Installing JCAT extension cards in a PC is not complicated. Follow these tips to make set-up a breeze.
HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS
What you need is a desktop PC with a motherboard that has at least one free PCI Express slot. Any PCI-e slot will do. It can be x1, x4, x8 or x16 lane – it is OK to install the cards into a wider (faster) PCIe slot. In fact it’s even better to do so as these offer higher bandwidth. miniPCIe slots are ok too, but a special miniPCIe-to-PCIe adapter cable must be used. JCAT cards can’t be installed in laptops.
The cards can be installed in both tower PC cases and HTPC horizontal enclosures. Both are fine. Just make sure that a PCIe slot is accessible. If it’s not possible to install the card directly in a PCI Express slot, use a PCI-e riser cable (can be found online on amazon or any shop with computer parts).The JCAT cards are low-profile and come with exchangeable PCIe brackets – both full-height and low-profile PCIe brackets are included, so the cards can be installed in vitrually all enclosures.
Optionally a 5V/2A external linear power supply is recommended for best results & sound quality. You can find one in the JCAT shop.
SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS
The JCAT cards can work with any Microsoft Windows and Linux OS. Drivers are loaded automatically in most systems. There are manufacturer drivers available too that can be installed over the OS drivers – these offer some additional features that are particularly interesting with the JCAT NET Card FEMTO.
Everyone who buys the JCAT NET Card FEMTO receives a complimentary guide with optimizations for best sound. The manufacturer drivers can be downloaded from the JCAT shop under additional information section.
INSTALLATION
1. Optional: mount a low-profile PCI Express bracket.(the cards come with full-height bracket installed)
2. Disconnect the power and remove your PC’s cover.
3. Look for a free PCI Express slot.
4. Once you have decided which slot you are going to use, you might have to remove the blank (a thin piece of metal that covers the hole in the chassis).
5. Align the JCAT card with the slot and gently, but firmly push the card into position. Once the JCAT card is seated firmly into place, insert the fixing screw.
6. Optional: connect a 5V/2A power supply either via LP4 molex or 2.1/5.5mm center positive DC jack connector.
7. Check to make sure nothing has been loosened during installation and then replace the case cover and connect cables – an Ethernet (LAN) cable for JCAT NET Card FEMTO and a USB cable for JCAT USB Card FEMTO.
8. Reconnect the power. When your operating system loads, check if the card works. Optionally: download and install the drivers.
a video from the installation of the JCAT NET CARD FEMTO by alpha-audio
if there is little space: JCAT Cards in a mini PC such as the intel nuc
Our NET & USB Cards do not require full blown music servers. They can be used successfully inside mini-PCs. The only thing needed will be a proper extension cable (riser). For Intel NUC it is an M.2 to PCIe riser cable as pictured below. For other mini-PCs it can be a mini-PCIe to PCIe riser cable. Best to check the motherboard’s specification. If in doubt, please contact us and we’ll recommend a solution.
A recognized high-end audio consultant. Computer audio pioneer. Co-creator of the award-winning software, JPLAY. Manufacturer, curator, and distributor of high-quality audio products. Constantly strives for perfection of sound. Foundations for his breakthroughs finds in areas that others ignore.
Myself just bought a Femto card recently and we find no layout pages to show the Femto Card and options for jumpers which positions and which ones I can remove for best sound with a 5 v external power supply ,As well as dacs that
Provide their own usb buss Thank you
hello, the quick start guide is always included with the USB Card which explains that. If a reseller did not include it, you can always download it from the USB Card’s page in our shop here: https://jcat.eu/product/usb-card-femto-audiophile-usb-audio-output/ – see ‘Additional Information’ tab.
Best regards,
Marcin Ostapowicz
JPLAY & JCAT Founder
Hi Marvin,
I received the Jcat usb card Monday 08 March. Thank you. Very quick. I plan on using the new card to connect my Grace Design usb audio interface (preamp/dac combo) and for usb card readers to download video, photos and audio from equipment at a higher quality than going through my usb ports of my motherboard. I put it into my Windows 10 PC in a spare PCI slot, but to date, the 2 usb slots aren’t working. As far as I could tell from the enclosed instructions, I took off the 4 jumpers for better quality as I don’t need 5V powered usb ports. 1. Do I need power at all to do what I outlined above? From the instructions, it appears power is optional if I don’t need 5V powered usb ports. My Grace audio usb interface isn’t recognised and a usb stick isn’t recognised. The Renesas usb driver installed when I fired up my PC. I uninstalled it, restarted my PC and I checked, the Renesas driver installed again. Any thoughts?
Many thanks,
Ross Pfeffer
Australia
Hi Ross,
It looks that your DAC requires 5V via USB port. Please reinstall the jumpers and connect a power supply to the card.
Regards,
Marcinn
Hi Marcin,
im using the JCAT USB Femto with my NUC nuc6i7kyk.
since it does not have pcie slot i have to use m.2 to pcie adapter/riser.
do i need to connect power supply on the riser if im powering the JCAT USB Femto using DC jack?
Hello,
In that case you don’t have to connect PSU to the riser adapter.
Regards,
Marcin
Hi Marcinn.
I purchased a JCAT NET CARD XE.
I was surprised to receive it in about 3 days, thank you.
However, the instruction manual that came with it was for JCAT NET CARD FEMTO. Please let me know the Intel Network Driver for JCAT NET CARD XE.
Many Thanks,
Kuniaki
Dear Mr. Kuniaki Oda,
I apologize for the confusion. The guide for NET Card XE is exactly the same, because the same chipset is used on both cards.
Best regards,
Marcin Ostapowicz
JPLAY & JCAT Founder
Hi Marcin,
Thanks for the reply.
I was able to install the necessary drivers successfully.
Many thanks,
Kuniaki
Dear Mr. Kuniaki Oda,
I’m glad to hear it. I hope you enjoy the card.
Best regards,
Marcin Ostapowicz
JPLAY & JCAT Founder
Hi, my jcat femto network card seems to be running really hot (the heatsink portion is fine but the circuit board itself is too hot to touch). Is that normal?
Thx in advance
Hi Richard,
It’s normal. The temperature can go up to 70*C. It is related to linear power which emits much more heat.
Best regards,
Marcin
Witam. Mam kartę Jcat usb XE i niestety na platformie raspberry cm4 board, w złączu pciexpres, nie widzę w systemie moode audio ani volumio daca podpiętego do tej karty. Jak podpinam bezpośrednio do portu usb w cm4 board to oczywiście dac normalnie jest wykrywalny. Czy może dla raspiana muszą być jakieś dodatkowe sterowniki, żeby wykrył port dodatkowy usb z jcat xe. Kolega ma wersję femto i jemu działa na moode audio.
Dzień dobry,
Jaki zasilacz podłączył Pan do karty? Jeśli DAC wymaga napięcia 5V z portu USB, system nie zobaczy go, gdy do karty nie jest podłączony zasilacz.
pozdrawiam
Hello, I was recently given a JCat usb card version 1.1
I have installed it in a PCIE 16x slot. Where do I pick up the 5v power? Can I connect it directly to the Peripheral and SATA port on my Corsair RM550x power supply via a Type 4 molex connector or do I pick up the power directly from the Motherboard SATA Express port?
Eventually I plan to use an external 5v LPS. Do I need a 5v 1a or 2a power supply for the 1.1 version card?
Best Regards,
Lawrence
Hi Lawrance,
You can power the card either from LP4 molex, so yes, your Corsair PSU will work.
Or from external 5V PSU. 1A for 1.1 should be good.
Best regards,
Marcin
Hello,
from where are the cards supplied with power, if I remove all jumpers, as I dont need to power an external device.
Your quick start guide is unclear as you state first: „external psu is recommended, even when no dac/ddc needs to be powered“
But you also recommend to remove all jumpers to get best performance for that case.
Please clarify!
Thanks, Markus
Hi Markus,
With jumpers removed the card is still getting power from the connected PSU. It’s just 5V is not sent to USB ports.
Please let me know if you have any further questions.
Best regards,
Marcin
Dzień dobry.
Czy zasilanie przez Lp4 i DC jack jest równoważne pod względem SQ? Czy któreś z nich jest preferowane dla lepszego SQ?
Pozdrawiam.
Optional: connect 5V/1A power supply either via LP4 molex or
2.1/5.5mm center positive DC jack connector
Dzień dobry,
Równoważne. Znaczenie ma jakość zasilacza i samego kabla / wtyczki. Im lepszy zasilacz, tym lepszy powinien być kabel DC.
pozdrawiam,
Marcin Ostapowicz