USB 3.0 controller packs dual SATA HDD ports

The new PLX trio includes the OXU3102, OXU3101 and OXU3100, which claim to provide the highest performance of direct attached storage (DAS) products using the emerging USB SuperSpeed standard. USB SuperSpeed-enabled external storage peripherals are expected to drive demand for this new high-speed connectivity among PCs and peripherals.

PLX's new OXU3102 DAS controller, the flagship member of the family, targets the "prosumer" (professional- and power-consumer) market segment and combines USB SuperSpeed's 5Gbit/s interface with dual high-speed serial ATA HDD ports.

The midrange OXU3101 for portable computing and desktops offers the same features but bridges to a single SATA HDD. Both the OXU3102 and OXU3101 feature integrated AES-256 encryption/decryption capabilities to ensure the highest level of data security. The entry-level OXU3100 provides the essential features for basic SuperSpeed-to-SATA designs.

Pricing for the USB 3.0 controllers ranges from $1.50 to $3 in large volumes. Sampling today and will be in full production in late Q3.

- Ismini Scouras
eeProductCenter