Need a recommendation on a good USB Hub

B

Booyaah

Weaksauce
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Jul 6, 2014
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My Hoo-Too has gone on the fritz after 3 years. My mouse, keyboard, and X55 throttle sometimes randomly stop working until I replug them back in but not when I plug them directly into my PC.

So i'm looking for a new one with 10+ ports. Something high quality and in black.

Give me some Amazon/Newegg links please :)
 
I've lately been a fan of Anker products, but its 10-port USB hub is comparatively more expensive and isn't all black.

I'm going to recommend four hubs based on brands that I've recognized in the past. However, I haven't used them (again, Anker), so I can't tell you any flaws (or how long each USB cable will be). For simplicity, I'm using all-Amazon links:

Plugable 10-port USB 3.0 hub with two BC 1.2 ports - $49.99 (with Amazon Prime shipping)
Sabrent 10-port USB 3.0 hub plus 5V/2A Smart Charging Port with 3 power switches - $38.99 (with Amazon Prime free one-day shipping)
AmazonBasics 10-port USB 3.0 hub - $38.44 (with Amazon Prime shipping)
********** 10-port USB 3.0 hub plus 5V/2.1A charging port with 3 on/off switches, 3.3ft (1m) USB 3.0 cable cord, and 12V/4A power adapter - $35.99 (with Amazon Prime free one-day shipping)
 
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Most 8+ consumer hubs will be old VIA chipsets that kinda sucks badly. Keep in mind that almost all hub controllers are 4-port so they're just daisychained on the PCB.

Did some research on this topic earlier and this is what I came up with:

Texas Instruments (seems to impossible to find in the wild...)
Cypress HX3 (looks really nice, nowhere to be found)
ASMedia ASM1074L (also hard to find, but not impossible) the ASM1074 isn't hot...
Fresco Logic FL5002/FL5001/FL5000 (hard/impossible to find)
Genesys Logic GL3522 (not that hard) - Startech etc
VIA VL812 B2 - Easy to find, avoid VL812 non B2 and older chipsets such as VL810 etc.
 
diizzy said:
Most 8+ consumer hubs will be old VIA chipsets that kinda sucks badly. Keep in mind that almost all hub controllers are 4-port so they're just daisychained on the PCB..
Click to expand...
Correct, these two are just that, just two four port hubs, one slung off the other:

Amazon.com: HDE 7-Port SuperSpeed USB 3.0 Hub with Individual On/Off Switches, 1.75ft USB Data Cable, and 5V 2A Power Adapter Included: Computers & Accessories

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00VK9PRIU

Are there any actual 7 port USB 3.0 hubs out there? Preferably one with per-port power switches.
 
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wkearney99 said:
Correct, these two are just that, just two four port hubs, one slung off the other:

Amazon.com: HDE 7-Port SuperSpeed USB 3.0 Hub with Individual On/Off Switches, 1.75ft USB Data Cable, and 5V 2A Power Adapter Included: Computers & Accessories

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00VK9PRIU

Are there any actual 7 port USB 3.0 hubs out there? Preferably one with per-port power switches.
Click to expand...

Not really. Even the latest chipsets like the VIA VL813 are still 4 port chipsets that will be daisy chained. Plugable (who I work for) has avoided per-port power switches as we've seen far to many others attempt it and fail. The problem is most companies are not using reliable switches and are using switches that aren't rated for the proper amperage.

Also to chime in on what chipsets to go with or to avoid. Plugable and many companies like us strongly prefer VIA chipsets like the VL811+, VL812 B2, and the new VL813 due to great overall compatibility with different host systems and OSes. Next to VIA we would put Genesys Logic next.

We've avoided chipsets from Realtek and Fresco Logic due to poor feature sets and unpredictable behavior. We don't have any first hand experience with ASMedia, Cyrpress, or TI hub chipsets, but for TI if their hubs are anything like their USB 3.0 host controllers were, I would avoid them like the plague.
 
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There's no VL813 chipset (unless you have a specific model for your company), 4th gen is called VL210 威鋒電子
I've heard good things about Cypress but as I said, they're hard/impossible to find in consumer products.
Didn't know Realtek did USB HUBs at all, all I could find is RTS5421 which is very new and very sparse information about it. Nice to see Plugable on the board.

thebeephaha
Ping me when you release an adapter like this using ASMedia ASM1351 or VL715 (VL715 looks a bit better I guess) :)
UNITEK -- Hong Kong based famous brand who provides professional computer accessories USB Storage - Single Bay - USB3.0 to SATA6G Converter
 
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diizzy said:
There's no VL813 chipset, 4th gen is called VL210 威鋒電子
I've heard good things about Cypress but as I said, they're hard/impossible to find in consumer products.
Click to expand...

You're incorrect. There most certainly is a VL813:

BGjN6UfWRPeS._UX300_TTW_.jpg


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We have hubs selling on the market now with this chipset. Amazon.com: Plugable USB-C 3-Port USB 3.0 SuperSpeed Aluminum Hub with Pass-Through Charging for MacBook Retina 2015/2016, Chromebook Pixel [2] 2015, Nokia Lumia 950 / 950XL, and More: Computers & Accessories
 
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As an Amazon Associate, HardForum may earn from qualifying purchases.
Still using a 7 port Belkin USB 2.0 hub I bought back in late 2006, almost 10 years old now, been plugged in (comes with a 3.5A power adapter 'cause 7x500mA=3.5A) practically since day one too. I have a few RTL-SDR sticks plugged in, mouse, keyboard, etc, the usual stuff. Been dependable for this long so I suppose it'll just keep working. 5 ports on the back and two ports in a vertical position (where the RTL-SDR sticks are attached).

So far I haven't made much of a move towards USB 3.0 at all - my laptop has a powered eSATA/USB combo port on it so I use that along with the additional powered eSATA/USB combo port on the docking station too, both of them are in use right now with a few laptop drives doing a data transfer.

I think Belkin updated it over the years so who knows, but it's been a good brand for me over time, worth considering I suppose but I'm not sure what they offer these days.
 
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