nMEDIAPC ZE-C268 Black Panel 3.5" All-in-one USB Card Reader with USB 3.0 Port

Pros: It hooks a USB 3.0 Extension cord from back of your motherboard to the front.

Cons: It's a USB 2.0 card reader, build quality is sub-par, the slots are kinda misaligned, so I'm afraid to insert any of my SD or CF cards in.

Other Thoughts: Returned for refund

Pros: Probably relatively easy to install for most people.

Looks okay.

It's cheap.

Cons: The biggest thing for me is that it's only one USB 3.0 port and USB 2.0 speeds for the memory card readers. I looked at a few reviews but apparently overlooked the few that mentioned this.

I ran ATTO Disk Benchmark to check the CF port's speeds, using a Transcend 400x CF card.
This reader's CF slot max speeds:
18.5MB/s Read, 17.5MB/s Write
Same card with cheap ($5) USB 2.0 adapter in this reader's 3.0 port:
37.3MB/s Read, 33.6MB/s Write
Same card with cheap ($5) USB 2.0 adapter in the case's top 2.0 port:
34.6MB/s Read, 28.9MB/s Write
Same card in Addonics CF-to-SATA adapter (in a different computer):
87.7MB/s Read, 55.7MB/s Write
For some reason, CF speeds are ridiculously low.

Also, the CF card doesn't sit in the slot far enough. The 1st time I put it in, I thought it had just gotten stuck, but it only goes in about half an inch.

As others have mentioned, the SD is upside-down, too.

Like the CF card, the SD card sticks out too far when in place.

I had to drill extra holes in mine to install it in my computer.

Other Thoughts: The description should be something along the lines of
"All-in-one USB 2.0 card reader with USB 3.0 port." The failure isn't so much on the reader itself as in the inaccurate description. The CF speeds, though, are enough to knock off some eggs anyway.

The USB 2.0 connector that connects to the motherboard is not the standard USB connector, so I had to look up which pins to put it on. Seems an odd choice to not just use the standard. A minor thing.

SD card's speeds were about the same in this reader's SD port and in a USB port with cheap adapter, about 20MB/s Max Read and 17MB/s Max Write.

Pros: The description of this item is not clear or detailed enough. Lose one egg. The negative reviews for the most part stem from this. If you pair the reader with a USB 3.0 adapter that that has a USB A connector on the board you'll get an inexpensive way to add USB 3.0 port on the front panel and a upgrade to 3.0 if you don't have it. I have it connected to a Syba PCIe adaptor which has been discontinued, but there are plenty out there that will work.

Cons: The card reader comes up when your search USB 3.0 readers. It's not.

Other Thoughts: If you have internal USB 3.0 headers this is not the product you want in my opinion.

Pros: NONE!!

Cons: To use USB 3.0 you must run cable through case through a plate with hole to connect to back panel.

Very unclean look!!

Pros: For 16 dollars this card gets the job done!

Cons: SD card inserts upside down, compared to all my other computers. (yes unit is installed up-side-up)

Other Thoughts: I'm satisfied.

Pros: USB 3.0

Cons: Can't read and SDHD card.

Other Thoughts: Would avoid.

Pros: Support for reach-through USB 3.0 motherboard ports

Cons: All card reader functions are diabled on the unit I received. Only the USB 3.0 function works

Win7 64-bit would not recognize the device after install.

Other Thoughts: Contacted nMediaPC customer support and they told me that the device is driverless but Windows tries to install a default driver which does not work. The company would not accept a return for exchange.

Pros: Well, all parts were included, and my machine recognized it quickly - it was plug & play.

Cons: No documentation whatsoever, just parts in a box. Within 3 months, ports began to fail - naturally, this began with the ones I use most (SD & USB 3.0). Have sent emails to the company, no response.

Other Thoughts: Wish I could say this is a rare event, but I've had poor experience with multiple brands over the years - these components just don't seem to be built to last, no matter who makes them. My new strategy is to buy a couple when they're on sale (whatever brand), so I can always throw a new one in as needed. If someone has found the "cat's meow" of card readers, I'd be happy to change my mind!

Pros: Cheap!
USB 3.0!
Works great!
Extra faceplate (Default Black plus additional Grey)

Cons: The USB 3.0 connector takes up one of your existing USB 3.0 connectors in the back of the PC. - I knew this going in, however.

Other Thoughts: I read the reviews, and knew exactly what I was getting in to. I had to run the USB 3.0 extension through my machine, and cot is fine me out the back, and plug into one of the existing USB 3.0 ports on the back of my PC.

As long as you know that going in, it's a great card reader. It works fine so far, and it is by FAR the best value out there.

Pros: Cheap.

Cons: USB 3.0 is an extension cable, it does not actually ADD a port. Only moves it from front to back. Card reader slots are NOT USB 3.0 but only USB 2.0. The specifications are not clear on this. I wish I would have read the other reviews first.