StarTech.com
StarTech.com StarTech 1-Port USB 20Gbps PCIe Card
Bottom line: The StarTech.com StarTech 1-Port USB 20Gbps PCIe Card ($55.99 on Amazon as of 2026-10-06): ASMedia ASM3242 controller delivers full 20Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 speeds; main trade-off: single USB-C port only, so no Type-A or multi-port expansion.
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
- ✓ ASMedia ASM3242 controller delivers full 20Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 speeds
- ✓ Uses PCIe 3.0 x4 lanes, backward compatible with PCIe 2.0 slots
- ✓ Supplies 15W (5V/3A) to charge phones and bus-powered SSDs
- ✓ Low-profile bracket included for SFF and 2U chassis builds
- ✓ Driverless on Windows 8+, macOS and Linux; UASP for faster drive access
Cons
- ✗ Single USB-C port only, so no Type-A or multi-port expansion
- ✗ No DisplayPort Alt Mode, so it cannot drive a monitor over USB-C
- ✗ Data only, so no Power Delivery negotiation beyond 15W
- ✗ Requires a free PCIe x4 slot, ruling out laptops and most mini PCs
Manufacturer description
This PCIe USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 controller card installs into an available PCI-Express x4 slot in your computer and enables you to upgrade your current system by adding a USB-C (20Gbps) port. The controller card enables you to connect USB-C Gen 2x2 (20 Gbps) devices to your desktop computer. The USB-C port is ideal for connecting USB devices such as external hard drives and solid state drives or charging and syncing your mobile devices. The USB-C port provides up to 15W (5V/3A) of power and is backward compatible with USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps) and USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps) devices. Note: USB 3.2 Gen 2…
SpecPicks Verdict
SpecPicks scored StarTech.com StarTech 1-Port USB 20Gbps PCIe 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
- HIGH PERFORMANCE: Add 1x USB-C SuperSpeed 20Gbps port to your desktop PC with this USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 PCIe Card; Expansion card provides up to 15W (5V @ 3A) to power & charge devices
- FULL USB 3.2 GEN 2X2 SPEEDS: Featuring the ASMedia ASM3242 host controller using x4 lanes of PCIe 3.0, this card is fully capable of speeds up to 20Gbps enabling fast access to high-performance devices like NVMe drives and SSDs
- MAXIMIZED USB PERFORMANCE: USB Type-C PCI Express card supports Multiple INs to reduce bandwidth loss when mix speed devices are connected to a Hub (hub must also support this feature); UASP support improves performance with storage devices
- COMPATIBILITY: Add-on card installs in full or low-profile (bracket incl) PCIe 3.0 x4 slot (Backward compatible w/PCIe 2.0); Windows/Linux/macOS w/auto drivers Win 8 & up; Works w/USB 3.1/3.0/2.0 devices; Does not support DP-Alt mode for video over USB-C
Full Specifications
| Brand | StarTech.com |
|---|---|
| Style | Classic |
| Style Name | Classic |
| Unit Count | 1 Count |
| Connectivity | USB-C |
| Model Number | PEXUSB321C |
| Compatibility | PC, Mac, Linux |
| Built-In Media | "PCI Express USB Card Full Profile Bracket (Installed) Low Profile Bracket Quick-Start Guide" |
| Mfr Part Number | PEXUSB321C |
| Compatible Devices | Personal Computer, Laptop |
| Hardware Interface | PCI Express x4 |
| Warranty Description | 2 Year Warranty |
| Item Dimensions L x W x H | 2"L x 3.1"W x 0.9"H |
| Full listing title | StarTech 1-Port USB 20Gbps PCIe Card, TAA, Windows/macOS/Linux (PEXUSB321C) | USB-C 20Gbps PCI Express 3.0 x 4 Adapter, Data Only, 2x2 |
Ready to buy?
StarTech 1-Port USB 20Gbps PCIe Card, TAA, Windows/macOS/Linux (PEXUSB321C) | USB-C 20Gbps PCI Express 3.0 x 4 Adapter, Data Only, 2x2 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 1440p Gaming GPUs in 2026
- How to Build a Windows 98 Retro PC in 2026
- Best Retro Handhelds in 2026 — From $35 to $500
- RTX 4070 Super vs RX 7800 XT — Which to Buy in 2026
- Emulation Hardware in 2026: FPGA, Software, and Cart-Reader Ecosystems
- The Complete Voodoo5 5500 AGP Driver Guide (2026 Edition)
- Best Budget Gaming PC Build 2026 — ~$1,000 ($800 on Sale)
More reviews from the SpecPicks archive
Browse all reviews →- CompactFlash as a Win98 Boot Drive: Sizes, Limits, Gotchas
- Best Gaming Monitors in 2026: 1080p, 1440p, and 4K Picks
- Building a Period-Correct 2003 LAN Party Rig with Athlon XP and Audigy 2 ZS
- Raspberry Pi 4 8GB vs Ryzen 5 2600 for Gemma 3 4B: Which Cheap Box Wins?
- KOORUI 27" 4K vs Samsung Odyssey 27" 4K for PS5 and PC Gaming
- MAYFLASH F300 vs GameSir G7 SE: Best Controller for PC Fighting Games (2026)
- Best SSD for a Steam Deck or ROG Ally Upgrade (2026)
- Using Claude to Hunt PCI Device IDs on Win98: Voodoo, Audigy, GeForce 4 Ti
- Raspberry Pi Zero 2W: Privacy-Preserving Ring Alternative
- AOC U27G4XM 4K 160Hz Review: Speed, Flexibility, Value
- ASRock Arc B580 12GB vs RTX 3060 12GB for 1440p Gaming in 2026
- Self-Host Jellyfin and Home Assistant on a Raspberry Pi 4 8GB in 2026
- Best CPU Cooler for AM4 Ryzen Overclocking (2026 Edition)
- Kimi K3 Just Launched: What You Can (and Can't) Run Locally Instead
- Anthropic Shutdown Reignites the AI-Sovereignty Debate — and the Case for Local Inference
- How to run Qwen 3 32B on Apple M4 Pro
- Qwen 3.6 27B Quantization Showdown: BF16 vs Q8_0 vs Q4_K_M on Consumer GPUs
- AMD Ryzen AI Max for Local LLMs: What the Specs Mean
- MSI Raider 16 Max HX Review: Elite Gaming and Creator Power
- Best Gaming SSD in 2026: 5 Picks for PS5, Steam Deck, and Custom Builds
- Gemma 4 Tool-Calling Fix: Re-test Function Calls Locally
- Ryzen 7 5800X3D Hard to Find: DDR5 CPU Alternatives Worth It?
- Why NVIDIA Killed 3dfx: How the Voodoo Brand Still Haunts Modern GPU Launches
- Best Gaming SSD for PC Builds in 2026: 5 Picks Tested
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