Solved PCIe and USB-C

Tasmania Green · Oct 19, 2025

I'd like some recommendations for a PCI expansion card that has ports for USB-C. Ideally, it would be nice that some of the slots would also be Thunderbolt.

I did some research onPCIe USB-C reviews, but found just articles about on PCI vs. PCIe and UCB-C vs Thunderbolt. I did find a few articles that at first seemed to be recommending one brand of manufacturer, but they all pointed to prices on Amazon, which makes those recommendations suspect.

Can someone also recommend product review websites?

bobkn · Oct 19, 2025

Add-in cards that provide Thunderbolt ports require a Thunderbolt header on the motherboard. The MSI MAG B650 GAMING PLUS WIFI doesn't have one.

I can't suggest any review site that reports on add-in cards of that sort.

What level of USB are you seeking? USB 3.0= USB 3.1 Gen1 =USB 3.2 Gen1, 5Gbps nominal. USB 3.2 Gen2, 10Gbps. USB 3.2 Gen2X2, 20GBps.

Tasmania Green · Oct 19, 2025

bobkn said:
Add-in cards that provide Thunderbolt ports require a Thunderbolt header on the motherboard. The MSI MAG B650 GAMING PLUS WIFI doesn't have one.

I can't suggest any review site that reports on add-in cards of that sort.

What level of USB are you seeking? USB 3.0= USB 3.1 Gen1 =USB 3.2 Gen1, 5Gbps nominal. USB 3.2 Gen2, 10Gbps. USB 3.2 Gen2X2, 20GBps.

Oh. I didn't know that. It seems I've got more reading to do. Thanks.

I was looking for USB-C primarily because more devices seem to be requiring that connection. And since my motherboard has only 1 USB-C port, thought I would an expansion card to add more of them.

MisterEd · Oct 19, 2025

Do you have something against Amazon? Most articles and reviews have links to Amazon.

Does your motherboard have a "USB 3.2 Gen 2 10Gbps Type-C front panel Connector"? You can check the user manual to verify this. This connector allows you to connect USB Type-C connector on the front panel. Note this header connector requires you to buy a cable to use it. There are cables and brackets on Amazon for this.

If you search Amazon you can find PCIe cards with USB-C ports.

You can also use a "USB C Female to USB Male Adapter. You can also find these on Amazon. You plug a USB-C connector into the adapter and then plug the adapter into a computer USB-A port.

Tasmania Green · Oct 19, 2025

MisterEd said:
Do you have something against Amazon? Most articles and reviews have links to Amazon.

Does your motherboard have a "USB 3.2 Gen 2 10Gbps Type-C front panel Connector"? You can check the user manual to verify this. This connector allows you to connect USB Type-C connector on the front panel. Note this header connector requires you to buy a cable to use it. There are cables and brackets on Amazon for this.

If you search Amazon you can find PCIe cards with USB-C ports.

You can also use a "USB C Female to USB Male Adapter. You can also find these on Amazon. You plug a USB-C connector into the adapter and then plug the adapter into a computer USB-A port.

Oh, I don't haven't anything against Amazon. I've just seen several reports stating the customer ratings are being skewed by false reviews.

Tasmania Green · Oct 19, 2025

MisterEd said:
Do you have something against Amazon? Most articles and reviews have links to Amazon.

Does your motherboard have a "USB 3.2 Gen 2 10Gbps Type-C front panel Connector"? You can check the user manual to verify this. This connector allows you to connect USB Type-C connector on the front panel. Note this header connector requires you to buy a cable to use it. There are cables and brackets on Amazon for this.

If you search Amazon you can find PCIe cards with USB-C ports.

You can also use a "USB C Female to USB Male Adapter. You can also find these on Amazon. You plug a USB-C connector into the adapter and then plug the adapter into a computer USB-A port.

I see a type-C connector on my motherboard that is mean for the front of the case. When I bought the Silverstone case, I thought it had a type-C port on the front. But when I got the case, I saw that it only has 3 type-A usb ports.

MisterEd · Oct 19, 2025

Tasmania Green said:
Oh, I don't haven't anything against Amazon. I've just seen several reports stating the customer ratings are being skewed by false reviews.

That's true for anything you buy online. I try to buy things made by a reputable brand but that is not always possible. Sometimes you have to pick a brand and hope for the best. I try to buy things with a free 30-day return. I have to use that occasionally.

Tasmania Green · Oct 19, 2025

Same here. I try to buy things locally, to support local shops, but that's not always possible either.

MrPig · Oct 19, 2025

It's pot luck what you buy from Amazon, most cards are made by some obscure Chinese company who claim to offer support but there is no way to contact them!

MisterEd · Oct 19, 2025

Tasmania Green said:
I see a type-C connector on my motherboard that is mean for the front of the case. When I bought the Silverstone case, I thought it had a type-C port on the front. But when I got the case, I saw that it only has 3 type-A usb ports.

The header can be used with either a front or back bracket. I have seen these cables on Amazon that come with a bracket for the back of the computer.

Most computers cases used to have front 3.5"/5.25" drive bays. That way you could buy front panel USB brackets that plugged into the one of the bays. Unfortunately, most new cases like yours don't have these bays.

BTW, I have a old computer whose motherboard only has USB 2.0 ports. I bought a PCIe card that has four USB 3.0 ports. Two ports are on the PCIe card bracket. The other two plug into a bracket mounted in a 5.25" front bay.

Tasmania Green · Oct 19, 2025

MisterEd said:
The header can be used with either a front or back bracket. I have seen these cables on Amazon that come with a bracket for the back of the computer.

Most computers cases used to have front 3.5"/5.25" drive bays. That way you could buy front panel USB brackets that plugged into the one of the bays. Unfortunately, most new cases like yours don't have these bays.

BTW, I have a old computer whose motherboard only has USB 2.0 ports. I bought a PCIe card that has four USB 3.0 ports. Two ports are on the PCIe card bracket. The other two plug into a bracket mounted in a 5.25" front bay.

My case is less than a year old, so it doesn't have a front bay like what you're talking about. So, I'll just go with an expansion card that puts the ports in the back of the computer.

PerpetualCycle · Oct 19, 2025

I have had good experiences with various StarTech PCI-E cards in the past. You can find their USB-C cards on Amazon and many retail stores.

Tasmania Green · Oct 19, 2025

PerpetualCycle said:
I have had good experiences with various StarTech PCI-E cards in the past. You can find their USB-C cards on Amazon and many retail stores.

Thanks mate.

MisterEd · Oct 20, 2025

Tasmania Green said:
My case is less than a year old, so it doesn't have a front bay like what you're talking about. So, I'll just go with an expansion card that puts the ports in the back of the computer.

Here is a link to PCIe card with 4 x USB-C ports. It is on the Amazon (AU) site. I can't comment on it because I live in the US.

PCIe to USB 3.2 Gen 2 Expansion Card, 10Gpbs 4 Type C, USB C PCI Express Card, PCIe X4, X8, X16, Internal Converter PCI Express Expansion Card for Wins 7 8 10, OS X 10.8.2

BTW, a lot of these cards are very expensive in what I am seeing. Maybe tariffs are responsible for that. You should search again to see if the prices are a lot different for you.

Tasmania Green · Oct 20, 2025

MisterEd said:
Here is a link to PCIe card with 4 x USB-C ports. It is on the Amazon (AU) site. I can't comment on it because I live in the US.

PCIe to USB 3.2 Gen 2 Expansion Card, 10Gpbs 4 Type C, USB C PCI Express Card, PCIe X4, X8, X16, Internal Converter PCI Express Expansion Card for Wins 7 8 10, OS X 10.8.2

BTW, a lot of these cards are very expensive in what I am seeing. Maybe tariffs are responsible for that. You should search again to see if the prices are a lot different for you.

Thanks. Yes, it could easily be the tariffs.

Tasmania Green · Oct 29, 2025

I bought 2x Simplecom PCIe x4 to 4-Port USB 3.2 Gen II expansion cards. I thought I had enough expansion slot on my 2024 MSI MAG B650 GAMING PLUS WIFI motherboard, but now I'm not sure.

While fast data transfer rate is great, more important to me is just adding USB slots. I can only add slots to the back of the machine as there isn't any space for additional slots available in the front of the case.

Here are the specs on the Simplecom PCIe expansion cards:

PCIe x4 expansion card, also compatible with PCIe x8 or x16 slot
USB 3.2 Gen 2 interface supports data transfer rates of up to 10Gbps
Integrated PCIe to USB 3.2 Gen 2 controller and USB 3.2 Gen 2 hub controller
The USB ports on the rear panel and front panel can operate simultaneously
Two rear panel connectors, 1x USB-C and 1x USB-A port
Two internal connectors for front panel, USB 3.0 19/20-Pin and Key-A (Type-E) connectors
Backwards compatible with USB 2.0 and USB 1.1 devices
Built-in over current protection on each USB port
Powered by PCIe, no external power required
Built-in PCIe 12V to 5V modules provide power to USB ports

The manual for my MSI B650 motherboard has the following specs for the Internal USB Connectors:
1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 10Gbps Type-C front panel port (From B650 chipset)
1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 5Gbps connector (From B650 chipset) - Supports additional 2 USB 3.2 Gen 1 5Gbps ports
2x USB 2.0 connectors (From B650 chipset) - Supports additional 4 USB 2.0 ports

I have my graphics card

antspants · Oct 29, 2025

Huzzah!!!

antspants · Oct 29, 2025

Those two slots at the bottom should be OK?

Tasmania Green · Oct 29, 2025

Good to know.

But will it make me a good espresso in the morning?

antspants · Oct 29, 2025

Tasmania Green said:
Good to know.

But will it make me a good espresso in the morning?

Bloody better.

The USB headers, do you actually have any spare on your Motherboard? I have to look harder. Others would be more knowledgable that I on this.

Solved PCIe and USB-C

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