PCI-E to USB 3.0 5-Port PCI Express Expansion Card and 15-Pin Power Connector, Mini PCI-E USB 3.0 Hub Controller Adapter with Internal 20-Pin Connector - Expand Another Two USB 3.0 Ports

The driver disk fails to install drivers within sometime during the middle lifetime and after the lifetime of Windows 7. After viewing the drivers used for Windows 10, it is almost obvious the drivers had to be rewritten/recompiled by Microsoft instead of the manufacturer. I had to perform many downloads from 3rd party risky websites as Renesas (the chip maker or original designer of this layout) does not publish Windows 7 drivers until I finally acquired several reliable ones from Dell/HP and other sites. (2020.02.20 Currently, Renesas only hosts a download for the USB library design kit only, no driver files or source code.) If you're using Windows 7 or other operating system aside from Linux or Windows 10, you're going to be vainly searching for an "Extensible USB Host Controller" driver. (Windows 7 installs an inoperable/non-working stub driver "USB Host Serial" driver.) Linux dmesg | grep 03:00 [ 0.412520] pci 0000:03:00.0: [1912:0014] type 00 class 0x0c0330 Vender: 1912 Device: 0014 Linux lspci | grep 03:00 03:00.0 USB controller: Renesas Technology Corp. uPD720201 USB 3.0 Host Controller (rev 03) (prog-if 30 [XHCI]) Maker: Renesas Model: uPD720201 From my memory, chips imprinted with Made in China. How to manually install drivers for Windows 7/Vista/XP: The driver EXE (RENESAS-USB3-Host-Driver-30230-setup.exe) package installs driver and application files to: C:\Program Files (x86)\Renesas A sub-extracted MSI (.msi) rusb3drv.msi file containing the actual Renesas drivers can be found within: C:\ProgramData\Downloaded Installations\{58A47A70-7367-4CD6-BCF0-D6857A4093FB} However, once the driver EXE file performs a partial install, or has an existing installation, all the drivers can be found within the Program Files (x86)\Renesas folder without using the EXE again. Simply use the the Windows 7 device manager to update the non-working (Renesas VENDOR: 1912 DEVICE 0014) Host Controller driver with specifying the Program Files (x86)\Renesas folder as the location of the driver files. Likely will have another non-working driver (Renasas Root Hub driver) install and showing within the Device Manager, and will need to manually update the driver pointing to the Program Files (x86)\Renesas folder as well. Also may need to search the Task Manager for a rusb3.exe process related to the Renesas program install, starting automatically, and maybe needed to end the process prior to attempting to install/update the drivers. PROS 1) Four 3.0 USB rear ports with an internal USB 3.0 header for front USB 3.0 ports. 2) Does work in Linux and Windows 10. 3) Gold plated preventing corrosion. 4) Still working after 2.5 years. CONS 1) Driver install disk fails to install drivers via it's automation. 2) Driver disk does not contain any easily extractable or obtainable driver for manual or fallback installation methods. 3) Driver package RENESAS-USB3-Host-Driver-30230-setup.exe install fails within middle lifetime and after lifetime of Windows 7. 2020.02.20 After more research and tries, I found where the actual drivers are extracted/installed to and manually used the Device Manager to install/update the drivers. Likely at one time half installed the drivers, then failed, with no fallback to complete installing the drivers. I reverted my review from one star to four stars. 2021.07.21 Works only in Windows or Linux kernel's <5.8, now getting a firmware file missing: "xhci_hcd 0000:03:00.0: Direct firmware load for renesas_usb_fw.mem failed with error -2" [root@4void roger]# dmesg |grep 03\:00 [ 3.589337] pci 0000:03:00.0: [1912:0014] type 00 class 0x0c0330 [ 3.589366] pci 0000:03:00.0: reg 0x10: [mem 0xf6200000-0xf6201fff 64bit] [ 3.589509] pci 0000:03:00.0: PME# supported from D0 D3hot D3cold [ 4.976775] xhci_hcd 0000:03:00.0: Direct firmware load for renesas_usb_fw.mem failed with error -2 [ 4.976778] xhci_hcd 0000:03:00.0: request_firmware failed: -2 [ 4.978151] xhci_hcd: probe of 0000:03:00.0 failed with error -2 2021.07.22 Seems I had to update the firmware on the controller using a user's Linux Renesas firmware updating tool (eg. upd72020x-load) from GitHub as well as updated firmware from another user's GitHub. 1) Find the PCIe port the controller is installed on, in my case, 03:00. # lspci | grep Renesas 2) Detach the controller, if it isn't already due to the error: # echo -n 0000:03:00.0 > /sys/bus/pci/drivers/xhci_hcd/unbind 3) Update the firmware, states non-persistent, but upon reboot, I had no problems using the USB controller with no need to re-run the firmware uploading. # ./upd72020x-load -u -b 0x03 -d 0x00 -f 0x0 -i /home/roger/src/renesas/uPD72020x-Firmware/UPDATE.mem 4) Attach the USB PCIe controller: # echo -n 0000:03:00.0 > /sys/bus/pci/drivers/xhci_hcd/bind 5) I also copied the UPDATE.mem firmware file to /lib/firmware/renesas_usb_fw.mem, so plausible the firmware could be uploading now on reboot, as the card might now recognize the more recent firmware as legit? I'll need to perform many more reboots to figure-out if the /lib/firmware/renesas_usb_fw.mem file is still needed, etc. Reference: https://github.com/markusj/upd72020x-load https://github.com/denisandroid/uPD72020x-Firmware

This is a very well made add on PCI-E card, especially suited for upgrading an older computer than has an empty PCI slot but not enough USB3 ports. The data transmission speed through the card ports is faster than what I get from the original header off the motherboard. I advise being careful to check the exact specs and part numbers when purchasing this type of product, since the quality and reliability of different brands varies from poor to excellent. The Mailiya brand seems to be excellent. A couple words of advice on installing this card. They have thoughtfully included plenty of cords to connect this card to your PSU. The supplemental power connection is really necessary, since you could end up drawing in excess of 25 watts through the card if you are careless in your choice of plug in accessories. The PCI card slot can't support that power draw and you'll have problems without the supplemental direct connection to the PSU. Also, for my particular computer, the data transmission speed through the 20 pin extra connector (like to the front panel of the computer) seemed a bit slower than the five direct ports. This may have been an individual thing with my hardware and not necessarily a fault of the card. I would not consider this a negative.

I was told by other flight simulation enthusiasts that USB is a stumbling block, and unexpected behavior can occur when using powered external USB hubs, but I refused to believe it - UNTIL I began having weird behavior and sudden USB disconnects with an external USB powered-hub that had 9 or 10 USB devices plugged in. A noted simulation PC-builder (Jetline systems, Florida, USA) recommended I go with PCI-e internal USB cards, and I hunted up the Mailiya cards that are the subject of this review. I ordered two of them, came to about $53 including tax with free prime shipping. They showed up, and IMPORTANT- they came with both MOLEX and SATA power splitter cables, which is a HUGE and IMPORTANT thing when upgrading. I was able install these in my Dell XPS 8500 side-by-side, even after I had upgraded the video card to a GTX 770 2-wide gpu. Plugged 9 or 10 USB devices into these two cards, and Bob's my uncle! Fired up perfectly on first boot, no issues, no problems and NO DRIVERS NEEDED (Windows 10 system). If you are on the fence, I recommend you try these cards. They are all that and two bags of Tostitos! Truly, one of the BEST upgrades I have ever discovered. Would buy again.