StarTech.com StarTech PCI Express to PCI Adapter Card
Bottom line: The StarTech.com StarTech PCI Express to PCI Adapter Card ($46.08 on Amazon as of 2026-10-06): Runs legacy PCI cards in a modern PCIe x1 slot with no onboard PCI header; main trade-off: PCIe 1.0a caps bandwidth at 250MBps, not for high-throughput cards.
As an Amazon Associate, SpecPicks earns from qualifying purchases. Full disclosure →
*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated 2026-10-06. Price and availability subject to change.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- ✓ Runs legacy PCI cards in a modern PCIe x1 slot with no onboard PCI header
- ✓ Plug-and-play with no driver or software install required
- ✓ Included LP4 connector powers universal 3.3V/5V PCI cards
- ✓ Ships with low-profile and full-height brackets for any case
- ✓ PCIe 1.0a compliant, up to 250MBps for the PCI slot
Cons
- ✗ PCIe 1.0a caps bandwidth at 250MBps, not for high-throughput cards
- ✗ Provides a single PCI slot, no PCI-X or multi-card expansion
- ✗ Costs more than a plain PCI riser for occasional legacy use
- ✗ Card clearance can be tight in slim desktop or 1U server cases
Manufacturer description
This PCIe to PCI Adapter Card lets you use low profile PCI expansion cards in a server or desktop motherboard PCI Express slot. Compliant with PCI Express Specification 1.0a and PCI Specification 2.2, the adapter card connects through a PCIe 1x slot to provide a low profile PCI slot in its place. A spare full size bracket for PCI Express card is also included for use in larger desktop or server PCI Express slots. A versatile solution, the adapter card converts PCIe to PCI or PCI-X; a built-on LP4 power connector links the card to the computer power supply, allowing you to install universal…
SpecPicks Verdict
SpecPicks scored StarTech.com StarTech PCI Express to PCI Adapter Card using a rating × review-volume × price-fit model applied to published specs and reviews across the expansion cards category. StarTech.com's expansion cards lineup sits within the broader category mid-tier; price and specs are the deciding factors over brand loyalty here. Judge it on the specification table and the price rather than on sentiment: check the figures that decide your use case, then put it side-by-side with two or three close alternatives in the Compare tool before clicking through.
Common buyer scenarios for expansion cards of this kind: matching it to an existing build, replacing a failing part, or upgrading from a previous-generation equivalent. Check the spec table below against your current setup — particularly socket / form-factor / power-rating fields — and confirm compatibility on the retailer's listing before purchase. Prices and stock are set by the retailer and may have moved since this page was last updated.
Key Features
- Innovative bracket design adapts and secures the existing half-height/low profile bracket of the PCI Card
- PCI Express base spec 1.0a compliant for up to 250MBps of available bandwidth
- LP4 Power Connector Included for Universal Voltage PCI Cards (3.3V/5V)
- Compliant with PCI Express to PCI/PCI-X Bridge spec 1.0
- No driver or software installation
Full Specifications
| Brand | StarTech.com |
|---|---|
| Style | PCI Express to PCI |
| Style Name | PCI Express to PCI |
| Unit Count | 1.0 Count |
| Model Number | PEX1PCI1 |
| Mfr Part Number | PEX1PCI1 |
| Compatible Devices | Desktop |
| Hardware Interface | PCI |
| Warranty Description | 2 Years |
| Item Dimensions L x W x H | 5.3"L x 2.8"W x 0.8"H |
| Global Trade Identification Number | 00065030834629 |
| Full listing title | StarTech PCI Express to PCI Adapter Card, TAA (PEX1PCI1) | PCIe to PCI Converter Adapter with Low Profile / Half-Height Bracket |
Ready to buy?
StarTech PCI Express to PCI Adapter Card, TAA (PEX1PCI1) | PCIe to PCI Converter Adapter with Low Profile / Half-Height Bracket is listed on Amazon. Price, availability, shipping and returns are set by Amazon and its sellers — check the listing for current terms. SpecPicks earns a small commission on qualifying purchases — thank you for supporting independent review work.
*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated 2026-10-06. Price and availability subject to change.
Related Expansion Cards
More guides & deep dives from the SpecPicks archive
Browse all articles & guides →- Best Budget Gaming PC Build 2026 — ~$1,000 ($800 on Sale)
- Emulation Hardware in 2026: FPGA, Software, and Cart-Reader Ecosystems
- RTX 4070 Super vs RX 7800 XT — Which to Buy in 2026
- How to Build a Windows 98 Retro PC in 2026
- Best 1440p Gaming GPUs in 2026
- The Complete Voodoo5 5500 AGP Driver Guide (2026 Edition)
- Best Retro Handhelds in 2026 — From $35 to $500
More reviews from the SpecPicks archive
Browse all reviews →- Qwen3.6-35B-A3B on an 8GB Laptop: What the Krasis Benchmark Means for Local Inference
- Best SATA SSD to Revive an Old Laptop: Crucial BX500 vs Samsung 870 EVO
- Best Budget GPU for CNN & Vision Inference 2026: RTX 3060 12GB
- SteamOS Boots on Intel Hardware in Community Hack
- llama.cpp vs vLLM for Single-User Local Chat on a 12GB GPU (2026)
- 2026 Homelab Stack: OPNsense + Proxmox + TrueNAS + 10GbE
- Flux 3 Native-Audio Video: Can a 12GB GPU Run It?
- Best Wireless Gaming Controller for PC and Console (2026)
- GLM-5.2 on 12GB VRAM: Quantization and Speed on the RTX 3060
- One Monitor, Two PCs: Monitor KVM vs Dual-Input for a Gaming Rig and AI Box
- Best Budget PC Upgrades for 1440p Gaming in 2026
- Meta Is 'Token Managing' Now: Cut Local-LLM Cost on a Single RTX 3060
- Best Gaming Headsets and Streaming Mics for Console + PC (2026)
- Windows XP Gaming Setup Guide: Hardware & Drivers (2025)
- DeepSeek Tops US AI Vendor Charts in June 2026 as Firms Chase Cheaper AI
- Hy3-Preview vs DeepSeek V4 Flash: Where the New Open-Weights Model Actually Lands
- Watching a Z80 Live From a Raspberry Pi RP2350
- xAI Open-Sources Grok-Build: Running Agentic Coding on Your Own GPU
- Building a period-correct Windows 98 gaming rig in 2026
- Build a Real-Time Flight Tracker (ADS-B) on a Raspberry Pi 4 in 2026
- Asus ROG Xreal R1: 240Hz AR gaming glasses land
- AI-Driven Driver Recovery for SB Live! and Audigy on Win98: How an LLM Watches the Installer
- Ryzen 7 5700X vs Intel Core i7-9700K: Best Budget Streaming + Gaming CPU in 2026
- Best Fighting Game Controller and Arcade Stick for PC in 2026
Earliest SpecPicks reviews
Browse full archive →- Best GPU for Llama 3.1 8B (2026)
- Best GPU for Qwen 3 14B (2026)
- Best GPU for Qwen 3 32B (2026)
- Best GPU for Llama 3.1 70B (2026)
- Best GPU for DeepSeek-R1 32B (2026)
- Best GPU for Llama 3.1 405B (2026)
- How to run Llama 3.1 8B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
- How to run Qwen 3 14B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
- How to run Qwen 3 32B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
- How to run Llama 3.1 70B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
- How to run DeepSeek-R1 32B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
- How to run Llama 3.1 8B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090