PCIe mSATA/SATA Controller Card

Combine SSD performance with HDD capacity to create a HyperDuo array with 2 x mSATA and 2 x SATA drives through a single PCI Express slot. The PEXMSATA3422 PCI Express SATA Card helps you improve the overall speed and storage capacity of your computer by giving you multiple 6 Gbps SATA connections for connecting high-performance SSDs (Solid State Drives) and hard drives in a HyperDuo array. Now, you can easily add two mSATA slots and two SATA III ports to your computer through a single PCIe x4 slot.

Featuring HyperDuo technology, the SATA card offers SSD auto-tiering which lets you balance the performance advantages of SSD storage with the cost-effectiveness and large capacity of standard hard drives. By combining SSD and HDD drives into a single volume (up to 3 SSD + 1 HDD), HyperDuo discreetly works in the background to identify and move frequently accessed files to the faster SSD drive(s) for improved data throughput - up to 80% of SSD performance! (Note: The HyperDuo automatic storage tiering feature is compatible with computers that use a BIOS.)

This versatile RAID controller card helps to relieve the internal space constraints often associated with multi-drive configurations by letting you install two mSATA SSDs directly to the card via convenient, latching slots. With dual mSATA slots, as well as two internal SATA ports, the card offers an effective hardware RAID solution, with native RAID (0, 1) support.

The PCIe SATA controller also offers Port Multiplier (PM) support, so you can connect multiple SATA drives to just one port, for a total of 7 drives (up to 4 drives through PM on one port, plus a single drive to the other SATA port and two mSATA slots).

For added versatility, the controller card is equipped with a standard profile bracket and includes a low-profile/half-height bracket for installation in small form-factor computers.


Throughput Benchmark

Drive configuration
Throughput
Drive size

1 x HDD
112.81 MB/s
2 TB

1 x SSD
490.28 MB/S
120 GB

1 x HDD + 1 x SSD HyperDuo (Safe Mode)
489.28 MB/s
2 TB

1 x HDD + 2 x SSD HyperDuo (Safe Mode)
715.13 MB/s
2 TB

Drives Used:
SSD: OCZ Vertex 3 Series 2.5” 120 GB (VTX3-25SAT3-120G)
HDD: Western Digital Caviar Green 3.5” 2 TB (WD20EARS)

Software Used:
IO Meter, 256KB Sequential Read, queue depth = 10

Backed by a StarTech.com 2-year warranty and free lifetime technical support.

Manufacturer Part Number
PEXMSATA3422
EAN/UPC
0065030859394,065030859394,0012305135400,012305135400
Full Product Specifications

Note:

  • The full product specifications below are from the manufacturer and may contain information related to other package quantities that will not apply to the product that you are reviewing. Please confirm the actual content and/or package quantity from the main product specifications page.
  • These specifications may represent the entire product series/model/line to which this product belongs with specific configuration differences between the individual products stated.
  • These specifications may have been copied from the same product in other region/country in which case there might be minor differences in region-specific data such as Input Voltage, Terms of Warranty etc.

Warranty Information

  • Warranty: 2 Years

Hardware

  • Ports: 2
  • Interface: Mini SATA
  • Bus Type: PCI Express
  • Card Type: Standard Profile (LP bracket incl.)
  • Interface: SATA
  • Port Style: Integrated on Card
  • Industry Standards: Serial ATA 3.0 specification, PCI Express 2.0
  • Chipset ID: Marvell - 88SE9230

Connector(s)

  • Connector Type(s): 1 - PCI Express x4 Male
  • Internal Ports: 2 - mSATA (52 pin; Mini SATA) Slot Receptacle , 2 - SATA (7 pin; Data) Plug
Performance
  • Type and Rate: SATA III (6 Gbps)
  • Port Multiplier: Yes
  • LBA support: 48-bit
  • RAID: Yes
  • Supported RAID Modes:
    • JBOD - (Just a Bunch of Disks)
    • RAID 1 (Mirrored Disks)
    • RAID 0 (Striped Disks)
    • RAID 10 (1+0; Striped set of Mirrored Subset)
  • Max Drive Capacity: Currently tested up to 4TB per drive

Software

  • OS Compatibility:
    • Windows® 8 / 8.1 (32/64bit), 7 (32/64), Vista (32/64), XP (32/64)
    • Windows Server® 2012, 2008 R2, 2003
    • Mac OS® 10.6 and up (Tested up to 10.10)
    • Linux 3.5


Special Notes / Requirements

  • System and Cable Requirements: Available PCI Express x4 slot (backward compatible with x8, and x16 slots
Note: The maximum throughput of this card is limited by the bus interface. If used with PCI Express Gen 1.0 enabled computers, the max throughput is 2.5 Gbps per lane. If used with PCI Express Gen 2.0 enabled computers, the max throughput is 5 Gbps per lane. Only one port can use the Port Multiplier feature at a time. Supports up to 4 drives connected via Port Multiplier, 7 drives total. Port Multiplier not supported in Mac OS.

Physical Characteristics

  • Product Length: 4.5 in [115 mm]
  • Product Width: 0.8 in [20 mm]
  • Product Height: 4.7 in [120 mm]
  • Product Weight: 1.9 oz [55 g]
Environmental
  • Operating Temperature: 5°C to 50°C (41°F to 122°F)
  • Storage Temperature: -25°C to 70°C (-13°F to 158°F)
  • Humidity: 20~80% RH
  • Packaging InformationShipping (Package) Weight: 4.9 oz [140 g]
What's in the Box
  • Included in Package:
    • 1 x PCIe mSATA/SATA Controller Card
    • 1 x Low Profile Bracket
    • 1 x Driver CD
    • 1 x Instruction Manual