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Go to StarTech.com4 Port PCI Express (PCIe) SuperSpeed USB 3.0 Card Adapter w/ 4 Dedicated 5Gbps Channels - UASP - SATA / LP4 Power
Add four USB 3.0 ports with four independent channels, LP/SATA power, and charging support to your PC through a PCI Express slot
Product ID: PEXUSB3S44V
- Provides four external, independent USB 3.0 Ports
- Supports up to 20 Gbps total transfer bandwidth - Up to 5 Gbps per port
- UASP support across all four ports
- PCIe x4 interface compliant with PCI Express 2.0 specifications
- Optional LP4 or SATA power connector provides up to 900mA per USB port
- Supports USB Battery Charging Specification 1.2 (Apple Mode only)
- Fully compliant with USB 3.0 rev 1.0 and Intel xHCI rev 1.0 specifications
- Backward compatible with USB 2.0 and USB 1.0/1.1 devices
- Includes a Low Profile/half-height installation bracket
- Hot-swap feature to connect/disconnect devices without powering down the system
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Overview
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® 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® Ivy Bridge system, StarTech.com add-on USB 3.0 cards, a UASP-enabled StarTech.com enclosure, and a SATA III solid state drive.
The StarTech.com Advantage
- Increase the efficiency of your USB 3.0 devices with four dedicated bus channels and up to 5 Gbps of bandwidth per channel - 20 Gbps total
- Time-saving file transfers, up to 70% faster than traditional USB 3.0 when used with a UASP-supported enclosure
- Power high-powered USB devices as necessary, with the optional LP4 or SATA power connector
Applications
Upgrade an older PCIe-based system to USB 3.0 connectivity and UASP support to fully utilize USB 3.0 devices
Expand the USB capabilities of your system with four external ports for connecting additional external hard drives, CD/DVD drives, MP3 players, printers, scanners, webcams, game controllers, digital cameras, etc. to a computer system
Technical Specifications
Product Numbers | ||
---|---|---|
Ingram Austria | V933015 | |
UPC Code | 065030854627 |
Warranty Information | ||
---|---|---|
Warranty | 2 Years | |
Hardware | ||
Bus Type | PCI Express | |
Card Type | Standard Profile (LP bracket incl.) | |
Chipset ID | Renesas/NEC - µPD720202 | |
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 | |
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 | |
Connector(s) | ||
Connector Type(s) | 1 - PCI Express x4 Male | |
External Ports | 4 - USB Type-A (9 pin) USB 3.0 Female | |
Internal Ports | 1 - LP4 (4 pin, Molex Large Drive Power) Male | |
1 - SATA Power (15 pin) Plug | ||
Software | ||
OS Compatibility | Windows® Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 10 Windows Server® 2008 R2, 2012, 2012 R2, 2016 Linux 2.6.31 to 4.11.x LTS versions only |
|
Special Notes / Requirements | ||
System and Cable Requirements | Available PCI Express x4 or greater slot | |
Environmental | ||
Humidity | 5~85% RH | |
Operating Temperature | 0°C to 50°C (32°F to 122°F) | |
Storage Temperature | -20°C to 60°C (-4°F to 140°F) | |
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] | |
Packaging Information | ||
Shipping (Package) Weight | 204 g [7.2 oz] | |
What's in the Box | ||
Included in Package | 1 - 4 Port PCIe USB Card | |
1 - Low Profile Bracket | ||
1 - Driver CD | ||
1 - Instruction Manual |
Compatibility






Windows Server® 2008 R2, 2012, 2012 R2, 2016
Linux 2.6.31 to 4.11.x LTS versions only
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Product Support
Drivers & Downloads
Driver(s):
- Release_Note.txt
-
[Renesas_uPD720201_2] USB 3.0 Controller Card.zip
Version: 3.0.23.0
Firmware
-
Firmware_Update.zip
Version: 2026
Manual(s):
-
PEXUSB3S44V_rev2.pdf
English
Compliance Letter(s):
Data Sheet(s)
- PEXUSB3S44V_Datasheet.pdf
English
Frequently Asked Questions
Installation
Prior to installing this device, ensure that your operating system is up to date (for example, you have installed the most recent service pack).
To install the driver:
- Download the latest drivers from the StarTech.com website (http://www.startech.com/Support). You can find the part number and product ID on the product’s packaging.
Note: Windows will typically save the files to the Downloads folder that is associated with your user account (for example, C:\Users\your_name\Downloads).
- Once the download is complete, right-click the zip folder that you downloaded, select Extract All, and follow the on-screen instructions.
- In the list of extracted files, right-click the Setup.exe file and select Run as Administrator.
Note: If the Run as Administrator option is not available, you might be attempting to run the installer from within the zipped file. Extract the files using the instructions in Step 2.
- Follow the on-screen prompts to install the device drivers and restart the computer when prompted.
- Your computer will automatically complete the driver installation and your device should be ready to use.
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Prior to installing this device, ensure that your operating system is up to date (for example, you have installed the most recent service pack).
To install the driver:
- Download the latest drivers from the StarTech.com website (http://www.startech.com/Support). You can find the part number and product ID on the product’s packaging.
Note: Windows will typically save the files to the Downloads folder that is associated with your user account (for example, C:\Documents and Settings\your_name\My Documents\Downloads).
- Once the download is complete, right-click the zip folder that you downloaded, select Extract All, and follow the on-screen instructions.
- In the list of extracted files, double-click the Setup.exe file.
- Follow the on-screen prompts to install the device drivers and restart the computer when prompted.
- Your computer will automatically complete the driver installation and your device should be ready to use.
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How to
To confirm that Windows detects your expansion card, complete the following:
- Press the Windows key+R, type devmgmt.msc, and press Enter.
- In Device Manager, under the appropriate heading, confirm that your expansion card is listed and that there isn't an exclamation mark next to it. For example, a USB controller card would be under Universal Serial Bus controllers.
Your expansion card is listed according to the name of the chipset. To determine the name of the chipset of your expansion card, navigate to www.StarTech.com and look on the Technical Specifications tab for your product.
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Troubleshooting
If the USB device does not work after your computer has been in extended hibernation, it is likely that Windows has automatically turned off the USB Root hub to save power.
The steps below outline how to configure the USB root hub to stay on during hibernation, to prevent this from happening.
Windows 10 / 8
- On your keyboard, press the Windows key + X and select Control Panel.
- Click Hardware and Sound, then click Power Options.
- Click Change plan settings for the plan you want to change.
- Click Change advanced power settings.
- Click the plus sign (+) next to “USB settings” and “USB selective suspend setting” to expand the options and change the setting to Disabled.
- Click OK to apply the setting.
Note: You may need to disconnect and re-connect your USB device after applying these settings to re-establish the connection.
Windows 7 / Vista
- Click the Start button and select Control Panel.
- Click Hardware and Sound, then click Power Options.
- Click Change plan settings for the plan you want to change.
- Click Change advanced power settings.
- Click the plus sign (+) next to “USB settings” and “USB selective suspend setting” to expand the options and change the setting to Disabled.
- Click OK to apply the setting.
Note: You may need to disconnect and re-connect your USB device after applying these settings to re-establish the connection.
Windows XP
- On your desktop, right-click the My Computer icon and select Properties.
- Click the Device Manager tab.
- Expand Universal Serial Bus controllers by clicking the arrow to the left of it.
- Right-click the first USB Root Hub device and select Properties.
- Click the Power Management tab.
- Clear the box next to Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.
- Click OK to apply the setting.
- Repeat steps 4-7 for any remaining devices in the Universal Serial Bus Controllers section with “Root Hub” in the name.
Note: You may need to disconnect and re-connect your USB device after applying these settings to re-establish the connection.
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When you troubleshoot issues with a USB controller card, there are some quick tests that you can complete to rule out potential problems. You can test to make sure that the following components are working correctly and are not the source of the issue:
-
USB cables
-
USB devices
-
USB controller card
To test your setup components, try the following:
-
Use the USB cable, device, and controller card in another setup to see if the problem is with the components or the setup.
-
Use a different USB cable, device, and controller card in your setup to see if the problem persists. Ideally, you should test a component that you know works in another setup.
When you test your cables, it is recommended that you do the following:
-
Test each cable individually.
-
Use short cables when you are testing.
When you test the USB device and controller card, it is recommended that you do the following:
-
Press the Windows key + R, type devmgmt.msc, and press Enter to open Device Manager. Check to see if your device is listed under Universal Serial Bus controllers.
-
If you do not see the USB controller card listed in Device Manager please see this FAQ: https://www.startech.com/support/faqs/technical-support?topic=expansion-cards#pci-pcie-cannot-boot-os-or-detect-windows.
-
If the device is listed with an error, follow the instructions on the website to reinstall the drivers.
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You should not upgrade your device's firmware if you do not have any issues with the functionality of your device. The only time you should consider an upgrade is if you are experiencing a problem with the device, and you have confirmed that the firmware addresses this problem. You can confirm this is the case by reviewing the documentation included with the firmware or by consulting with our Technical Support team. Incorrectly upgrading firmware can result in diminished performance so it is best to contact StarTech.com if you would like to perform this operation.
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* Product appearance and specifications are subject to change without notice.
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