Vszerda USB 3.1 Gen2 20-pin PCIe x2 Expansion Card 10 Gbit/s

Vszerda USB 3.1 Gen2 20-pin PCIe x2 Expansion Card

This PCIe add-in card adds a single internal USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-E 20-pin header to a desktop computer, enabling a front-panel USB-C port that operates at up to 10 Gbit/s. It is designed for PC builders upgrading a case that already includes a USB 3.1 or 3.2 Type-C front connector but whose motherboard lacks the matching internal header. The card uses an ASMedia ASM3142 controller and includes an integrated USB 2.0 connection alongside the high-speed lane.

Practical limits of the PCIe 3.0 x2 interface

The card plugs into any PCIe x2, x4, x8 or x16 slot and is backward compatible with PCIe 2.0 slots, though bandwidth will be limited to the slower generation's ceiling. Maximum throughput is 10 Gbit/s as defined by the USB 3.1 Gen 2 specification version 1.1, and the USB-IF certified controller ensures compliance with that standard. Actual transfer rates depend on the connected device, cable quality and system overhead, so sustained speeds may fall below the theoretical peak.

What to verify on your system before ordering

Confirm that your motherboard has a free PCIe slot of at least x2 physical size and that the chassis provides enough clearance for the card's rear-mounted connector, which must face the back of the case to avoid fouling a graphics-card cooler. The operating system must be Windows XP, 7, 8, 10 or Linux; the supplier notes that the card does not support Oculus devices. A separate USB-C panel cable adapter is required to connect the internal 20-pin header to the front-panel port.