Koutech 4-Port USB 3.0 PCI Express (x1) (3xExt+1xInt) with 15-pin SATA Power Connector Model IO-PEU437

Pros: Small three external ports one internal and good price.

Cons: Requires Sata power connection. Not sure if this is because the motherboard i connected it to is fairly older. Its possible newer x1 ports deliver more power? But anyway this card did not function correctly for me until I connected the 15-pin sata power connector. So be aware you will need a spare one or adapter for the molex.

Other Thoughts: It would be nice if the instructions clearly stated that the sata power be connected. I assumed it would only be required if I were to be connecting usb devices that required extra power. This was not the case. Even nonpowered usb 2.0 devices didnt work till the sata power was connected internally on the card.

Pros: Contacted Koutech (and 5 other companies) asking what eSATA and USB 3.0 cards they had that would work in Windows Server 2012. A support tech responded that same day. Every other company still hasn't responded 2 months later. The rep said he hasn't tested any of their cards in Server 2012, but he would start testing and give me a product list in 2 days.

He did exactly that. In less than 2 days I had a list of 18 different PCI-E cards that worked in Server 2012.

I ordered two of these cards (PEU437) for my Dell Servers (T620, & T710).

I have installed the card in the T620 Server, and the card did require the 15 pin SATA power cable in order to work properly (Instructions make it sound optional). My server didn't have any extra 15 pin SATA power cables, I had to buy a 15 pin SATA extension cable and daisy chain off the SATA CD-ROM drive, but it works just fine.

I'm transferring at speeds over 170mb/s (which is the fastest I've seen on usb 3.0 thus far) My M18X, and MacBook Pro usb 3.0 seem to cap around 100mb/s. I'm going to attribute the extra speed to the ridiculous raid set up, and H710 controller card as I've done file replication well over 1gb/s.

All in all, the product is working exactly as described, and tech support was amazing from Koutech.

I will definitely purchase future PCI-E cards from them.

And of course NewEgg pricing and delivery speed was top notch.

Cons: Directions were slightly misleading. I interpreted them as saying the 15 pin SATA power connection were "optional" for USB drives that didn't have their own power source.

Windows Server 2012 did see the PCI-E card with out the 15 pin SATA power connection hooked up, but it wouldn't acknowledge any USB External HDD, even if it had it's own power source.

In most cases this isn't an issue, desktop workstations usually have an abundance of 15 pin SATA power sources... however my Servers didn't have any. I had to daisy chain off of my SATA DVD-ROM drive. The Cable wasn't long enough, so a 12" extension cables was needed, which I got off newegg for under 9 dollars each.

Minor issue, and acceptable. Directions should be more clear, but that's a technology limitation not a design flaw.

Other Thoughts: I did a Bare Metal Server Backup of slightly over 1TB of data in 1 hour and 42 minutes. A vast improvement over USB 2.0.

Pros: None.

Cons: I bought 2 of these cards and neither work in my motherboard (Biostar AM3+).
I reinstalled the drivers (v 1.9) from website. The drivers appear to install fine, but nothing works when plugged into the cards

Other Thoughts: Buy something else. The few bucks you save with this card will be paid for in time and frustration.

Pros: I purchased a USB 3.0 external HDD for faster backups and needed a USB 3.0 port. I went this this item because of the 4 ports. I needed them due to an internal all in one media reader that required two ports. I have Windows 7 and installed the latest drivers and the card is working very well for me.

Cons: None

Other Thoughts: Make sure you either have the new power connector or a converter from the old style to the new.

Pros: Works fine with the 1.8 drivers. Thanks for thr tip!

Cons: Drivers that come with it are useless

Pros: None

Cons: I take it back, none of the 3 I ordered worked at all! I tried USB 3 and USB 2 docks with it.

Pros: If you're wondering, it uses the VIA VL800-Q8 chipset.

Cons: Driver disk comes with 1.40a drivers so download the 1.80a drivers on via-labs' website.

I would have rather had 4 USB ports externally rather than 3 external and 1 internal but oh well.

Pros: None

Cons: Don't watse your money! This is the same unit as the Syba model, it even comes in the same generic box. The drivers don't work! I had to buy a SIIG which cost more but it worked.

Other Thoughts: None