Backed by a StarTech.com 2-year warranty and free lifetime technical support.

Improved Performance with UASP

UASP is supported in Windows(R) 8, 8.1, Server 2012 and Linux kernel 2.6.37 or later. In testing UASP performed with up to a 70% faster read / 40% faster write speed over traditional USB 3.0 at peak performance.

At the same peak in testing, UASP also showed up to an 80% reduction in required processor resources.

Test results were obtained using an Intel(R) Ivy Bridge system, StarTech.com add-on USB 3.0 cards, a UASP-enabled StarTech.com enclosure, and a SATA III solid state drive.

Connector(s) Connector Type(s) PCI Express x4 Male External Ports USB Type-A (9 pin) USB 3.0 Female Internal Ports LP4 (4 pin, Molex Large Drive Power) Male SATA Power (15 pin) Plug Environmental Humidity 5~85% RH Operating Temperature 0C to 50C (32F to 122F) Storage Temperature -20C to 60C (-4F to 140F) Hardware Bus Type PCI Express Card Type Standard Profile (LP bracket incl.) Chipset ID 4 x Renesas / NEC - PD720202 Industry Standards USB 3.0 Specification Rev. 1.0
USB Battery Charging Specification Rev. 1.2 (Apple Mode only)
PCI Express Base Specification Rev. 2.0
Intel xHCI Specification Rev. 1.0 Interface USB 3.0 Port Style Integrated on Card Ports 4 Packaging Information Shipping (Package) Weight 204 g [7.2 oz] Performance Maximum Cable Length 3 m [9.8 ft] Maximum Data Transfer Rate 5Gbps per port - 20Gbps Total Type and Rate USB 3.0 - 5 Gbit/s UASP Support Yes Physical Characteristics Product Height 120 mm [4.7 in] Product Length 167 mm [6.6 in] Product Weight 90 g [3.2 oz] Product Width 15 mm [0.6 in] Software OS Compatibility Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 10
Windows Server 2008 R2, 2012, 2012 R2, 2016
Linux 2.6.31 to 4.4.x LTS versions only Special Notes / Requirements System and Cable Requirements Available PCI Express x4 or greater slot What's in the Box Included in Package 4 Port PCIe USB Card Driver CD Instruction Manual Low Profile Bracket