Unique design layout allows for the maximum number of USB ports to be mounted to the external bracket, while still being able to fit both small form factor and full desktop systems
Backed by a StarTech.com lifetime warranty and free lifetime technical support
6 external USB 2.0 ports and 1 internal USB 2.0 header
High Speed USB 2.0 compliant, with support for transfer rates up to 480Mbps
Backwards compatible with USB1.1/1.0 devices
Compliant with PCI Express revision 1.1 specification
Compliant with USB EHCI revision 0.95 and UHCI 1.1 specifications
Up to 500mA of power per port with dedicated power supply input
This review is from: StarTech.com 7 Port PCI Express Low Profile High Speed USB 2.0 Adapter Card (PEXUSB7LP)To confirm the rather cryptic specs for this item, it's a low-profile, PCI-e x1 USB card with 6 external ports and one internal port. It ships with useful instructions, a CD (unnecessary with Windows 7), and a regular mounting bracket as well as the low-profile bracket, so it will fit a PCI-e x1 slot on a normal tower as well as on a slim tower (e.g., my Dell Inspiron 580s - "slim"). Because the stacked USB ports span the entire width of the expansion slot opening, align the card carefully so that the USB connectors can be inserted.
The card can be powered so that it will support a mouse, keyboard, USB-powered portable drive, etc., as it has an on-board fitting for an SP4 power cord. My Inspiron 580s has one unused SP4 cord, but it is too short to reach any of the expansion slots (nice work, Dell). It would have been nice if StarTech had included an SP4 extension cord in anticipation of such a problem. I installed my card unpowered rather than attempt to obtain this obscure item, and it works fine with external hard drives and optical readers that have their own power supplies, and with a self-powered USB hub plugged into one of its ports, USB-powered devices would also be supported. (Not sure why I'd want to connect a portable device to the back of a tower anyway, where the connection would be difficult to access.)
A 5-star device, but minus one star for the lack of a power cord extension at such a substantial price.
Update as of 01/27/11 - Turns out the SP4 power receptacle on this card is redundant, at least on my PC, as the PCI-e x1 connection appears to provide power to the USB ports on the card. The card can provide power to at least some USB devices that require it, as I discovered accidentally. So now it's 5 stars....
This review is from: StarTech.com 7 Port PCI Express Low Profile High Speed USB 2.0 Adapter Card (PEXUSB7LP)I have given this product 5 stars, because it deserves it. I first bought one of these for my Dell Studio XPS computer. It installed easily, and the instructions are written in very understandable English, not a badly translated asian language. Technical support is readily available, and very knowledgable and helpful.
Because of my good experience with the first one, I bought another one for my wife's Dell Inspiron 560MT computer, but found that the 'shoulders' of the expansion slots on this computer are wider, and block the entrance to the USB ports. It is a good idea to have the ports vertical, rather than horizontal, so you get 7 ports in one expansion slot, rather than the 4 or 5 ports on most USB cards.
Be aware that the card may or may not fit your computer, and you will certainly need the USB cables that have the narrow mouldings on the connection in order to use adjacent ports.
Sadly, I had to return the card, because it would not work with the Dell Inspiron computer. However, StarTech immediately gave me an RMA number, and quickly refunded the purchase price. Good job, StarTech!...
Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information
»»»Visit Store NOW...
Best price click here
