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View Full Version : 1 machine, multiple USB hubs: problem


072707
August 18th, 2007, 08:44 PM
Yesterday I "daisy-chained"(added) a second powered 4-port USB 2.0 hub to my Inspiron 8500 xp sp2 laptop. I experienced various system problems until, finally, after using 2 different hubs that I had around, I suspected that the second hub should be run w/out its own ac adapter plugged in.

In other words, just my first hub(the one that is directly connected to the computer) is plugged in to the wall outlet.

Since I took the aforementioned action I have experienced no system problems while running the two "daisy-chained" 4-port USB hubs.

I presume that if I add additional hubs to the same machine then they will all have to be run w/out their own ac power as well. Am I correct? [Just use ac power on the one USB hub that is connected to the computer...? Not the subsequent ones that are connected to a hub...?]

Additionally, the powered 4-port USB 2.0 hub cost me much more money than a regular non-powered hub. Since I am running the second hub w/out its own power anyway can I put a regular non-powered hub in its place, even if that hub is not 2.0, with no decrease in performance?

That raises another question that I don't know the answer to. Can USB hubs that are manufactured with no independent ac adapter ever be 2.0 or are they all not 2.0, by definition, since they don't have their own power supply capability?

WSFuser
August 18th, 2007, 11:10 PM
Whether you need a powered usb hub depends on the devices connected to it. Some devices may need the extra power.

Secondly, USB 2.0 provides more bandwidth than USB 1.1, so it does affect performance of storage devices like usb thumb drives or an external drive.

And lastly, you dont need a powered hub to get USB 2.0. Power hubs just provide more power for the devices connected to it.