Windows 10: Connect USB 3.0 Hub into a USB 2.0 Port? 3.0 Speed?

Hello Everyone,

Can I take a USB 3.0 hub and plug it into a USB 2.0 port? If so, will I get the USB 3.0 Speeds?

Thank you for your time and assistance.

:)

 

Project My Screen on Lumia 950 XL

You've to use a USB 2.0 port or a USB 2.0 Hub connected to a USB 3.0 port in this version. Connecting the Lumia 950 (XL) directly to a USB 3.0/USB-C port doesn't work.

 

USB 3.0 Hub blocks keyboard wake from sleep

When I plug my keyboard/mouse directly into the USB 3.0 connection on my computer (or into a USB 2.0 hub) they successfully wake the computer from sleep.

When I put the keyboard/mouse into a USB 3.0 hub and connect that hub to the computer then they will NOT wake the computer from sleep.

I have tried this with a USB 3.0 hub from StarTech and with a USB 3.0 Ultra Dock from Lenovo.

Is there a way to correct this problem or is it a bug in the drivers for Windows 10.

 

Yes and No, in that order.

 

Hello and good to see you again NavyLCDR,

Thank you for your help. I guess then it will probably be better to get the USB 3.0 card and then plug-in the hub. How am I thinking so far?

 

If you want USB 3 speeds, then you have to have a USB 3 port available on your computer, either directly from the motherboard or from an add-on card. To the best of my knowledge, though, when you are using a hub you will divide the USB 3.0 speed of the single port it is plugged into among the in use ports on the hub. So if you have two hard drives connected to the hub, and you are copying from one USB hard drive to the other USB hard drive, the transfer will be occurring at 1/2 USB 3.0 speed because the data still has to flow through the single USB 3.0 port.

 

Thank you! With that said, what should I use a hub for? It looks like a scrap for backups?

 

You use a hub if you don't have enough ports to plug everything into that you want to use. Also, don't waste your USB 3.0 ports (which will be blue) on stuff that doesn't need the speed like keyboard and mouse.

 

Great! So, if it is not good for transfers or backups, but if you are using multiple devices like a iPhone, iPad and maybe a printer, will it divide the speed as well?

 

It will divide the speed up among the devices that are actually transferring data at the same time. Transferring photos from the iPhone will be at full speed, until you print something on the printer at the same time, then the data flow will be cut in half for only as long as data is flowing from the iPhone to the computer and from the computer to the printer. As soon as the document finishes sending to the printer, the iPhone speed will go back to 100%.

Think of it as two lanes packed with traffic merging into one lane. Two cars can't travel down the single lane side by side, one car has to wait for the other car to go first.

 

Thank you again. Understand now! Any workarounds when everything is working at once? Probably you would have to pick and choose if you want faster speed.

 

Hi there

Actually it's a bit more complex than that.

There's NOTHING WRONG in using a USB3 hub -- provided it has enough power to drive the devices connected to it.

Most USB3 HDD's (that's what most people use a USB 3 Hub for anyway) don't have anything like enough speed to limit the USB 3 hub speed -- as well as most I/O will be done reasonably well by Windows anyway. So even 2 or 3 devices will work just fine on a USB 3 Hub provided there is enough power supplied to the devices.

You can probably connect 2 or even 3 USB 3 HDD's to a POWERED USB3 hub without too much reduction of speed or I/O transfer.

Baring in mind that a typical USB 3 external drive (passport type of self powered variety) probably will only give up to 110 - 200- Mib/s on USB 3 port (Mib/s -- not MB/s) anyway you won't have any problem connecting another 2 or even 3 USB 3 devices to a decent USB 3 hub, It needs to be powered of course for maximum performance.

As for USB 3 expansion port cards on older MOBOS that never had native USB 3 ports -- IMO they are usually a waste of time since they connect to the BUS which doesn't have USB 3 speed in the first place.

If you need proper USB 3 speed then simply resign yourself to the fact that you'll have to upgrade your Mobo - moden laptops though have decent USB 3 ports.

Cheers
jimbo

 

Thank you very much jimbo45. I appreciate your response, time and assistance. Helpful!

So, one important thing you have shared is the USB 3.0 Hub needs to be powered. Now to be powered would mean via the USB PCI-E powered card or powered through the hub a/c adapter, if it has one? How is my understanding?

The next important thing I see you mentioned is the motherboard native ports. My mother board I bought back in 10-2009 the ASUS: P7P55D EVO has only native USB 2.0 Ports, but from what I learned you can still use USB 3.0 PCI-E cards, How is my understanding?

You mentioned proper speed, what would be the estimated speed you think I would get out of my current motherboard if I did go with a USB 3.0 PCI-E Card?

Thank you again!

 

Thank you NavyLCDR and Jimbo45,

I do appreciate your responses, time and assistance. I am not getting anymore responses or answers, but it looks like I am good to go. If there is anything by you guys or anyone else that I might be missing in answers etc. please still don't hesitate to share here. So, thank you again.