The 5 Best Host Controller cards (2023 reviews)

The startech sata card is capable of outshining several other card featured in this list in overall features. It can be used in a ubuntu software raid 5 environment. It comes with two pigtails that plug into the two mini-sas ports. It is allows for eight total sata (serial ata) 6gbps ports through a single x4 pcie slot, enabling combined total throughput up to 20gbps. It can only handle two drives at a time. It uses 2 lanes, for a max of 8gbit / sec. It has 48bit LBA, therefore it can support (in theory ) 64TB per port. It includes marvell storage utility software for monitoring raid status from within windows.

Why We Like This:

Connection drops and the transfer speed is good
Good addition to add sata 3 ports to older systems
Style cabling and reliable drive connections

Best Runner Up: LTERIVER Host Controller Card

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This pcie sata iii card will support plug and play on windows, linux and mac os systems, now no need to install driver anymore for pcie sata expansion cards. It is a pci express gen 2 to sata iii (serial ata) 6gbps controller. It is designed on a pcie x1 interface, and will work on pcie x1, x2, x4, x8, x16 slot. The card works fine and shows up as generic controller in a standard size case. The PCIE card is delivered on time and it is an easy plug and play with Windows.

Why We Like This:

Driver free on mac os x and linux kernel systems
Provide 2x plug and play sata iii 6gbps ports for pcs and servers
Supports amd, arm, intel, and mac hardware platform

Best With MACOS: Startech Host Controller Card

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The startech host controller card is capable of outshining several other card featured in this list in overall features for the price point. The PEXUSB312A3 requires an x4 or higher slot for proper operation. It includes a package of a USB 3.1 card full-profile bracket (pre-installed) low-profile bracket quick start guide. It provides up to 4.5w (5v/0.9a) of power per usb port. The USB-A ports are ideal for connecting usb devices such as external hard drives and solid state drives or powering and syncing your mobile devices. It supports multiple ins for max bandwidth when using mixed.

The card also supports uasp for improved performance with storage devices. It is compatible with windows, linux and macos.

Why We Like This:

Supports multiple ins to reduce bandwidth loss when multiple devices are connected
Drivers install automatically on computers running windows 8 or higher
Supports uasp & optimized for ssds/hdds, nvme, thumb drives
Performance devices like nvme drives and ssds

Best With Samsung SSD Pro: SIIG Host Controller Card

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Not everyone likes to purchase card for their daily usage, but the siig host controller card would be an anomoly. It is a fantastic improvement over a typical hard drive with spinning platters. It adds one m.2 pcie ssd (m key) to your windows 10, 8.x, 7, or any pcie-equipped desktop computer. It allows an m.2 nvme (not sata) drive up to 80mm in length to work in a pci-e 3.0 x4 or longer slot. This is just a different interface for storage media. It includes both low-profile and full-profile slot brackets for flexible system chassis installation (perfect for 2u case), with built-in leds to indicate power and data transfer status. This product doesn't need any driver installation.

Why We Like This:

Inexpensive card to use to clone an m.2 ssd
Makes for very fast storage and a zippy pc / server system
Great option for really fast storage
Great choice for older mobos or external alternatives

Best Feature: Easy To Install: Vantec Host Controller Card

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Compared with other card in this category, the vantec host controller card has a convenient design. The Vantec dual chip 4-port dedicated 10gbps usb 3.1 gen 2 pcie host card is designed to offer the best usb 3.1 performance possible. It comes with two chips, so you can have a total theoretical speed of 20gbps. It provides 2 fast lanes with the maximum bandwidth. It is capable of serving 10Mbps per port, but it also depend on your system peripherals and priorities.

This card comes with additional features, like support for usb battery charging specification, intel xhci compliant, pcie 2.0 x4 interface, built in power connection for lp4/sata and backward compatibility to all your other slower usb devices. It is easy to install and add the small power connector. It is designed for a low-end graphics card if needed.

Why We Like This: