There are very cheap Arduino clones with CH340G chip for USB communication. Unfortunately, this chip need special driver (you can download it from vendor's web page), has documentation in Chinese only and cannot identify itself to computer via USB 3.0, so it seems as bad choice for Reprap universe.

Anyway, for applications without USB communication can serve as other clones. Personally, I have no problem with this chip on Debian Linux (both 32 and 64 bit) and USB 2.0.

yes, has already been discussed [forums.reprap.org]

The not compatible with usb3 is new info though

Thank you for this link and sorry for double post. I searched for CH340G before posting and found nothing

Anyway, I am not sure if the problem is USB 3.0 or some specific USB controllers (and have no intention to make some further experiments here). Simple, this chip doesn't work "out of box" like Mega16AU or FTDI.

no one is ever going to use another ftdi chip though... not after the stunt they pulled...