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Silver front-panel hub with four blue USB ports in a 3.5 inch bay frame

IOGEAR U3-109 USB 3.0 4-port front panel hub, 20-pin header, SATA power, 3.5" bay

SKU CH-M4WJ-HAKV3

Adds four USB 3.0 ports to a 3.5" front bay via a 20-pin header with SATA power, delivering up to 900 mA per port

  • Connection typeUSB C
  • Connector count16
  • Apple compatibilityLightning connector
  • Conductor typeCopper Conductor
  • Product typeUSB
  • Product colorBlue
  • Adds four USB 3.0 ports to a 3.5" front bay
  • Delivers up to 900mA per port for power-hungry devices
  • Connects to motherboard via 20-pin header for 5Gbps speeds
  • Draws reliable power from a SATA connector
  • Uses GL3520 chipset for USB 3.0, 2.0 and 1.1 compatibility

Front-panel USB 3.0 hub for 3.5" bays

The IOGEAR U3-109 adds four USB 3.0 ports to a desktop front panel through a standard 3.5-inch drive bay. It connects to the motherboard via a 20-pin internal header and draws auxiliary power from a SATA connector. The hub uses a GL3520 chipset and supports USB 3.0, 2.0 and 1.1 speeds. It is intended for builders who want front-access USB ports without using a 5.25-inch bay.

Thermals, noise and power draw

The adapter has no active cooling and produces no audible noise during operation. Each port can deliver up to 900mA for device charging or operation, with total power supplied through the SATA connection. Power consumption scales with the number of attached devices and their individual draw. No fan or thermal management is required for normal desktop use.

Single specification that decides fit

The hub requires a motherboard with an available internal USB 3.0 20-pin header and a spare SATA power connector from the power supply. If the board lacks the 20-pin header or the PSU has no free SATA lead, the hub cannot be installed. Builders without those two connections should not buy this product.

How it compares

Measured against everything we stock in USB Cords & Extension Cables, at today’s prices. Recalculated every night.

Price $29.99
Pricier than about 90% of the 15,227 comparable items (median $14.99).

Specifications

Product
Brand nameIOGEAR
Model nameU3-109
Product typeUSB
Product colorBlue
Ports & slots
Connection typeUSB C
Connector count16
Size & build
Overall length< 6 ft
Conductor typeCopper Conductor
Compatibility
Apple compatibilityLightning connector

Questions about this item

How do I connect the 20-pin motherboard header and the SATA power cable when installing the U3-109 into a 3.5-inch bay?

Slide the hub into a free 3.5-inch front bay, secure it with screws, plug the 20-pin connector into the motherboard USB 3.0 header, then attach the SATA power lead from the PSU to the hub's SATA socket.

Will the GL3520 chipset or the four USB ports need any firmware updates or periodic cleaning?

The GL3520 chipset runs on fixed firmware with no user updates; only occasional dust removal from the port openings is needed.

Which limit appears first when all four ports run at 5 Gbps simultaneously?

The 900 mA per-port current ceiling is reached first; each port is capped at 900 mA by the hub design.

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