VANTEC 4-Port SuperSpeed USB 3.0 PCIe Host Card w/ Internal 20-Pin Connector Model UGT-PC345

Pros: Hardware.

Cons: Software. Documentation.

Overall Review: The hardware works as expected, but the software that comes with it is crude. Also, the documentation is lacking, and the Vantec website doesn't have the updated firmware for this product that was released in November of 2013 (it is currently the end of February of 2014). The product uses the VIA VL800 chipset which isn't listed in the documentation (needed to take it back out and look at the chipset to find this information out when looking for updated firmware). The updated firmware can be found on the VIA website (the chip manufacturer), not on the Vantec website (the product manufacturer). It seems so simple to update your website with current firmware and not make your customers track it down.

Pros: It worked out the box with Linux (fedora 20) 3.13.6-200; no extra drivers required.

Cons: Would be nice if it had more USB3 ports.

Overall Review: Would have been nice to have more ports, especially internal. I purchased this specifically because it has a 20 pin connector. I connected this to Thermaltake AC0031 USB 3.0 Support MS Slot, CF Slot, SD Slot,Extreme Slot, Micro SD Slot, M2 Port Multi-Card Reader (see http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820153002) and it just worked. Boy was it fast. I also connected to an external USB3 hard drive for testing, and that was fast as well. I would buy this again with no hesitation.

Pros: The ability to plug in 4 additional USB 3.0 devices. Easy to install and use.

Cons: None

Overall Review: At first I could not get this to recognize my devices but after looking at it again I realized I didn't plug in the 4 pin power connector all the way. If you have the same issues try pushing it in just a little more. I thought mine was in but it wasn't.

Pros: Fast transfer speeds Includes SATA power cable

Cons: The driver that came on the CD worked but for whatever reason was causing my Windows 7 Ultimate bootup time to be literally 4-5 times longer. I uninstalled the driver & the problem went away, reinstalled it & the problem returned, so it was not a coincidence. I finally tried the driver off their website & that one worked without affecting my bootup times, so everything is fine now, but docking a few 'eggs' for the issues.

Pros: Looks like it should work. Looks well built

Cons: Could not get it to work no matter what I did. Gave it 2 eggs for looks. On the box it came in, system requirements says win XP, Vista, & 7 (32&64 bit). On there website they have win 10 drivers. Disabled antivirus and still nothing. Nothing worked on it at all, not even 1 port. Yes plugged in the 4-pin molex. It's like it was dead. Device manager show it was not working properly. Tried different drivers different ways. I have done this before, I know how it's done.

Overall Review: I have win 10 pro 64 bit, Gigabyte 990FX Gaming rev. 1.1 motherboard with the latest bios using a Samsung 500 Gb 960 evo M.2 ssd , with 1- Asus RX 480 in the first x16 slot. Don't seem to matter what slot I put it in, it simply won't work. But I bought another, Vantec model : UGT-PC345 and that one worked great. (I also bought another model : SY- PEX20203 which did not work either and this one had no drivers to download on there website- non what so ever, weird? I had just the disc it came with which did not work as well. Called there tech support and he was no help at all.)

Pros: Is recognized and works in Ubuntu 10.04 (lucid). I have read that this chip works starting from Ubuntu 9.10.

Cons: There's a linux kernel bug which prevents suspend/hibernate. If there is a workaround I haven't found it yet. If I remember right it didn't get fixed until after Ubuntu 12.04. Can't remember which kernel that used. It is fixed if you use a modern kernel.

Overall Review: I'm still using 10.04 b/c I prefer gnome 2 and MATE isn't quite working with 14.04 yet (pops up endless error messages). So for now my HTPC is just on 24x7. If you are doing the same as me, you'll have a choice to make.

Pros: No drivers to set up. Plug and play using windows 10. Very fast USB 3.0 speed

Cons: Really nothing to report, they even provided a SATA power adaptor if you dont have a MOLEX available

Pros: -Windows 10 recognizes the card automatically as you don't need to mess with drivers as you simply physically install the card into the PCI-E x1 slot and power up the computer and everything just works and maxes out the hard drives i tested on it through a external USB 3.0 docking station(see 'Other' below). it can't get any easier than that. -Has capability of using front USB 3.0 ports if your case has them built-in to your case or you can get a add-on (search... "usb 3.0 front panel" on newegg) which plugs into this cards 20-pin connector and comes out the front of your case (which uses either a floppy drive slot or a regular DVD drive slot depending on what you need). the front panel option is roughly $10-20 on newegg if you want it.

Cons: -It uses up a power connector on your PSU (power supply) since, apparently, it can't get enough power from the motherboards PCI-E x1 slot. so in other words it will either take up a molex power connector from you PSU or, with the adapter that comes with the card, it will use a SATA power connection on your PSU which the adapter then converts back to the molex type that this USB 3.0 card uses. but this is only a mild con and not enough to lower my rating of the card.

Overall Review: -I bought this at the same time i got a ORICO 6518US3-V1-US docking station(supports up to 8TB hard drives), which is USB 3.0, and it maxes out my hard drives i tested in it. everything works perfect so far. -I installed this in my ASUS P8H61-M LX motherboard.