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R
Reviewed in the United States on May 21, 2025
After trying both the StarTech PEXUSB3S44V and the FebSmart FS-4C-U8S-Pro in my Lenovo M920q Tiny ESXi server, I was starting to think I’d never find a USB card that worked reliably with Linux VMs under ESXi 8. Both the StarTech and FebSmart cards showed up in ESXi and allowed passthrough configuration, but performance was a mess:The StarTech card’s controllers wouldn’t start at all when assigned to a VM.The FebSmart card’s controllers did start, but they constantly failed mid-operation, dropping devices from the VMs.Then I tried the HighPoint RocketU 1444C, and everything changed. Yes, it’s significantly more expensive, but it actually works—and reliably, too.This card features four independent USB 3 controllers, each of which can be passed through to separate VMs. In my setup, I’m passing two of the ports to two different VMs:One runs a file server with several USB SSDs attached via a hub.The other handles home automation gear including Zigbee and Z-Wave controllers, a USB GPS, and an RTL-433 SDR dongle.Everything is stable and performing great so far.Build Notes for the Lenovo M920q TinyI’m using this card with a PCIe riser and adapter commonly used for 4-port NICs in the M920q. Space is extremely tight in this case. A couple of build considerations:I added plastic insulation beneath the card to prevent shorts against the motherboard.The fan on this card sits slightly higher than the heatsink. Without some added thermal pads on top of the heatsink, the fan contacts the case lid and can’t spin freely.Thermal ConsiderationsThis card runs hot, even with no devices connected. In the cramped M920q case, the fan sits almost flush against the case wall, limiting airflow. I’ve temporarily installed a small AC Infinity USB blower fan in front of the card, which helps keep temps at a manageable ~100°F. Without it, temps climb to 130°F or more, which is concerning. I may end up cutting ventilation holes in the case to improve airflow. In a standard case with decent cooling, this likely wouldn’t be an issue.Bottom LineThis is the only USB 3.0 PCIe card I’ve found that works reliably with ESXi 8 and supports passthrough of individual ports to VMs. It’s not cheap, but if you need stability and flexibility in an ESXi environment, this card is absolutely worth it.
A Customer
Reviewed in the United States on January 17, 2025
It’s a great product, like everything Highpoint makesHowever, be careful when choosing the slot to run it in and be careful installing it. Make sure it doesn’t make contact with an adjacent card while runningThe heat sink/fan assembly is rather thick- so if the card in the adjacent slot sags (or vice versa, depending on your orientation) you may experience weird behavior, like the system immediately powering off after power onIt fits in a single slot, and if the other cards are properly fastened and don’t exceed their clearance, you’re fine. Just pay attention
anonymous coward
Reviewed in the United States on August 27, 2024
Excellent USB expansion card. It does come with low-profile bracket also. 20gbps per port! You can daisy chain normal USB hubs with each of these ports. Highly recommended.
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