StarTech.com 2 Port PCI Express (PCIe) SuperSpeed USB 3.0 Card Adapter with UASP - LP4 Power

Product Overview

AI-generated summary

StarTech’s 2‑port PCIe USB 3.0 card (with UASP) for ~£24 ex‑VAT is the kind of “fix the problem quickly” add‑on I like. If you’ve got a desktop or small server with a shortage of good USB 3 ports, it’s a straightforward way to get reliable SuperSpeed access without faffing about with cheap hubs. In day‑to‑day B2B use (file transfers to external drives, docking stations for staff, occasional backups), UASP can make a noticeable difference versus older USB 3 controllers—especially when you’re pushing lots of small files. It also tends to be more stable than random adapters from the bargain bin, which matters when machines are left running.

That said, I wouldn’t buy it if you expect “real performance” gains for heavy throughput work. It’s a 2‑port card—so if you need multiple high‑speed devices at once, you may hit bandwidth/port contention before the adapter becomes the bottleneck. Also, the “LP4 power” detail matters in some cases: if your system power/cabling situation is awkward, it’s not the cleanest install compared to cards that only rely on the PCIe slot. Overall: good value for light-to-moderate USB expansion on UK desktops, fair call for offices and small IT setups, and a bit of a one-trick pony if you’re trying to build a serious storage or multi-device workload.