Best USB-C PCIe Cards

With USB-C becoming mainstream, here are the best USB-C PCIe cards that allow you to add Type-C connectivity to your motherboard. USB Type-C is now a standard connectivity protocol. Most laptops, monitors, and peripherals come with the reversible, flippable connector.

If you don’t have a Type-C connector on your computer, don’t throw your motherboard yet. There are many USB-C to PCIe adapters in the market that can give life to your old PC.

USB-C has been around for a while now, and most manufacturers are finally adopting the technology in their devices. From smartphones and displays to peripherals such as storage drives and VR headset, almost every device is getting a Type-C upgrade.

If you’re still using legacy Type-A ports, it’s high time to get an upgrade. USB-C not only ensures cross-platform compatibility, but it also provides significant performance improvements.

The Type-C standard is a small reversible connector that supports power, data, and video over a single cable. It helps clear clutter on your desk and provides a real boost in transfer speeds up to 10Gbps.

It is a real boost in performance when coming from USB2.0 or USB3.0, which most older motherboards support. You also get the flexibility of Type-C standard, allowing you to connect most of the latest devices and future-proof yourself.

What Is A USB-C PCIe Card?

A USB-C PCIe Card is an adapter than installs to a PCI Express expansion slot in a motherboard to enable USB Type-C connectivity. It’s a cost-effective way to add USB-C standard to your rig without upgrading it to a new motherboard.

Things to Consider When Choosing a PCIe USB-C Card

Like any other device, USB-C PCIe Cards aren’t the same. So before spending your money, it’s essential to determine if the card will solve your problems. Here are the factors to consider in PCIe USB-C adapter:

Motherboard Compatibility

Will the PCIe card work on your PC?

Most USB-C PCIe Cards come with a PCI Express x4 interface. Most gaming rigs and PC builds probably have a few components connected to the PCI Express expansion slots. Check the availability of an open PCIe slot beforehand.

A PCIe x4 adapter card can install to a PCIe x4, x8, or x16 expansion slot. For adapters with a single lane (x1) PCIe interface, you can plug them to almost all PCIe interfaces.

These USB-C PCIe Cards will not work with a PCI expansion slot.

Power Requirements

There are two types of USB-C PCIe cards when it comes to power requirements. Those powered by the PCIe bus and those that draw power from the motherboard Power Supply Unit via a SATA connector.

Bus-powered expansion cards require no additional power. Some include dedicated regulators and circuits to channel the power from the PCIe bus to USB ports. Ordinary USB-C PCIe cards require the PSU’s power via the SATA connectors or Molex for some old motherboards.

Kindly note that when using power-hungry peripherals such as hard drives, you’ll need more power output, or the drives will occasionally disconnect. Aim for adapters with 7.5W power output per port.

Type of Ports and USB Controllers

Some USB-C PCIe cards come with USB-C and USB-A ports. Depending on your needs, you can have a port with a USB-C and multiple USB-A ports. Getting an adapter with both ports is excellent since you have to invest in dongles anymore.

When shopping for USB-C PCIe cards, the number of USB controllers in vital. For instance, a card with four ports and a single USB controller shares the bandwidth amongst them, which can be slow. To solve this, some manufacturers include more than one USB controller to maintain higher speeds on each port.

Best USB-C PCIe Cards Compared

Image	Product	Details	Check Price
	SUNIX USB 3.1 Dual Port USB-C PCI Express	Interface: PCI Express x1 Type and Rate: USB 3.1 Gen2, 10 Gbps Ports: 2xUSB-C DisplayPort Alt Mode: Yes, 4K 60Hz USB-C PD: No Supported System: Windows, Mac	Check on Amazon
	Sonnet Allegro USB-C 4-Port PCIe	Interface: PCI Express x4 Type and Rate: USB 3.1 Gen2, 10 Gbps Ports: 4xUSB-C DisplayPort Alt Mode: No USB-C PD: No Supported System: Windows, Mac	Check on Amazon
	StarTech.com 5-Port USB 3.1 PCIe Card	Interface: PCI Express x4 Type and Rate: Up to USB 3.1 Gen2, 10 Gbps Ports: 1xUSB-C, 2xUSB-A, 1xIDC DisplayPort Alt Mode: No USB-C PD: No Supported System: Windows, Mac, Linux	Check on Amazon
	Ableconn PU31-AC-2 USB 3.1 Gen 2 (10 Gbps)	Interface: PCI Express x4 Type and Rate: USB 3.1 Gen2, 10 Gbps Ports: 1xUSB-C, 1xUSB-A DisplayPort Alt Mode: No USB-C PD: No Supported System: Windows, Mac, Linux	Check on Amazon
	StarTech.com 4-Port USB 3.1 PCIe Card (PEXUS313AC2V)	Interface: PCI Express x4 Type and Rate: USB 3.1 Gen2, 10 Gbps Ports: 1xUSB-C, 3xUSB-A DisplayPort Alt Mode: No USB-C PD: No Supported System: Windows, Mac, Linux	Check on Amazon
	ULANSeN PCI-E to USB 3.0 Type C + Type-A Expansion Card	Interface: PCI Express x1 Type and Rate: USB 3.0, 5 Gbps Ports: 1xUSB-C, 3xUSB-A DisplayPort Alt Mode: No USB-C PD: No Supported System: Windows, Mac, Linux	Check on Amazon
	BEYIMEI Dual Port USB-C PCI-e Expansion Card	Interface: PCI Express x4 Type and Rate: USB 3.1 Gen2, 10 Gbps Ports: 2xUSB-C DisplayPort Alt Mode: No USB-C PD: No Supported System: Windows, Mac, Linux	Check on Amazon

1. SUNIX USB 3.1 Dual Port USB-C PCI Express (w/Alternate-Mode) – Best USB-C PCIe Card Overall

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SUNIX USB 3.1 Dual Port USB-C PCI Express card (UPD2018) is the best USB-C adapter in the market. It comes with dual USB-C ports and support for DisplayPort Alt-Mode.

In terms of design, the SUNIX UPD2018 comes with a yellow board with a silver mounting bracket. It has a PCI Express 3.0 x1 interface, two USB-C ports, and a DisplayPort input. This card is compatible with PCIe x1, x4, x8, and x16 expansion slots.

The SUNIX USB-C PCIe card is compliant with USB 3.1 Gen2 specifications, providing speeds up to 10Gbps. It provides faster read/write speeds than the last-gen USB3.0 and USB 2.0.

Onboard there are two USB Type-C ports. One is a standard port supporting data transfers only while the other supports video passthrough with DisplayPort Alt-Mode. It supports DisplayPort 1.2, providing up to 4K 60Hz video throughput.

This SUNIX card draws power from the PCI Express bus, unlike other adapters that require SATA cable connection. Each port supplies 5V/1.5A power output with over-current protection. This card does not support USB-C Power Delivery.

The installation process is simple. Connect the card to an open PCIe x4 slot on your motherboard and connect the supplied DisplayPort cable to the DP output from your GPU to the DP input on the SUNIX USB-C PCIe card. The card comes with a DP cable and a low-profile mounting bracket.

SUNIX USB 3.1 Dual Port USB-C PCIe card is an outstanding card with support for data and video. Get up to 10Gbps and 4K video passthrough for connecting the latest Type-C monitors. SUNIX is a perfect card for external displays, external storage, smartphones, and other type-c devices.

2. Sonnet Allegro USB-C 4-Port PCIe – Best USB-C PCIe Card for Mac Pro

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Sonnet Allegro USB-C 4-Port PCIe adds four USB-C ports to your Mac Pro, Windows PC, or Linux system. It features a unique power design and works flawlessly with macOS with no driver installation required.

From the outside, this Sonnet adapter card features a black finish with a silver mounting bracket. There are four USB Type-C ports with a PCIe x4 interface.

Sonnet Allegro USB-C 4-Port PCIe draws power from the PCIe bus, and each USB-C port has a power regulator protecting it from power glitches on adjacent ports. Your drives and other peripherals won’t disconnect anymore even when connected to all the four ports.

Another vital feature of this adapter is the dual 10Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2 controllers, unlike other 4-port USB cards, which share the same bandwidth. With the Sonnet Allegro adapter, two ports share a 10Gbps bandwidth. Even with four drives connected, you get speeds up to 300 MBps simultaneous rates.

The card provides 7.5W power on each port enough to power small devices like phones and storage drives. With support for hot-swapping, you can connect and disconnect peripherals without shutting off your computer.

Sonnet Allegro USB-C 4-Port PCIe is an excellent accessory to your Mac Pro or any PC. It comes transforms a single PCIe x4 slot into four 10Gbps USB-C ports. The intelligent power management is a great addition for power users and those with many accessories. However, it lacks video output, which limits its USB-C functionality.

3. StarTech.com 5-Port USB 3.1 PCIe Card – USB 3.1 PCIe Card with Internal Header

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StarTech.com PEXUSB312EIC adapter card adds a 10Gbps USB Type-C port and multiple USB-A ports. It’s the only USB-C PCIe card with an internal header in our roundup.

StarTech.com 5-Port USB 3.1 PCIe Card is an ideal adapter for building or upgrading your PC and protecting yourself for future expansion. Onboard is a Type-C port with 10Gbps bandwidth and two USB-A ports with speeds up to 5Gbps.

This StarTech.com card is backward compatible with USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 devices. And you don’t need to invest in extra dongles since it comes with USB-A and USB-C ports.

The installation process is straightforward. The card comes with a PCIe x4 interface and is compliant with PCIe 3.0 standard. Power the device using the provided 15-pin SATA power connector. StarTech includes a low-profile bracket for small form factor motherboards.

The StarTech.com 5-Port USB 3.1 PCIe card provides a quick way to add both USB-A and USB-C ports. Get speeds up to 10Gbps via the USB Type-C port and a chance to add more internal USB headers for future upgrades. While the USB-C port supports data only, it’s a significant upgrade to boost your transfer speeds and device compatibility.

4. Ableconn PU31-AC-2 USB 3.1 Gen 2 (10 Gbps) – PCIe to USB-A and USB-C Adapter

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Ableconn PU31-AC-2 is an outstanding USB-C PCIe adapter card with USB 3.1 Gen2 Type-A and Type-C ports. It comes with an ASMedia ASM2142 chipset shared by the two ports.

The design of the Ableconn PU31-AC-2 mirrors most PCIe adapter cards in this roundup. It comes with a red finish and a silver mounting bracket. Onboard there is a PCIe x4 interface, SATA power connector, and USB-A and USB-C ports.

In terms of performance, the card offers 10Gbps transfer speeds, twice the bandwidth of USB 3.0. The board includes a power switching regulator circuit that converts power from the PCIe bus or PSU to 15W on USB-C and 10W on USB-A port.

With a PCIe x4, this expansion adapter is compatible with PCI Express x4, x8, and x16 slots. It’s backward compatible with PCIe 1.0 and 2.0 standards. Ableconn includes a low-profile mounting bracket for mini motherboards.

Ableconn PU31-AC-2 USB 3.1 Gen 2 is an excellent adapter card for upgraders. It has superspeed USB-C and USB-A ports perfect for fast file transfers and supports 15W fast charging. It’s an advanced and powerful card, but it still lacks video support via USB-C.

5. StarTech.com 4-Port USB 3.1 PCIe Card (PEXUS313AC2V) – USB 3 PCIe Card

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StarTech PEXUS313AC2V is another USB 3 PCI Express card with both USB-C and USB-A ports. This adapter upgrades your PC with three USB 3.1 Gen2 Type-A ports and a single USB-C port through a standard PCIe slot.

The card uses two 10Gbps USB 3.1 Gen 2 controllers, providing 20Gbps bandwidth for the four ports. StarTech PEXUS313AC2V dedicates a 10Gbps channel to each set of two ports, which improves the transfer speeds and reduce performance bottlenecks.

StarTech.com 4-Port USB 3.1 PCIe Card is suitable for adding Type-C connectivity and boosting read/write speeds for fast storage access and transferring files. The ability to connect multiple devices simultaneously can increase your productivity, whether at the office or home.

The card features a PCI Express x4 interface compatible with PCI x4 slot or higher. Choose between a SATA power or an LP4 Molex connector to provide up to 0.9A per port. It has a low power rating, 4.5W, compared to 7.5W in other cards. Some power-hungry devices like mechanical hard drives may disconnect when you exhaust all the ports.

StarTech.com 4-Port USB 3.1 PCIe Card is an ideal option to revive your old motherboards. It comes with superspeed USB-C connectivity and extra 10 Gbps USB-A ports. The card provides a significant boost in performance perfect for file backups, video editing, and copying files using large external devices.

6. ULANSeN PCI-E to USB 3.0 Type C + Type-A Expansion Card – Cheap USB-C PCIe Card

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ULANSeN PCI-E to USB 3.0 Type C + Type-A Expansion Card is the cheapest PCIe adapter in this roundup. It offers an option to upgrade to three USB-A and one USB-C port to those on a budget.

Getting USB-C connectivity for your PC doesn’t need to be expensive. This USB-C PCIe card allows you to transform your PCI Express slot into four USB 3.0 ports with a USB Type-C without breaking the bank.

In terms of performance, the ULANSeN PCIe to USB 3.0 Expansion card maxes at 5Gbps. It is a budget option, so all the ports share the same bandwidth. However, you still get a USB Type-C for connecting the latest devices, such as the Oculus Quest VR headset.

This card provides the best value in terms of performance when upgrading from a USB 2.0 standard. The Type-C connectivity is a winning choice for many users since many new devices have USB-C.

With a PCIe x1 interface, ULANSeN PCIe to USB 3.0 Expansion card is compatible with PCI Express x1, x4, x8, and x6 slots, depending on which is available on your motherboard. The card draws power from the PCIe bus, but it’s advisable to connect it to the PSU if you use a lot of power-hungry peripherals.

ULANSeN PCIe to USB 3.0 Expansion card is a cheap and affordable USB-C PCIe adapter. It comes with three USB-A and USB-C to upgrade your connectivity with fast transfer speeds. It meets the needs of most users looking for Type-C connectivity, but you have to settle for 5Gbps rates.

7. BEYIMEI Dual Port USB-C PCI-e Expansion Card – Dual Port USB-C PCIe Card

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BEYIMEI Dual Port USB-C PCI-e Expansion Card is a cost-effective adapter for adding two 10Gbps USB-C ports. It’s an excellent card for Mac, Windows, or Linux systems.

From the outside, the BEYIMEI USB-C to PCIe adapter looks and feels premium, with a black finish. It has a PCIe x4 interface and two USB Type-C ports. BEYIMEI includes a low-profile bracket for small form factor motherboards.

This card comes with a built-in USB 3.1 Gen2 ASMedia controller, supporting speeds up to 10Gbps. Whether transferring videos and photos for editing or accessing external storage, 10Gbps is incredibly fast speed. However, the two USB-C ports share the same bandwidth when used simultaneously.

BEYIMEI Dual Port USB-C PCI-e Expansion Card features a PCIe x4 interface, which is compatible with four lanes PCI Express or higher. It supports hot plugging and hot swapping for quick installation without powering off the PC.

The card comes with a 15-pin SATA controller for providing additional power from the motherboard PSU. It’s a plug-and-play adapter, so you don’t need any drier installation.

The BEYIMEI USB-C to PCIe adapter is probably the best deal you can get right now. It has two 10Gbps USB-C ports providing faster speeds and the flexibility of the Type-C port. The missing support for video and USB power delivery still is a significant downside for enthusiasts. However, this is a budget card, not much you can expect from it.