Introduction
With quick and easy installation, this USB 3.0 PCI express I/O Card offers a simple solution for connecting to USB 3.0 devices from your standard desktop PC.
USB 3.0 is the latest generation of USB technology, boasting enhanced transfer rates of up to 5 Gbps. Transfer videos, music, photos, and data files between USB devices and
your computer at blazing fast speeds.
Features
– SuperSpeed USB 3.0: accelerated file access and transfer rates.
– Boost Your Peripheral Capability: USB 3.0 PCI express I/O Card with 4 ports.
– Connect and Go: Connect any USB 3.0 devices to your PC.
System Requirements
Drivers for Windows XP, Vista, and Windows 7 (32/64-bit) are included in the provided CD.
Drivers built in to Windows 8 (no install required).
Package Include
1 USB 3.0 express card (with 4-pin power connector).
1 CD Driver.
1 SATA Male to LP4 Female Power cable.
1 User Manual.
PLEASE NOTE
This PCI-E card is powered by a LP 4-pin power connector or sata 15 pin power connector. Please confirm that your computer motherboard is equipped with either a 4-pin power
connector plug or sata 15 pin power connector before purchasing. This is necessary to ensure sufficient power supply and smooth transfers, particularly for large data transfers
from hard drive disks (2TB or above).
$ 19.99
[wpramareviews asin=”B00CBDZ1NU”]
Works as advertized,
The UtechSmart PCI Express USB 3.0 card installed easy and works fantastic. I gave it a 4 vs a 5 because the cable sent with the card is a SATA to 4 pin and they should send a 4 pin “Y” cable. Most computers have 4 pin connections you can tap into with a “Y” connector. Most computers do not have an available open SATA connector. I had to rob a cable from an old computer. I ordered another brand USB 3 card from Amazon that shorted out my power supply even without the 4 pin power connector installed. I sent that one back!
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|Excellent USB 3.0 Card and Great Service,
I’m giving this a 5-star rating but if I could give it a 10 stars I would. The product arrived on time and in a small box with the contents as described. When I first installed the card, my computer wouldn’t turn on. I removed the card and contacted UtechSmart about the problem. After some minor troubleshooting, they sent a new replacement card. Again, my computer wouldn’t turn on after I installed the new card. So I installed the USB card in another PCIE port (the location is a tight fit). Then discovered that the first port on the new motherboard didn’t work and was the reason for UtechSmart’s USB card not working. I contacted the motherboard manufacturer whom, as of yet, has not replied. UtechSmart said to keep the first USB card as a gift. Both cards work but I’m keeping the first card out for future use.
I currently have all 4 USB 3.0 ports connected with various devices including 2 external hard drives. The card is amazingly fast when transferring data. It’s a huge improvement over the USB 2.0 transfer rates.
UtechSmart was polite as well as professional in all our correspondence. I will buy from them again in the future. They have a loyal customer for life.
A+++++
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|Works great for our older Vista computer,
Review for: UtechSmart PCI Express USB 3.0 4-Port Expansion Card
All ports WORK GREAT. I highly recommend this card.
You’ll connect a molex power cord to the USB 3.0 card to get more power to the ports than the ports get from the motherboard alone. A 6″ molex cord comes with it. Consider measuring it out to see if you need to buy a 12″ or even 24″ molex power cord (you might check the motherboard box first if you have a custom computer).
– 4 Pin Molex Power Extension Cable – 24 Inches
– Ziotek Internal Power Cable Extension, 12 In.
Note that the driver disk didn’t read the first time, but the second time we put it in the tray it read fine.
BOX SAYS:
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Useful:
– 18 months warranty from date of purchase. No detail on warranty in packaging, you have to go to website.
Obvious:
– Backwards compatibility with USB 2.0 and 1.1 devices.
– Supports USB 3.0, 2.0, and 1.x devices at transfer speeds of 5000/480/12/1.5 Mbps, THESE ARE MAXIMUM TRANSFER SPEEDS YOU WILL NEVER GET, of course.
WEBSITE SAYS:
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– Operating System Compatibility: Windows XP/Vista/7/8
WEBSITE FAQ
(with some additions by me for clarity):
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Q1. Why is the transfer rate far slower than 5Gbps as promoted?
The USB 3.0 transfer rate of 5Gbps (gigabytes per sec), with a THEORETICAL MAXIMUM TRANSFER SPEED of 625MB/s (5000MB/8bitsPerByte=625MB/s), is about 10 times faster than the mainstream USB 2.0 transfer rate of 480Mb/s，which has a theoretical transfer speed of 60 MB/s. Taking current usage conditions into consideration, the transfer speed can achieve about 3 TIMES THAT OF USB 2.0. The ACTUAL transfer speed depends on the specific environment the product is used in.
Q2. How do I install the PCI-E card?
There are 3 steps needed to install the PCI-E card:
a. With your computer powered off, open the computer frame.
b. Connect the PCI-E card to an available PCI-E X1 / X16 interface, then connect the 4-pin DC power cable to the 4-pin DC connector.
c. Turn on the computer and install the driver.
Q3. What are the interface types for the PCI-E card?
The interface types for the PCI-E card are PCI-E X1/X2/X4/X8/X16, and so on. The most prevalent types are PCI-E X1 and X16, which are supported by our products. (Remember to CONNECT TO THE PCI-E INTERFACE ONLY ONCE THE COMPUTER HAS BEEN TURNED OFF.)
Q4. The device equipped with the PCI-E card will disconnect from the computer or restart while transferring data. Why is this?
This is probably being caused by insufficient power supply. The PCI-E interface can provide a certain amount of power, but the main source of power is the 4-pin DC connector. (Find the 4-pin DC cable in the computer frame and connect it to the 4-pin power connector.)
Q5. Which types of computer frame are compatible with the PCI-E card?
The PCI-E card is compatible with all standard computer frames. For Mini frames, the Low Profile Bracket is needed to insert the card into the computer’s internal PCI-E port. (Please note that the Low Profile Bracket is not included with every product. Check the “Package Contents” to see it is provided.)
Q6. What is the USB 3.0 20-pin interface?
The 20-pin interface is the standard USB 3.0 pin interface, usually located on the computer’s motherboard. This 20-pin interface can be converted into 2 standard USB 3.0 type A female ports via the USB 3.0 adapter cable in order to work with common USB devices.
WHO IS UTECHSMART:
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They appear to be newly incorporated company in California, incorporated January 28, 2013 (State Reference ID: 03545834). Whatever their story, might be interesting, perhaps new company, spinoff, subsidiary, etc. Packaging appears nicely done and the product worked great.
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