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Green PCIe card with two blue USB 3.0 ports and a SATA power connector

STARTECH

STARTECH PEXUSB3S2EI 4-port PCIe USB 3.0 expansion card 2 external 2 internal SATA power

SKU CH-2MEF-AD1PF MPN PEXUSB3S2EI

Adds four USB 3.0 ports — two external and two internal — via a PCIe card powered by SATA, supporting UASP and 5.0 Gbps transfer

  • TypePCI to 1394 / USB Card
  • External USB Ports2-port USB 3.0
  • Internal USB Ports2x USB Ports
  • External Ports2 - USB 3.0 A (9 pin; SuperSpeed) Female
  • Internal Ports1 - SATA Power (15 pin) Plug 2 - IDC (20 pin; USB 3.0; Mothe
  • StandardUSB 3.0
  • Add two front or rear USB 3.0 ports using motherboard headers
  • Four USB 3.0 ports total with two external and two internal connectors
  • SATA power connector supplies stable energy to attached devices
  • UASP support reduces overhead for faster external drive transfers
  • Native driver support in Windows 8 and 8.1 plus Linux kernel 2.6.31 or later

Four-port USB 3.0 expansion card

This PCI Express add-in card delivers four SuperSpeed USB 3.0 ports using a Renesas µPD720201 controller. Two ports face the rear bracket and two connect to internal motherboard headers. The board fits a standard-profile slot and includes a low-profile bracket for compact chassis. It is aimed at builders who need extra external ports and front-panel headers without occupying drive bays.

Passive cooling with SATA power input

The card draws auxiliary power from a single 15-pin SATA connector, so no external power brick is required. With no onboard fan, operation is silent and thermal output is negligible inside the case. Power consumption stays within the PCI Express 2.0 slot and SATA supply limits. No driver is needed for Windows 8, 8.1 or Linux kernel 2.6.31 and later.

Requires PCIe slot and SATA power lead

Installation needs one free PCI Express slot (x1 or wider) and a spare SATA power cable from the power supply. Internal headers use a 20-pin IDC connector compatible with common front-panel USB 3.0 cables. The low-profile bracket frees full-height slots for larger cards. Builders without an internal SATA power connector or a compatible front-panel header cannot use the internal ports.

Highlights

  • Add two front or rear USB 3.0 ports using motherboard headers
  • Four USB 3.0 ports total with two external and two internal connectors
  • SATA power connector supplies stable energy to attached devices
  • UASP support reduces overhead for faster external drive transfers
  • Native driver support in Windows 8 and 8.1 plus Linux kernel 2.6.31 or later

Specifications

BrandStarTech.com
ModelPEXUSB3S2EI
TypePCI to 1394 / USB Card
External USB Ports2-port USB 3.0
Internal USB Ports2x USB Ports
External Ports2 - USB 3.0 A (9 pin; SuperSpeed) Female
Internal Ports1 - SATA Power (15 pin) Plug
2 - IDC (20 pin; USB 3.0; Motherboard Header) Receptacle
StandardUSB 3.0
Data Transfer RateUp to 5.0 Gbps
Operating Systems SupportedWindows® 8 / 8.1 (32/64bit), 7 (32/64), Vista (32/64), XP (32/64)
Windows Server® 2012, 2008 R2
Linux 2.6.31 and up (Tested up to 3.5)
SpecificationsBus Type: PCI Express
Card Type: Standard Profile (LP bracket incl.)
Chipset ID: Renesas / NEC - µPD720201
Industry Standards:
USB 3.0 Specification Rev. 1.0
PCI Express Base Specification Rev. 2.0
Intel xHCI Specification Rev. 1.0
Interface: USB 3.0
Port Style: Integrated on Card
Ports: 4
Maximum Cable Length: 9.8 ft [3 m]
Maximum Data Transfer Rate: 5 Gbps
MTBF: 1,920,042 Hours
Type and Rate: USB 3.0 - 5 Gbit/s
UASP Support: Yes
FeaturesAdd front or rear panel USB 3.0 ports to your computer case using USB 3.0 motherboard-style headers
4 Port PCIe USB 3.0 Card
2 External & 2 Internal
SATA Power
UASP Support
USB 3.0 Adapter Card with 2x Int Motherboard-Style Headers
Native OS Support in Windows 8 and 8.1 and Linux kernel 2.6.31 or later for easy driver installation
Flexibility to connect external and internal USB 3.0 devices
Dimensions4.70" x 0.70" x 3.60"
Weight0.12 lb.
Package Contents1 - 4 Port PCI Express USB 3.0 Card - 2 Ext 2 Int
1 - Low-Profile Bracket
1 - Driver CD
1 - Instruction Manual
Shipping weight0.45 kg
Package size254 × 216 × 178 mm

Questions about this item

How do I install the PEXUSB3S2EI card and connect the SATA power plug?

Insert the card into a free PCI Express slot, secure it with the bracket, then plug a 15 pin SATA power connector from your PSU into the card’s onboard power socket before turning the system on.

What ongoing maintenance or part replacement does this USB 3.0 card require?

No scheduled maintenance is needed; the card has no moving parts or batteries, so only replace it if a port fails or you upgrade to a newer interface standard.

Which throughput limit appears first when all four ports run sustained transfers?

The PCI Express 2.0 single-lane link caps total bandwidth at 5.0 Gbps, so combined traffic from the two external and two internal ports cannot exceed that ceiling.

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