Vantec SuperSpeed USB 3.0 PCI-e Host Card Review

Model: UGT-PC302
Ports: 2 x External USB 3.0 Ports (Backwards Compatible with USB 2.0 & 1.1)
Maximum Transfer Rates Up to 5 Gbps w/USB 3.0
Maximum Transfer Rates Up to 480 Mbps w/USB 2.0
Power: 15-pin SATA Power Connector (Required)
Dimension: 67 x 120 x 20mm
OS Support: Microsoft Windows XP / Vista / 7

Package Contents:

• 2-Port PCI-e SuperSpeed USB 3.0 Host Card x1
• User’s Manual x1
• Low Profile Bracket x1
• Driver CD x1

Features

• 50% more power is provided for unconfigured or suspended devices (150 mA up from 100 mA), and 80% more power is available for configured devices (900 mA up from 500 mA). This means that more power-hungry devices could be bus powered, and battery powered devices that previously charged using bus power could potentially charge more quickly.
• A new Powered-B receptable is defined with two extra contacts that enable a devices to provide up to 1000 mA to another device, such as a Wireless USB adapter. This eliminates the need for a power supply to accompany the wireless adapter…coming just a bit closer to the ideal system of a wireless link without wires (not even for power). In regular wired USB connections to a host or hub, these 2 extra contacts are not used.
• Less power when it’s not needed
• Link level power management, which means either the host computer or the device can initiate a power savings state when idle
• The ability for links to enter progressively lower power management states when the link partners are idle
• Continuous device polling is eliminated
• Broadcast packet transmission through hubs is eliminated
• Device and individual function level suspend capabilities allow devices to remove power from all, or portions of their circuitry not in use