PCI Expansion System StarTech.com PEX2PCI4

The StarTech.com PCI Expansion System PEX2PCI4 adds four external 32-bit/33MHz PCI slots to a PCI Express (PCIe) enabled host via a single PCIe connection. The expansion chassis provides up to 250 MB/s total bandwidth from the x1 PCIe host controller card, allowing installed PCI cards to operate as if they were connected directly to the motherboard. The unit is housed in a black enclosure and includes AC and DVI cables; it is CE, FCC and RoHS certified. Physical dimensions are 137 mm (W) x 204 mm (D) x 142 mm (H) and the net weight is approximately 2.4 kg.

Advantages

This external expansion chassis converts one PCI Express slot into four additional external PCI slots without requiring driver or software installation. It simplifies adding or swapping PCI add-in cards between desktop, server and mobile setups while avoiding disassembly of the main system. The product is backed by a 2-year StarTech.com warranty and free lifetime technical support.

Suitable for

• Servers or workstations that require additional legacy PCI cards
• Laptops or compact systems that need external PCI expansion
• Environments where frequent PCI card swapping between systems is needed

Key specifications

• Model: StarTech.com PEX2PCI4
• Adds: 4 × external PCI slots (32-bit/33MHz)
• Host interface: PCI Express x1
• Maximum bandwidth: up to 250 MB/s from the host controller
• Output: 12 V, 3 A
• Certifications: CE, FCC, RoHS
• Dimensions: 137 × 204 × 142 mm (W × D × H)
• Colour: Black
• Weight: 2.4 kg
• Included accessories: AC and DVI cables

How to use

Install the StarTech.com PCI Express host card into an available PCIe slot on the host system, connect the expansion chassis to the host card using the supplied PCIe cable, and attach the AC power cable. Insert PCI add-in cards into the external PCI slots of the chassis as you would in an internal PCI slot. The system recognizes the cards via the host PCIe connection and no additional drivers are typically required.

Usage recommendations

Place the expansion chassis on a stable, well-ventilated surface and ensure the host system’s PCIe slot is compatible with x1 devices. For best performance, avoid overloading a single host controller with high-bandwidth devices simultaneously; check card power requirements and use the chassis within its 12 V / 3 A power specification.