Q: I'm putting a new case on my daughters computer, but the mobo has no USB3 header. This board would be perfect except the mobo only has one pcie slot. Is there a similar affordable (<$20) board that connects pci? I really don't understand why biostar would put usb3 ports on the back of the board, but no header.

A PCI bus lacks the bandwidth necessary to support USB 3 specifications. Even if such a card existed (I've never seen one), it would not transfer at USB 3 rates. This is also why you won't find SATA II (3 GB/s) PCI expansion cards. A PCI slot barely supports SATA I (1.5 GB/s) transfer rates, and usually not very well at that. So, you can easily find USB 2 cards for PCI slots and they'll work fine, but you require the PCIe specification for higher rates. Even if you found a USB 3 PCI card, it wouldn't be any faster than a SATA I connection. While faster than USB 2, I just don't think any manufacturer sees a market for an obsolete specification which would cause them no end to headaches when angry customers don't understand why they can't get USB 3 speeds out of them.

Q: I am looking for a way to expand my USB 3.0, but I don't intend to use this to charge or power things. Can I use this without the Molex power if all I'm doing is data transfer to either self powered or low power draw devices?

If you are using very low powered devices, such as a flash drive, I would expect this to behave like an unpowered hub. An external enclosure for an HDD that is powered independently might also work. However, I use mine with a molex connection to properly power it, so I can't speak from direct experience. The PCIe 1x bus that this card plugs into provides very little power, so it would be very easy to overwhelm it, if this chipset even allows you to draw on that power. If you don't have a molex connector off your PSU, there are, of course, adapters you can buy to convert a SATA power connecter. I have a couple of dead PSUs in my junk closet. I've clipped off extra connecters from these and spliced them into the wiring on working PSUs to create extra connections and to add length to connections to reach difficult locations. The power draw is small enough that the wattage output from a PSU won't matter, so long as it's already sufficient for your system and you feel comfortable with some entry-level electronics wiring.

Question 1

Does this comes with a short bracket?  Looks it put this in a mini-itx short case.

Accepted Answer

All you get is the PCI-E USB 3.0 card.  It does not come with anything which attaches to the 19 pin connector however HooToo does sell a cable interface to a PCI Bracket with Built-in 19 pin Header Cable for $9.99.

HooToo® HT-PC003 2 Port USB 3.0 PCI Bracket with Built-in 19 pin Header Cable (18-Inch)

Question 2

No power cable included in package, please use the 4 pin peripheral power cable from PSU

what is this??  is it needed??.. like a HUB needs power... does this??

Accepted Answer

You absolutely must hook power directly from the power supply inside your computer case.  The USB 3.0 standard allows for higher current draw than can be handled by the PCI express  slot.  ...even though the card is not a hub.

You will almost certainly have an extra 4-pin power cable coming from your power supply in your pc case.  If not, you will need to buy a 4-pin splitter.

Question 3

I have been out of the computer building for a bit so I have a question.  My motherboard only has usb1.0 and, however I have a PCIEX1_1 slot.  Can I simply plug and play?  Put this in the PCIex slot and hook the power up?  Or is hooking up the 19 pin connector to something necessary?  Is the 19 pin connector merely for hooking up different USB ports that are already on the front panel of my computer????

Accepted Answer

The 19-pin slot is for front/top/where-ever on the case panel.  If you just wanted to add 2 USB 3.0 slots on the back of your PC, have a free power connector, and an open PCI-Express 1x slot, then you'll be all set.

The 19 pin connector appears to be the standard connector for a 2 port paneled case or add on that requires USB 3.0 on the inside.   Both back and "front" ports worked perfect for me with this card, but you would not have to use the front if you dont want.

Newegg does sell products that go in drive bays to make 2 more USB 3.0 spots on the front of a case that would then use the 19-pin.

I did have to use the included disk drivers, Win 7 64-Bit with internet did not self-install the card.  Not a problem, it works perfect still, but I know some cards install drivers themselves.   This does mean you likely won't have these ports available to you until you are in Windows itself, or another compatible OS.(I.E. I would not trust these ports to boot an external drive)

Question 4

How do you bring a port to a front panel?   Do I need a special cable?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you do need a special cable, and maybe more. If your front panel already has one or two USB 3.0 ports, then you need just a cable that has a 19-pin connector on one end (the HooToo board has a 19-pin header) and the connector(s) on the other end to match the existing ports. It seems hard to find cables like these.

If your front panel doesn't have USB 3.0 ports yet, then you should get a kit that includes a cable and a panel insert. Search for "usb 3.0 front panel 19 pin cable" and you'll find a few.

My PC doesn't have room for another front panel insert, so I got a USB 3.0 extension cable, plugged it into one of the ports on the back of the HooToo card, and ran it around the outside of the case to the front, where it lies on the desk.

Question 5

My PC is an HP e9200Z.  Appears to have IDE power connectors.  Is this product (HooToo-PC002) compatible?

Accepted Answer

Technically it's not IDE but Molex and yes it does have one.  From other reviews I read, this product will not work without it being connected, and it has nothing to do with your PC but with the power supply (PS).  If your PS only has SATA connectors, and you have an unused one, you should also be able to get a SATA to Molex adapter, but most PS's have at least 1 Molex (4-pin) power connector.

Question 6

I know it does not have a short bracket, but is the card itself short enough for use in a low profile installation, with modification of the bracket?

Accepted Answer

Yes, the card is small enough to work in a small form factor case. And yes, the card only comes with a regular size bracket. You would need to modify the bracket for a low profile installation.

Question 7

Does this card support a simultaneous internal and external USB connection? i.e. can I have the external plugs and internal plug occupied at the same time

Accepted Answer

Sorry for the very late reply. I only got around to installing the card 2 weeks ago. 
I'm not using the card as you plan to - I only needed it for an external Seagate Backup Plus Desktop Drive on a pre-USB 3.0 PC, but I don't see why you couldn't also use the internal header. That's what it's there for and nothing in the documentation or on HooToo's website suggests otherwise.
I can tell you that the card installed using the latest drivers on their website with only a single hitch - I needed to do a single reboot after installation. Zero problems since then. Data transfer is surprisingly considering the age of my motherboard.

Question 8

Tried to install in the PCI Express slot of a Biostar TF 7050-M2 ver 5.0 motherboard but the computer won't boot when it is plugged in.  Tried disconnecting power to the card and still no success. Is the card compatible with this motherboard?

Accepted Answer

I did not have any problems installing the card and installing the driver under Windows 7 Pro.

Very strange with the card installed your computer won't boot.  I think the card would be compatible with any motherboard with a PC-E slot.

I would contact HooToo support, after registering the card, and I bet they can help resolve the issue you are having.

Question 9

I'm putting a new case on my daughters computer, but the mobo has no USB3 header.  This board would be perfect except the mobo only has one pcie slot.  Is there a similar affordable (<$20) board that connects pci?

I really don't understand why biostar would put usb3 ports on the back of the board, but no header.

Accepted Answer

A PCI bus lacks the bandwidth necessary to support USB 3 specifications.  Even if such a card existed (I've never seen one), it would not transfer at USB 3 rates.  This is also why you won't find SATA II (3 GB/s) PCI expansion cards.  A PCI slot barely supports SATA I (1.5 GB/s) transfer rates, and usually not very well at that.  So, you can easily find USB 2 cards for PCI slots and they'll work fine, but you require the PCIe specification for higher rates.  Even if you found a USB 3 PCI card, it wouldn't be any faster than a SATA I connection.  While faster than USB 2, I just don't think any manufacturer sees a market for an obsolete specification which would cause them no end to headaches when angry customers don't understand why they can't get USB 3 speeds out of them.

Question 10

I am looking for a way to expand my USB 3.0, but I don't intend to use this to charge or power things.  Can I use this without the Molex power if all I'm doing is data transfer to either self powered or low power draw devices?

Accepted Answer

If you are using very low powered devices, such as a flash drive, I would expect this to behave like an unpowered hub.  An external enclosure for an HDD that is powered independently might also work.  However, I use mine with a molex connection to properly power it, so I can't speak from direct experience.  The PCIe 1x bus that this card plugs into provides very little power, so it would be very easy to overwhelm it, if this chipset even allows you to draw on that power.  If you don't have a molex connector off your PSU, there are, of course, adapters you can buy to convert a SATA power connecter.  I have a couple of dead PSUs in my junk closet.  I've clipped off extra connecters from these and spliced them into the wiring on working PSUs to create extra connections and to add length to connections to reach difficult locations.  The power draw is small enough that the wattage output from a PSU won't matter, so long as it's already sufficient for your system and you feel comfortable with some entry-level electronics wiring.

Questions & Answers