IOGEAR Hi-Speed USB 2.0 PCI Card (GIC251U) Reviews

• 5 Stars - but only if you know the following:

  
  By A1FU2MFIF07O62 on 2004-09-01
  I bought a Compaq Presario 5410US from Amazon in 2002, as well as a Cannon digital camera and printer, probably purchases similar to those made by many Amazon customers. I suppose, therefore, that many of you have also been frustrated by the slow downloading of digital pictures speed of the old USB 1.0 port, but have been leeary of tampering with your hardware. So, was I, but this product was easy to install and has worked great, truly greatly decreasing the time it takes to download pictures (at least 10 times faster, probably much more).
  BUT YOU NEED TO KNOW THIS! The fine print says, the system works with Windows XP if you have "Service Pack 1" installed. It took me a long time to figure out what that was and how to install it, but it is really simple. Do a "Google Search" on the internet to find the free site for downloading "Windows XP Service Pack 1." A warning says the download and installation might take 45 minutes with a regular slow modem and phone line connection. I have the slowest of internet connections and modems, but it only took 10 minutes to download and install the service pack 1 free upgrade. Then, you need to reboot (i.e. turn off and turn on again) your computer with this upgrade.
  I couldn't find my computer manual when I needed it, but by clicking on the "Start" button on my computer and an "about your computer" link, I was able to access a diagram of the insides of my computer, showing where the extra PCI slots are. This is probably obvious to most people, they are the only empty, pretty long slots. The instructions say to just slip the USB 2.0 Card into the slot - pretty much true, but on my Compaq computer you also have to unscrew and remove a sort of metal "flap" that has served as a cover for the slot opening of the computer box, protecting the insides of the computer, until a PCI card with ports is installed. For the techno-phobic, this was a scary thing to do without explicit instructions to do so, though in hindsight, it should have been obvious.
  After you have downloaded the Service Pack 1 upgrade, installed the USB 2.0 Card, and rebooted your computer, a "New Hardware Detected Wizard Window" will be shown on your screen. It says to install the new hardware CD software, if the hardware came with one. If you have Windows XP, you must download the Service Pack and NOT put the software CD in your CD drive (I tried every other combination of wrong moves). When you see the Wizard, do NOT close the wizard box and do NOT put in the software CD, just click "NEXT" and follow the simple instructions of the Wizard Windows. Within a few minutes the Wizard will have set up the computer to recognize and utilize the USB 2.0 PCI Card.
  My pictures from my (wonderful, new) Cannon Digital Rebel camera now download with amazing speed, but I should mention that I use a ScanDisk 512MB ULTRA II CF card and a ScanDisk 8 in 1 USB 2.0 HI-speed Reader. Before I installed the new PCI card, even with that equipment download was extremely slow, but I do not know if it would now be so fast without those products.
  Most of what I have said here would be obvious to the techno-savvy, but I lost an afternoon to making stupid mistakes because I didn't know the above, and was about to write a 1-star review, panning this product, until I figured all this out. If you follow the instructions above, you could probably go through all of these steps in half an hour and be very happy with your results! Hope this saves some of you the headaches I went through.
  
  

• works like a charm

  
  By A1W6IGAP3CCIE1 on 2004-07-24
  I have windows XP and ordered this PCI card. I opened up my PC box, took out the old creative sound blaster from its PCI slot and slid in the Iogear USB 2.0 PCI card. I booted up my computer and voila! XP automatically detected the card and I have my mouse connected to one of the 4 exposed external USB ports. Its working and no problems encountered at all.
  
  Note that there are 4 slots exposed externally, and 1 is an internal USB slot.
  
  

• IOGear 5 port USB 2.0 - Mac deep sleep issue

  
  By A1L1CS6LNESJZ9 on 2005-10-02
  The card installed easily into my G4 tower, and USB devices work fine. However, the card does not support deep sleep on the Mac with OSX 10.4.2, which is not reflected in the listing or advertising. The G4 requires a hard restart every time it goes into deep sleep (fans and drives powered down) with the card installed.
  
  

• A cost effective upgrade

  
  By AT8B341QM4T9M on 2005-04-13
  Part of my continuing effort to update my Dell (Dimension 8200) was to add USB 2 connectivity. Hooked up to the USB 1 ports on the Dell were: photo printer, film scanner, flatbed scanner, PDA, Compact Flash reader, wireless mouse, wireless keyboard, flash drive and external harddrive. Needless to say, there were not enough ports, I had to plug/un-plug devices constantly and since these were USB 2 devices connected via USB 1, they were operating at a reduced speed. Considered buying an external USB hub but it would not have resolved the issue of connecting USB 2 devices to USB 1. I was finally compelled to buy a USB 2 card when I found out that USB 1 does not support Apple's IPOD.
  
  I bought this particular unit simply because it was the best selling model here in Amazon. I chose the Amazon's re-seller, Office Depot because it listed the lowest price but after shipping and taxes it actually cost me more than if I bought from Amazon directly. So the lesson is: check the shipping cost and if there is a sales tax (if there's a store in you state, you'll be taxed) before clicking the purchase button. In hindsight, I should've just picked this up at a local Office Depot. A few people complained that they received a generic unit instead of an Iogear unit, technically I don't think it would make a difference however, it sure would bother me if a vendor did not deliver what I asked for, after all it is my decision and the vendor should respect that! Office Depot btw did deliver what was specified.
  
  Installation was fairly easy. But if you've never opened you PC before I would recommend having someone with a little experience nearby, for moral support if anything. Luckily Dell's are known for well designed cases and allows for easy upgrades. You simply press the lever, open the case and insert the card in the first available slot and that's basically it! (fyi: on the Dell, the original usb 1 comes integrated with the motherboard) If you're running a recent version of Windows XP, the PC should recognize the new card and you're ready to go! In my case, I had to install via the CD since I have an older version of XP and never bothered with upgrades. It was still pretty simple. Also for some unknown reason I had to re-install one of the scanner's software.
  
  I was very pleased with the increased speed of my printer and scanners. I no longer have time to make myself a cup of coffee while scanning or printing photos! Since performance was not an issue I left the wireless mouse, wireless keyboard and compact flash reader in the original USB1 slots.
  
  Conclusion:
  Most PC's older than 3 yrs come with USB 1, most peripherals manufactured in the last couple of years are USB 2, some are backwards compatible but at much slower speeds and in the case of Apple's IPOD, it won't work on USB 1 at all. For $20-25, this is an inexpensive, cost-effective computer upgrade. Especially if you've invested a substantial amount in or plan to buy peripheral equipment.
  
  
  

• Warning to Mac users, do Not install software

  
  By ASSB1CP3QIUDX on 2004-07-30
  Do not install the software if you are running os 10.2 or greater.
  It will cause your computer to not boot up. This is a problem that Iogear is aware of, but only after sending out the manuels.
  Without installing any software the card works. Just started using it today, all peripherals work fine.
  
  
• Precisely What I Needed!
  By A2KZDYSKJ62FQN on 2005-02-01
  My Hewlett-Packard desktop PC (nearly four years old) has two USB 1.1 ports, but I needed more ports and needed to upgrade to USB 2.0, so I contacted the local computer repair/maintanence shop and quickly realized that upgrading a piece of hardware was something I could probably do. After finding this product, I ordered the Iogear 5 port Hi-Speed USB 2.0 PCI card; four days later, the product came via FedEx-Ground yesterday (Jan. 31). Opening my CPU wasn't as hard as I figured it would be, but what was a bit tricky was removing the metal slot-cover of the PCI slot I chose to use--but when the cover was out, the PCI card slipped in easily and I replaced the card-holding screw. Now I know what "Plug-and-Play" really means! After only about ten minutes, my computer was back up and running. The O.S.--Windows ME--recognized the new hardware, but I had to install the drivers from the Iogear CD.
  
  I now have four USB 2.0 ports for the three USB-powered devices I have, so I don't have to swap their cables in and out anymore.
  
  What prompted me to do this hardware upgrade was that, for Christmas, I got a Seagate 160-gig external hard-drive; initially, the hard-drive was sluggish, due to the data-transfer limitations of USB 1.1; but now the hard-drive works great. Also, the external drive no longer bogs down my computer's processing power (766 Mhz Celeron).
  
  What's amazing is the 40-times difference between USB 2.0 and 1.1
  
  I'm really happy with this PCI card--it's precisely what I needed. What I'm even happier with is the fact that I saved money buy installing the card myself; I didn't have to rely on the local computer shop and be charged an extra $50 for labor ($70 was the price I'd been quoted, presuming the shop would've installed a $20 5-port USB PCI card similar to this Iogear product).
  
  Instead of investing in a new computer (I don't care for Windows XP, anyway), I think I'll just gradually make the computer I have better.
  
  Overall, I'm glad I made the decision to upgrade to USB 2.0 -- thanks, Iogear, for making this fairly inexpensive PCI card.
  
  
• Don't buy this card from 3B Tech
  By A1F7EHPNJQP84C on 2005-03-07
  I ordered this card from 3B Tech, through Amazon. They mailed me a generic one instead. I have learned a lesson. I will never order from them again. Just a reminder: BEWARE!
  
  
• Once it's running, you'll love it.
  By A3GVFGP2PN1VA4 on 2005-04-08
  Once you get it connected, this is a great little card that will speed you through digital camera and MP3 player uploads. Mine didn't come with instructions so, I assumed correctly that you're supposed to install the software first, restart, and then shutdown. From there you can take apart the computer and install the card. My card however still did not work and I was about ready to Google away for an answer when I decided to e-mail the company instead. Someone from their tech response team quickly replied, "Try placing the card in different PCI slots on the motherboard in case there is an I/O conflict with one of your other devices." Not that I know or care what an I/O is in the first place, but I did as they recommended and voila it works like a charm.
  
  
• Great little USB PCI Card
  By AE6DDIKFMC2RY on 2005-02-24
  Needed more than two USB ports for my home office destop PC. This card was a perfect fit. Didn't even need to use the included drivers because Windows 2000 and XP already support it. The price was right, too. Highly recommended.
  
  
• IO Gear USB PCI card
  By A1FZJ1VSQ1B9T7 on 2004-12-24
  The vendor substituted a CHEAP Via card without permission and has not responded to two email asking for the card tha I ordered.
  
  AVOID this vendor!
  
  
• Easily Installed...Great Work!
  By A28D0T2P228L3O on 2004-10-13
  As soon as I received the card & inserted it into the PCI slot, it worked greatly. I didnt even need to use the included software CD. Excellent work Iogear :-)
  
  
• easy installation and reliability
  By A3LLZELDHBUO8H on 2005-06-15
  This product works exactly as advertised. After seating the card, my computer immediately recognized it and installed the required drivers (an installation disk is also supplied if needed). Works extremely well with my iPod. This product was purchased after I initially purchased an inferior Startech PCI card. The card is a great value!
  
  
• Vendor Connections Sends VIA equivalent XP issues
  By A2RXFWK7IB9KNY on 2005-01-06
  The vendor contacted promptly to insure I knew this was not IOgear. Didn't bother me. Arrived promptly. XP did not detect and install. Installation CD has not autoplay. It's working now, but do not buy from Connections if you are a Novice installer.
  
  
• USB Review
  By A1JR6JQRZTIBQX on 2005-10-26
  I like it a lot. Easy to install and works flawlessly. Thinking about getting another.
  
  
• installation was a "snap" -- actually 2
  By A1NR59KNVO9QQY on 2005-12-10
  Pop open the case, pop in the card, close the computer. Works fine. With xp you do not need to install any drivers. I am concerned that this one, unlike the the Belkin, does not require a supplemental power supply. but it seems to work fine. and you cannot beat the price.
  
  
• Just right!
  By A2IKZZUZ6GMA7L on 2006-01-27
  I am a pretty typical computer user -- college student with working knowledge of a computer, but I don't do anything super-fancy with it. This USB 2.0 card was amazingly simple to install and works like a charm; I couldn't ask for a better product.
  
  
• Low cost, high speed
  By A1A9HI6E1WBC7F on 2006-03-19
  The PCI card installed easily and works great with the
  external drive I know have for back-ups. Nice, low cost
  way to add high speed I/O to a system that is aging.
  It helps make my basic email and photo storage system
  a lot more useful since I can backup much faster and easier now - which means I may actually do it!!
  
  
• At 20 bucks you can't go wrong
  By AKC11SEEF0BF6 on 2006-03-21
  Great price on this card. I had previously purchased a card at a local store from Microinnovations and it didn't work. Of course I already threw the box out, and customer service was some of the worst ever. They just stopped responding to me. So I decided to buy from Amazon, found this beauty and it works great in my Dell Dimensions desktop.
  
  
• Its a snap!
  By A3NEEGU7OQ8UWD on 2006-08-12
  I recieved my Iogear 5 port USB 2.0 PCI card within 2 days of purchasing it and within 15 minutes I had it installed and working. When I initially opened up my computer's case, I felt a bit intimidated. The thought of installing something internally left me dubious and overwhelmed. However, having prepared myself with an antistatic wrist strap, I felt good to go.
  
  I took the silver slot cover off of the corresponding PCI slot, which was held in place by one philips head screw. Then I preceded to insert my USB 2.0 PCI card into an open PCI slot (which are normally white). The card snapped right in with ease, and when I booted my computer, windows XP recognized it right away and installed the proper drivers.
  
  So if your dreading installing a USB 2.0 PCI card, don't worry..It's a snap!!!!
  
  Side Note: This particular 5 port USB 2.0 card is a great product for the price. I highly recommend it!!
  
  
• Speed demon
  By A1HOS1D36R1YAJ on 2007-03-18
  I think back to when I only had USB 1.1 and wonder how I ever got along. This card shipped fast, arrived in great shape, and installed with no problems. It required no software or configuration on my XP computer. All my USB 2.0 accessories are now lightning fast. This speed bump will delay my purchase of a new computer for at least a couple of years, and it was so inexpensive and easy!
  
  
• Faster than Firewire and installation is a snap
  By A2B40QQALLN0I2 on 2005-07-28
  Remember the "old days" when installing a new piece of computer hardware meant 2 days of your life was lost trying to get it to work? What a pleasant surprise to plug this board in, turn the PC on, and have Windows XP automatically find the drivers and set everything up.
  
  OK, OK, the ease of installation probably has more to do with Windows XP than with this particular USB card, but the upshot is nobody need fear buying this card and getting it to work.
  
  I bought this board to use with my new digital scanner. Works great.
  
  
• So far, So good!
  By ATOS1W9RB3NAH on 2005-08-16
  I have had the pci card for 2 months. Obvisouly, It hasn't been long enough to test any type of durability, however it was easier than easy to install. That was awesome! Besides that, you can't beat the price!
  
  
• Iogear 5 Port Hi-Speed USB 2.0 PCI Card ( GIC251U )
  By A2EYT1S6FLBW9P on 2005-10-11
  Required 2 restarts on the computer at installation, then works just like you'd expect. USB2 is much faster than USB1.
  
  
• Just as advertised.
  By A2YMM8MK8M17PH on 2006-02-18
  I bought this card after realizing I needed USB 2 to run a new Ipod. Other reviews said that lesser cards were subsituted but I received the IOGEAR USB 2 card as advertised. I have a Dell Dimension 8200 PC with Windows XP. I also had previously installed service pack 1. The card went in without a problem. It was immediately recognized by the machine on startup. Windows XP already had the drivers so I did not need to use the cd that came with the card. I did not even have to restart the computer to use the new card. This was a bargain for $ 19.99 plus shipping!
  
  
• Iogear 5 Port 2.0 USB Card
  By A2HRTNU1DFC9QV on 2006-03-17
  After reading and researching reviews for the Iogear Card I purchased it. The price was very affordable and it was very easy to install. Windows XP recognized it immediately and I couldn't be happier! I highly recommend this super product!
  
  
• USB HiSpeed for Mac-QuickSilver, 2002, 1gb MP
  By A113PQH1OSRQGF on 2006-11-11
  YeeHaa, now I have HiSpeed USB in my QuickSilver, 2002 Mac. Simple installation, and Mac OS 10.4.8 recognized the cards as soon as I turned it on - no software installation was necessary - true PLUG-N-PLAY!!!
  
  The price was right - shipping was fast - packaged extremely well - arrived on time.
  
  What more can I say? I'll be back!!!
  
  
• Plug and Play conflict with Dell Dimension 8200
  By A3SEDLPF9WDLIH on 2006-11-21
  I have a Dell Dimension running winXP SP2 and this card isn't recognized. In fact, I get an error as soon as the PC powers up, before windows launches. I have no idea what's wrong; I've reseated the card so I doubt it's a connectition problem. Perhaps I have a defective unit.
  
  [Update: IOGear customer service responded by email the same day and suggested I swap this card with another to clear up the problem, and the fix worked. I'm impressed with that level of customer service and the card seems to work fine now. I would rate this a 4 now that it's working.]
  
  
• Installation problems
  By A260SMPRWO51IP on 2007-01-12
  After reading all of the reviews posted, I was very optimistic with my ability to install the product especially since I have Windows XP and so I ordered it. After installing it into one of my PCI slots, I turned on my computer and to my dismay, the computer started to restart spontaneously and giving me blue screen error messages. At certain times, the computer was able to start Windows and then sometimes, it would just give me a black screen. Needless to say, I freaked out fearing the worst! To make sure that it was in fact the newly installed card that was causing the problem, I turned off my computer, removed the card, turned the computer back on and it worked perfectly. I proceeded to call Iogear convinced that the driver was faulty. I spoke to customer service and they nicely suggested to try installing it into a different PCI slot and if that doesn't work to call Compaq (my computer's manufacturer) because apparently, they assign IRQ? numbers to the slots and if they are not compatible with what you're trying to install, that might cause a problem. So, I went ahead and tried to install the card in a different slot, and lo and behold, the card works wonderfully now! I'm really suprised that even though the slots look identical, they're really not the same and might cause issues if new hardware being installed is being attached to the 'wrong' one.
  
  
• Not for Some Macs
  By A11DY12WLIB4UN on 2007-04-15
  This has never worked correctly on my 1GHz (Mirrored Drive Door) PowerMac, no matter which version of Mac OS X I've used (10.3 - 10.4.9 and every revision between). The system has ongoing problems with sleep and deep sleep when this card is inserted. Despite the packaging claims and the instructions in the manual, the CD-ROM does not come with any drivers for Mac OS X. It's my understanding that these problems are limited to the MDD PowerMac.
  
  
• Works great- Mac G4 Digital Audio
  By A1E9I5NUTLM7XB on 2007-05-16
  I was unsure what to buy that would work for my mac- and this Iogear 5 port USB 2.0 PCI card worked great. Installing in the mac was easy. Remove the metal cover from an extra slot- stick in the card- screw it into place and voila`! Turn your mac on and it's there- no software to install- nothing special to do- Just insert and enjoy high speed transfers! The reason I didn't but the Startech was because someone else's review mentioned compatibility issues- well, I don't know if that's true or not- but I thought it was worth the extra $5 for peace of mind in buying a name brand PCI card. So far, so good!
  
  

• Cables Unlimited ADP-5210 PS/2 Mice and Keyboards To USB Port Adapter
• D-Link DUB-H4 High Speed USB 2.0 4-Port Hub
• Cables To Go - 13172 - 2M USB 2.0 A/B Cable (White)
• Cables To Go - 26886 - 13in USB To DB9 Male Serial Adapter

• Belkin F3U133-10 Hi-Speed USB 2.0 Cable (10 Feet)
• D-Link DUB-H7 High Speed USB 2.0 7-Port Hub
• Belkin F3U134-10 USB Extension Cable (10-Feet)
• Belkin F3U133-16 USB 2.0 A/B Cable (16 Feet)
• Kingston Data Traveler 4 GB USB Flash Drive DTI/4GB