SINEFINE PCIe to USB Extension Card

[Gutz_Otoole]

Has anyone had experience with this USB add-in card?

 

[etorix]

Minuses:
Inordinate number of ports. The x1 PCIe link would be a choke point when attempting to use all ports at full speed.
No technical documentation. One has to go to FAQ to find out which controller is used.

Pluses:
The seller does provide supporting information: Fresco Logic FL1110. Should work.

May I ask why you need so many 5 Gbps USB ports in the first place?
I can understand adding one or two 10 Gbps ports (A+C or 2*C) to a board which lacks these, but "basic" USB 3 ports? Consumer boards usually have more of these than macOS can support and more than one could reasonable use (one printer/scanner, maybe one external drive, and then what else?).

 

[Edhawk]

I second the response you got from @etorix

The PCIe x1 card with 7 x USB3 ports will not be able to support 7 devices at USB3 speed. You will probably find that the card shares 5Gbps or at most 10Gbps between all 7 ports.

You might be better served using a PCIe x4 USB adapter card, assuming you have a spare PCIe x4 or greater slot available on your motherboard.

3 x Type-C & 2 x Type-A, shared 20Gbps card:

PCIe to USB 3.2 Gen 2/3.1Gen 2 Card with 20Gbps 5-Port (2X USB-A -3X USB-C) USB C PC 3.2 Card Express Expansion Internal Converter PCIE Splitter for Desktop PC Windows 10/8/7 (Black) (Gray): Amazon.co.uk: Computers & Accessories

Free delivery and returns on eligible orders. Buy PCIe to USB 3.2 Gen 2/3.1Gen 2 Card with 20Gbps 5-Port (2X USB-A -3X USB-C) USB C PC 3.2 Card Express Expansion Internal Converter PCIE Splitter for Desktop PC Windows 10/8/7 (Black) (Gray) at Amazon UK.

www.amazon.co.uk

The image below shows how the 20Gbps bandwidth is shared between the 5 ports.

Bandwidth shared between 5 ports

Uses the ASMedia 3142 Controller which is supported in macOS.

I have another USB PCIe x4 card that has 3 x Type-A and 2 x Type-C, that uses the Fresco Logic FL1100 controller.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B094QLZC98/?tag=tonymacx86-21

This too works in macOS.

Bandwidth sharing information

Max 20Gbps shared as shown above.

Some of these cards are hard to come by in the UK.

PCIe Power limits.
A lot of these PCIe cards spout rubbish about not requiring additional power connection. All that means is that some cards lack the power to charge an iPad or iPhone whilst doing something else. As the card can only use the maximum available from the PCIe x1 slot, which I understand is 10W.

Power limits for PCIe slots without any additional connectors being used.

• PCIe x16 slot - 75W max
• PCIe x4/x8 slot - 25W max
• PCIe x1 slot - 10W max

The PCIe x4 card and slot will more than double the power available compared to an x1 card.

 

[Gutz_Otoole]

Minuses:
Inordinate number of ports. The x1 PCIe link would be a choke point when attempting to use all ports at full speed.
No technical documentation. One has to go to FAQ to find out which controller is used.

Pluses:
The seller does provide supporting information: Fresco Logic FL1110. Should work.

May I ask why you need so many 5 Gbps USB ports in the first place?
I can understand adding one or two 10 Gbps ports (A+C or 2*C) to a board which lacks these, but "basic" USB 3 ports? Consumer boards usually have more of these than macOS can support and more than one could reasonable use (one printer/scanner, maybe one external drive, and then what else?).

I was looking around for a 4-port macOS-supported card for a new build, but each one I researched turns out to be currently unobtainium.

 

[Gutz_Otoole]

I second the response you got from @etorix

The PCIe x1 card with 7 x USB3 ports will not be able to support 7 devices at USB3 speed. You will probably find that the card shares 5Gbps or at most 10Gbps between all 7 ports.

You might be better served using a PCIe x4 USB adapter card, assuming you have a spare PCIe x4 or greater slot available on your motherboard.

3 x Type-C & 2 x Type-A, shared 20Gbps card:

PCIe to USB 3.2 Gen 2/3.1Gen 2 Card with 20Gbps 5-Port (2X USB-A -3X USB-C) USB C PC 3.2 Card Express Expansion Internal Converter PCIE Splitter for Desktop PC Windows 10/8/7 (Black) (Gray): Amazon.co.uk: Computers & Accessories

Free delivery and returns on eligible orders. Buy PCIe to USB 3.2 Gen 2/3.1Gen 2 Card with 20Gbps 5-Port (2X USB-A -3X USB-C) USB C PC 3.2 Card Express Expansion Internal Converter PCIE Splitter for Desktop PC Windows 10/8/7 (Black) (Gray) at Amazon UK.

www.amazon.co.uk

The image below shows how the 20Gbps bandwidth is shared between the 5 ports.

View attachment 562385 Bandwidth shared between 5 ports

Uses the ASMedia 3142 Controller which is supported in macOS.

I have another USB PCIe x4 card that has 3 x Type-A and 2 x Type-C, that uses the Fresco Logic FL1100 controller.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B094QLZC98/?tag=tonymacx86-21

This too works in macOS.

View attachment 562387 Bandwidth sharing information

Max 20Gbps shared as shown above.

Some of these cards are hard to come by in the UK.

PCIe Power limits.
A lot of these PCIe cards spout rubbish about not requiring additional power connection. All that means is that some cards lack the power to charge an iPad or iPhone whilst doing something else. As the card can only use the maximum available from the PCIe x1 slot, which I understand is 10W.

Power limits for PCIe slots without any additional connectors being used.

• PCIe x16 slot - 75W max
• PCIe x4/x8 slot - 25W max
• PCIe x1 slot - 10W max

The PCIe x4 card and slot will more than double the power available compared to an x1 card.

The second card you recommend fits my needs and can be shipped to the States. Will buy this one.

 

[Edhawk]

The second card I linked is currently available on Amazon in the UK. Not the cheapest card though at £39.99 (there is a 5% discount available). But with the way things are going I'm not surprised the cost has gone up £10 since I bought mine last year.

This 7-port Inateck card might be worth a punt at £20 from eBay UK. Uses the Fresco Logic chip & a VLI chip.

PCI-E to USB 3.0 5 Port PCI Express Expansion Card Adapter Hub VIA 5Gbps | eBay

With 20PIN USB 3.0 Extender Port. Application: USB3.0 to PCIE Expansion Card. USB3.0 Interface: Type A Female x 5; Internal 19pin Head x 1. Supports up to 7 USB 3.0 devices. 5 external and 2 internal USB 3.0 type A female connectors.

www.ebay.co.uk

It has an additional power connector so it shouldn't have all the usual power issues. Plus the external ports are orientated the correct way to fit a USB device.

Similar Inateck Fresco Logic USB card, for £24 on eBay UK.

Inateck Superspeed 4 Ports PCI-E to USB 3.0 Expansion Card - Interface USB 3.0 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Inateck Superspeed 4 Ports PCI-E to USB 3.0 Expansion Card - Interface USB 3.0 at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products.

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[Gutz_Otoole]

Unfortunately, those Inateck products don't post to the States. I've ordered the YEELIYA USB 3.2 card. When I install it I'll remap the USBs to favor the faster ports. (I assume Ventura has the same 15-port limit as Big Sur.) I hardly have use for USB2 on this machine.

 

[trs96]

Unfortunately, those Inateck products don't post to the States.

Amazon has this Inateck for $18. Looks like the best deal.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B6ZCNGM/?tag=tonymacx86com-20

 

[etorix]

When I install it I'll remap the USBs to favor the faster ports. (I assume Ventura has the same 15-port limit as Big Sur.)

The 15-port limit applies by controller, so you don't need to remap anything. The motherboard keeps its own map, the card has its own limit and macOS will likely identify all ports without requiring a map.

 

[Gutz_Otoole]

We'll see.