An Early Look at Asus USB 3.0 and SATA 6.0 Expansion Card
If you’ve been looking forward to the USB 3.0 and SATA 6.0 support on Intel’s new P55 chipset, you’d be very cheerful to read this.
Asus has prepared an innovative expansion card – U3S6, which provides two USB 3.0 ports and two SATA 6.0 ports. The card has three primary components: an NEC D720200F1 USB 3.0 controller, a Marvell 88SE9123 SATA 6.0 controller, and a PLX PEX8613.
According to MaximumPC, U3S6 performed on par with the USB 2.0 ports in the P55 board they tested. They will get a SATA drive soon and test it then.
Asus said the card is expected to be available soon for about $30.
Two USB 3.0 ports
The NEC USB 3.0 Controller
The Marvell chip controls the two SATA6 ports
November 1st, 2009 at 2:23 am
Do you connect this card via PCI?
November 1st, 2009 at 3:48 am
@Board
PCIe x4 slot
November 2nd, 2009 at 6:20 am
useless until mainstream starts equipping hardware with this..
and even then, motherboards will come with integrated USB 3.0 & Sata6
don’t mean to be rude but dont see the point in this thingy.
cya
November 2nd, 2009 at 8:43 am
SpaceGaucho, if you’ve own an older board with an open x16/x8/x4 slot, or recently upgraded and wanted USB3 or SATA 6Gbps, this looks like a better option than getting a whole new board just for it. Don’t you think?
USB2.0 and SATA3Gbps cards have existed along with onboard features, they certainly aren’t all useless either.
November 2nd, 2009 at 2:01 pm
Any PCI-e with that amount of lanes for more will do even a PCI-e 16x
November 4th, 2009 at 8:02 am
This is a product that fills a time gap, and all of us should congratulate and thank warmly ASUS for producing and providing this new stopgap measure that will allow a smoother and much less expensive transition to the new standards in the coming months. 2010 is going to be a remarkable year for computing, and ASUS did not have to do this, and will probably not show any profit in doing so. It’s a grand faith amazing effort on their part; other groups would rather you buy a new mainboard. ASUS is tops in the industry, mankind forward!
November 5th, 2009 at 6:40 am
i understand your point lehpron..
and maybe i was a little to harsh on these piece of hardware.
though i still think asus wont sell many…
and that was what i actually meant to convey.
regards
November 5th, 2009 at 9:19 am
MeanBruce – I agree 100%. ASUS has once again shown exemplary leadership in launching this board product for a fantastic price. I mean , come on, that Marvell chip and the PLX 12-lane 3-port switch are together worth at least $20. This is a home-run concept, and ASUS (as well as Marvell, PLX and NEC) deserves a lot of kudos for this innovative product.
November 5th, 2009 at 10:57 am
Thanks katnrica you are pretty damn kool…