Recommended PCIE USB Expansion Cards (USB Connection Stability Issues)
Overview
Virtual reality headsets are a pretty demanding task on any USB controller. It must deliver smooth, stable data and power delivery. Even a slight disruption can result in tracking loss, stutters, or other issues.
Most motherboards and configurations are up to this task! But, certain controllers can cause issues, particularly when paired with other demanding USB devices.
The fix: A separate PCIE USB expansion card for the Beyond can help ensure a reliable connection, promoting a smooth and issue-free VR experience. If you're experiencing mystery losses of tracking or stutters that other troubleshooting doesn't address, it might be worth a shot.
Choosing an expansion card
USB Controllers come in various flavors - one of the first things to look for is the chipset, as these come with a varying range of reliability, for example:
Valve tested several of these back in the days of the Index, and found some recommendations: https://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/Valve_Index/USB_3.0_Controller
Fresco Logic: Generally excellent, one of the ideal choices for VR. FL1100EX is the one tested as known good by Valve.
Renesas: Generally very solid, especially newer chipsets.
ASmedia: Likely to work if a relatively recent card.
Commonly seen as the main USB controller for AMD motherboards directly, which can have varying VR performance on some models.
VIA: Avoid. Known to cause issues with VR.
Older chipsets such as those recommended with the Rift CV1 or older may have issues, so be aware of its age. Newer cards are chipsets are more likely to perform best.
General recommendations
Known good cards
Allegro Type A USB 3.2 PCIe 4-Port
Used by some of our staff. Tends to enjoy the PCIE slot its plugged into being set to "Gen2" for best performance. Fresco Logic FL1100EX chipset
Recommended by community. 4x independent USB controllers, Renesas - UPD720202 x4 chipset, excellent card. Pricy!
Recommended by community. Renesas UPD720201 chipset. Relatively cheap!
Recommended by the community. Renesas UPD720201 chipset. Similar to above, but 4-port variant.
Known bad cards
Relatively old card, despite being a Fresco brand it's likely to cause issues. Key point: FL1100 chipset, and not the FL1100EX that's known to be solid.