{"product_id":"6-port-pcie-x4-sata-iii-expansion-card-large-storage","title":"6-Port PCIe X4 SATA III Expansion Card - Large Storage","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn this review the card earns attention from users who need to add multiple SATA drives without replacing their motherboard: the GLOTRENDS SA3026-C is a simple, no-frills way to add six SATA III ports to a standard PC or NAS. The single biggest reason to buy is straightforward capacity expansion - it lets a single system address six drives for large storage pools or software RAID setups across Windows, Mac OS and Linux while avoiding complex driver installs.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eKey Features\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSix SATA ports:\u003c\/strong\u003e Provides access to six separate SATA drives so you can build a large storage pool or scale a media server without swapping motherboards.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eASM1166 controller:\u003c\/strong\u003e Ensures stable transfers and supports a PCIe 3.0 X2 upstream link for improved throughput compared with older controllers.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFast per-port bandwidth:\u003c\/strong\u003e Each downstream SATA port can reach up to 277MB\/s, useful when moving large files or streaming multiple media streams.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDrive activity LEDs:\u003c\/strong\u003e Built-in LEDs for each port make it easy to monitor which drives are idle, active, or transferring data.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFull accessory kit:\u003c\/strong\u003e Ships with six SATA III cables, a 15-pin SATA power splitter and low-profile brackets to fit typical and small form factor cases.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch2\u003eWho It's For\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis card is aimed at DIY builders, home lab enthusiasts and small NAS users who need to expand internal SATA capacity without buying a new system. It is especially good for those who plan to use \u003cstrong\u003esoftware RAID\u003c\/strong\u003e or large single-disk pools across Windows, Linux or Mac environments and want a plug-and-play experience.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt is not for users who require hardware RAID, enterprise hot-swap controllers, or maximum multi-gig performance over NVMe - those users should look at dedicated RAID controllers or NVMe expansion. Also, Windows XP users will need a different solution because XP is not supported.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003ePros \u0026amp; Cons\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePros\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEasy installation into PCIe X4\/X8\/X16 slots and immediate detection in modern OSes for quick expansion.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGood value for adding six SATA ports plus quality cables and a power splitter in the box.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eClear status LEDs make drive monitoring and troubleshooting straightforward.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCons\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNo hardware RAID support, so advanced RAID arrays require host CPU\/software RAID solutions.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePerformance capped by the controller's PCIe X2 upstream link for mixed heavy workloads.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eProduct type\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6-port PCIe X4 SATA III expansion card\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eController\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eASM1166\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePCIe interface\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePCI-Express 3.0 X2 upstream (fits X4\/X8\/X16 slots)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMax per-port bandwidth\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e277 MB\/s downstream per SATA port\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIncluded cables\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6 SATA III cables and 15-pin SATA power splitter cable\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eForm factor brackets\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e12 cm regular and 8 cm low-profile brackets included\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch2\u003eOur Verdict\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe SA3026-C is a practical, cost-effective way to add multiple SATA drives to a desktop or NAS when you need extra ports rather than raw enterprise-level performance. It is ideal for home servers, backup rigs and media libraries where \u003cstrong\u003eport capacity\u003c\/strong\u003e and ease of installation matter most, and the included cables and power splitter add convenience and value.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill this card work in Linux?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes, it is plug-and-play on most Linux distributions and reports from users indicate smooth operation on common releases.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan I use hardware RAID with this card?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNo, the card does not provide hardware RAID; software RAID or OS-level volume management is required.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes it include power and low-profile brackets?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes, the package includes a 15-pin SATA power splitter and both regular and low-profile brackets for installation.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GLOTRENDS","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48637404086491,"sku":"B0BNF2W9ZD","price":36.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0724\/1043\/1707\/files\/71Rp7OFh_VL._AC_SL1500.jpg?v=1778538171","url":"https:\/\/gearmusthave.com\/products\/6-port-pcie-x4-sata-iii-expansion-card-large-storage","provider":"GearMustHave","version":"1.0","type":"link"}