For Computex 2023, MSI is introducing an fascinating USB4 PCIe enlargement card. The cardboard not solely affords two full-bandwidth USB4 40Gbps Sort-C ports, however the card also can ship as much as 100W of energy to a tool linked to it, permitting it for use to energy high-drain units like laptops.
The MSI USB4 PD100W Enlargement Card (MS-4489) has two DisplayPort inputs in addition to two USB Sort-C connectors. The Sort-C ports assist USB knowledge charges up to40 Gbps, but additionally helps DP alt mode and USB energy supply.
What actually makes this card notable are these energy supply capabilities; most USB4/Thunderbolt 4 enlargement playing cards are PCIe bus-powered, and may solely ship as much as 15 Watts or so. MSI’s card, alternatively, can ship as much as 100 Watts of energy on its finest Sort-C port, which is sufficient energy for charging a high-performance pocket book or powering one thing demanding (e.g., a show). In the meantime the cardboard’s second Sort-C port can ship as much as 27 Watts, which is sufficient for smartphones and different mid-power periphreals.
The cardboard makes use of a bodily PCIe x8 kind issue, with what seems to be {an electrical} x4 interface. For now MSI doesn’t disclose which model of the PCIe protocol it helps – or for that matter whose USB4 controller they’re utilizing. PCIe 3.0 x4 is ample to totally drive a 40Gbps port; however it’s uncommon for any exterior USB controller to have the ability to drive two 40Gbps ports at full bandwidth directly.
Menawhile, as this USB4 host card goes above and past the quantity of energy a PCIe slot can present, the cardboard additionally has a six-pin auxiliary PCIe connector to provide the remaining energy. Per the PCIe specificaiton, a x4 card can draw as much as 25W from the slot, so the 75W auxillery connector brings the cardboard to its 100W restrict. Although this additionally implies that if MSI is sticking to the PCIe spec, then they can not ship a full 100W + 27W on the similar time.
MSI’s USB4 PD100W Enlargement Card is especially aimed toward customers who want to connect bandwidth demanding peripherals (equivalent to direct connected storage or some skilled gear) and USB-C shows to their desktop PCs. The board will serve equally nicely each the newest PCs that don’t assist USB4 connectors (or want additional Sort-C ports) and machines which can be already is use and want to realize superior connectivity.
MSI doesn’t disclose pricing of its USB4 enlargement card or when it’s set to be accessible, although we’d count on it to be priced competitively in opposition to related Thunderbolt 3/4 enlargement playing cards which have been accessible for a while.
