Powered USB Hubs ?

Robert11 · 31 Aug 2015

Hello,

Thinking about a new HP Envy 750xt desktop PC.

Only seems to come with 4 USB Ports, unless there are some on the back also.
Don't think so, though, but can't find a pix of rear.

Anyway, I have quite a few USB gadgets plugged into my present PC, which has 6.

If I get one or more powered USB Hubs to allow me to use what I now have on this new PC, am I likely to run into any problems ?
Caveats ?

Is only 4 more or less a standard these days, or is HP really penny pinching ?
How's the rest of their quality these days ? Opinions ?

Thanks,
Bob

gini · 31 Aug 2015

I don't know the typical number of USB ports for a new computer now, but I've used a powered hub for years with my desktop systems and have had absolutely no problems with the devices I connect to them. These include portable hard drives for backup, connections for managing content on usb flash drives and mp3 players, and charging for the latter. I believe many of the caveats for hubs were directed at the non-powered ones.

ThrashZone · 31 Aug 2015

Hi
Yes typicly you'd have 4 usb2 on the back and 2-4 on the front
That one seems to have 2 usb2 and 2 usb3 on front,
4 possibly more on the back really can't tell from the poor images offered by H-P
2 could be usb3 on the top no telling ?
Attachment 370352

Lady Fitzgerald · 31 Aug 2015

One caveat that applies for all USB hubs, powered and passive, is all the ports on the hub share the same bandwidth as the hub and the port the hub is plugged into. If all of the devices plugged into the hub draw more than the bandwidth of a single port at any one time, then there will be throttling. However, if only a few devices plugged into the port will be running at the same time and their total bandwidth is the same or less as the bandwidth of hub and port it is plugged into, then there will be no problems.

According to HP, the HP Envy 750xt has only four USB ports located on top: two USB 3.0 and two USB 2.0. To avoid problems from restricted bandwidth, I would get a USB 3.0 hub to take advantage of its greater bandwidth. Even better may be to spread your devices between two USB 3.0 hubs, especially if all of them run at the same time (idling isn't the same as running). Keep in mind some devices, such as keyboards and mice do not always play well with hubs.

gini · 31 Aug 2015

Lady Fitzgerald said:

One caveat that applies for all USB hubs, powered and passive, is all the ports on the hub share the same bandwidth as the hub and the port the hub is plugged into. If all of the devices plugged into the hub draw more than the bandwidth of a single port at any one time, then there will be throttling. However, if only a few devices plugged into the port will be running at the same time and their total bandwidth is the same or less as the bandwidth of hub and port it is plugged into, then there will be no problems.

According to HP, the HP Envy 750xt has only four USB ports located on top: two USB 3.0 and two USB 2.0. To avoid problems from restricted bandwidth, I would get a USB 3.0 hub to take advantage of its greater bandwidth. Even better may be to spread your devices between two USB 3.0 hubs, especially if all of them run at the same time (idling isn't the same as running). Keep in mind some devices, such as keyboards and mice do not always play well with hubs.

Glad you chimed in here, Lady Fitzgerald! My answer was way too simplistic. :)