Question 1

Where do you connect this devices plug in the computer? Is it connected into the same cable for the drives in the computer??

Accepted Answer

The cable plugs into an add-on USB 3 card. I purchased a Tek Republic PCI Express to USB 3 card, but apparently it has been discontinued. Be aware, the cable attached to the front panel hub you are asking about is short, only 15" measured from the front of the panel, and not the 2' as described on the product page. I have a full size ATX chassis and the distance between the 3.5" bay and the closest PCI Express mounting position in my setup was too far, so I was never able to use the front panel hub.

Question 2

The title says that this is a hub, but it doesn't seem to be a hub at all. It just seems to be a connector. Is the description inaccurate?

Accepted Answer

It is a hub in the sense that it has 2 ports and is stationary. It plugs into a usb3 port on your motherboard. Note this connection is not a USB connection.  It snaps into a 3.5 external slot on your case and gives you two more  USB 3.0 ports.

Question 3

What does this plug into? Do I have to also buy a PCIe card?

Accepted Answer

I plugged mine into a USB 3.0 header on my motherboard. If you don't have one, you will need to get an expansion card. Check carefully, though-- not all USB 3.0 PCIe cards have the 20-pin header you'll need.

Question 4

How long is the cable. Can I mount his device in a CD drive case  slot? If cable is too short, what extension do I need and can you supply it?

Accepted Answer

Without taking it out of my computer, it seems to be almost exactly a foot long. It fits in a hard drive or floppy bay. If you need to put it in an optical drive bay, you should be able to get an adapter for it. Beyond that, I'm not sure about introducing any cable lengthening for USB 3.0 without impacting the speed or reliability, but I'm not an expert on that. Not so I know if such a cable exists.

Brand	Tek Republic
Model	TIU-3000

Compatibility	3.5" Drive Bay
Types	USB 3.0 Front Panel
Material	Plastic & Steel

Tek Republic TIU-3000 3.5" Front Panel USB 3.0 2-Port Hub

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Item#: N82E16817659011