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Main Forums => The Roundtable => Topic started by: taurusowner on April 23, 2010, 08:44:43 PM

Title: USB question
Post by: taurusowner on April 23, 2010, 08:44:43 PM
I have a PC with 7 USB 2.0 ports.  I tried connecting a USB 2.0 hub to one of the ports, but everything that is then connected to that hub gives me a "this device can perform faster" notification and there is a ! over it in the device manager.  Is that supposed to happen?  I did specifically purchase the hub because it claimed to be USB 2.0.

I am thinking of purchasing another USB 2.0 card for permanent attachment to my PC to avoid this problem.  Just our of curiosity, what is the point of an internal USB port?  I can't think of a single thing that I would put inside my PC box that runs off USB.
Title: Re: USB question
Post by: RocketMan on April 23, 2010, 08:47:17 PM
You may have gotten a mislabled hub.  It happens.
Why the internal ports?  Many memory card readers and other accessories attach to internal USB 2.0 headers and/or ports.  Plus, front panel USB ports usually connect to internal headers on the motherboard.
Title: Re: USB question
Post by: taurusowner on April 23, 2010, 08:51:39 PM
So ideally, a USB 2 hub connected to a USB 2 port should show no data transfer speed loss?  Would just getting another hub solve this problem?  I'm hesitant to go that route as this is the second USB hub I've tried.  Granted the first one was old and I'm not sure if it was 2.0 compatible.  But I still don't want to end up with 3 worthless hubs sitting around.  Would you recommend just getting another 2.0 card to directly install?
Title: Re: USB question
Post by: Bogie on April 23, 2010, 09:12:11 PM
Most of the USB 2.0 hubs that really run that fast have external power supplies.
 
I usually use the "slow" USB ports for things like dongles/security keys, or slower printers/devices. Your mouse and keyboard will probably work just fine on a slow-speed hub.
 
Now, don't buy a USB 2.0 card.
 
Buy a USB 3.0 card. The hard drives are starting to come out, and they're scary fast...
 
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/search.asp?keywords=usb+3&srkey=usb%203.0
Title: Re: USB question
Post by: taurusowner on April 23, 2010, 09:30:50 PM
It's odd, the supposedly USB 2.0 hub I'm using now and getting problems with has an external power source.

I'll have to look into 3.0
Title: Re: USB question
Post by: KPT on April 23, 2010, 09:37:28 PM
I don't think its a power issue. My HTPC has a USB hub around 15 feet from the computer. The USB keyboard will work fine without the powersupply plugged in but the wireless mouse receiver and bluetooth radio won't work. I've never seen the device can perform faster message when the hub is not plugged in.

FYI the power issue is each USB port can only supply 500 mA at 5V. Cheap hubs try to split that, good hubs have external powersupplys so each port can have 500 mA.
Title: Re: USB question
Post by: lee n. field on April 23, 2010, 09:56:42 PM
Quote
Just our of curiosity, what is the point of an internal USB port?  I can't think of a single thing that I would put inside my PC box that runs off USB.

Some tape drives use it.  It's a heck of a lot cheaper than SCSI.
Title: Re: USB question
Post by: Brad Johnson on April 24, 2010, 01:40:56 AM
Some cheapo USB 2.0 hubs, especially no-names or wierd-named hubs, are really leftover 1.0 hubs relabled as 2.0 to sell. I got one I thought was a screaming deal.  Wasn't.

Brad
Title: Re: USB question
Post by: sanglant on April 24, 2010, 09:16:27 AM
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Title: Re: USB question
Post by: Bogie on April 24, 2010, 10:01:30 AM
Uh... I've gotten messages before that only four hard drives can run off any given computer port. So I'm wondering just what those suckers could be used for.
Title: Re: USB question
Post by: Regolith on April 24, 2010, 10:15:07 AM
Uh... I've gotten messages before that only four hard drives can run off any given computer port. So I'm wondering just what those suckers could be used for.

Lots of USB gadgets.  Theoretically, you can get 127 devices on a single host controller.

Title: Re: USB question
Post by: Doggy Daddy on April 24, 2010, 06:22:37 PM
Uh... I've gotten messages before that only four hard drives can run off any given computer port. So I'm wondering just what those suckers could be used for.

Really?  I've run at least 5 off of one usb hub before.

DD