USB Ports, Adapters

greenrvgreen wrote:
If the OP's computer is more than five years old, he may have USB 2.0 ports, not USB 3.0. A quick way to tell is to look at the sockets. If the plastic inside the socket is blue, it is USB 3.0; if it is white, it is USB 2.0. This will put a limit on both the speed and the power available, as said.

Just to confuse things, most laptop mfrs use USB splitters on each side of the laptop, so that two ports on each side is actually only two USB ports total--again limiting bandwidth and available power.

The simplest USB 3.0 4-port UNpowered hubs cost around ten bucks and do a good job. Even if you have USB 2.0, I recommend you get a 3.0 splitter, such as made by Anker or Sabrent.

Any device that has its own power supply can run from an UNpowered USB hub. Sometimes they can benefit from a powered hub. I don't know why but I have a LOT of experience trying to get these stupid things to work together.

Sometimes a powered hub that's UNDER powered can makes things worse, even for powered devices. I have thrown away several UNDER powered USB hubs because I didn't read the specs carefully. What happens is that the USB controllers mistakenly think a device has been removed and disconnect it, sending my blood pressure skyrocketing.

If the OP has several devices that require power and the requirements exceed the 900ma PER SIDE, NOT PER SOCKET (because they're likely connected), then I highly recommend the Anker 7-port 35-watt USB 3.0 hub, about $50. Unfortunately it is the size and shape of a cartoon of cigarette packs, but it does the job well and saves my blood pressure.

Umm. no.

Your PC CONTAINS what is known as a "ROOT HUB", this is NOT a "splitter" but an ADDRESSABLE USB PORT HUB.


On the first page of this thread, poster Stefonius mentioned this..

"The port on your laptop is technically a "root hub", and can address and manage up to 127 simultaneously connected devices at once. The thing to consider is how you split up the available power and data bandwidth. Power is not a problem if you use hubs that are self-powered. As for data, I would not plug an external hard drive or flash drive into the same root hub as my mouse, keyboard, etc. "




Typically every PC is equipped with at least two or more ROOT HUBS.

Each ROOT HUB typically contains FOUR USB PORTS.

USB1 and USB2 speed ports ARE capable of supplying FIVE HUNDRED MILLIAMPS (500ma) TO EACH USB PORT.

USB3 speed ports can capable of up to 1,500 ma but that spec is not set in stone at this time so your mileage may vary..

The external USB port expanders you buy are ALSO ROOT HUBS and those can be "self powered" (IE gets power from the PC) or externally powered (uses external power supply).

The self powered ROOT HUBS MUST "SHARE" the available 500 ma between all it's ports.

An external POWERED ROOT HUB can supply a full 500 ma TO EACH OF IT'S OWN PORTS..