Does a 20 Pin USB 3.0 Splitter affect the data transfer speed ?!

[Amyrro]

Hello everyone

I have got a machine with an Asus Z170 Pro gaming motherboard, which has a single 20-Pin USB 3.0 port. So far I have my case pair of USB 3.0 port connected to the 20 Pin port on the MoBo, and I would like to install a card reader, which has a couple more USB 3.0 ports. A computer technician in the shop where I wanted to by the card reader from recommended not installing any card reader, or disconnecting the case's USB 3.0 port, as a single 20 Pin USB 3.0 port can support up to 2 USB 3.0 ports only. Using a splitter this would reduce the speed of data transfer according to the technician .

http://www.moddiy.com/products/20%252dPin-USB-3.0-Internal-Header-Y-Splitter-Cable-%2812cm%29.html?gclid=CO7v1bPCjMoCFZIWHwodTdkB7Q

Would do you think ???

Thanks in advance

Regards
Amyrro

 

[Dark Falz]

I don't see how the splitter would even work, unless it has a built in USB Hub. It might split it up in to 2x1 connection (some cases only have 1 USB 3.0 slot but a 20 pin connector, I suppose this would allow you to connect another to 1x USB slot).

I wouldn't worry too much about the speed, as the HDD will usually be the bottleneck.

 

[TbsToy]

No, a splitter will not reduce the speed. I have a Startech card reader in the 5.25 bay, (with adapter), and it works just fine. Do you need USB 3 for a card reader? Maybe 2 will be good.
W.P.

 

[Amyrro]

I don't see how the splitter would even work, unless it has a built in USB Hub. It might split it up in to 2x1 connection (some cases only have 1 USB 3.0 slot but a 20 pin connector, I suppose this would allow you to connect another to 1x USB slot).

I wouldn't worry too much about the speed, as the HDD will usually be the bottleneck.

Hello Dark Falz, and thanks for your reply. Regarding your question, this photo shows the 20 Pin USB 3.0 female cable connected to my motherboard. This cable links the USB 3.0 ports on the interface of my case to the MoBo. I need to connect another cable to activate the pair of USB 3.0 ports found in the card reader, while the card reader slots (memory card hubs) are going to be connected to the MoBo through USB 2.0. All hat I am thinking about is making use of the extra USB 3.0 found in the card reader.

http://i63.tinypic.com/w221dx.jpg

As long as I have the case's 20 Pin USB 3.0 cable connected to the MoBo, I cannot connect the similar cable that links the card reader USB 3.0 ports to the MoBo. The only way to do so is to use a splitter, like the one in the link in the thread text posted above. The splitter is supposed to connect to the MoBo from the 1 female side, and the other 2 female side should connect to the two cables coming from the case and the card reader. What I am asking about, is that whether using the spliter would reduce the speed of data transfer or not, as only one 20 Pin USB 3.0 socket of the MoBo is going to support four USB 3.0 ports.

One as last thing. I have an SSD in my machine and usually I use USB 3.0 to connect my external hard drives to my device, and I am planning to upgrade to USB 3.1, and change my set for higher speed of data transfer, as I frequently deal with massive chunks of data.

Any thoughts ?!

Thanks
Regards

Amyrro

 

[Amyrro]

No, a splitter will not reduce the speed. I have a Startech card reader in the 5.25 bay, (with adapter), and it works just fine. Do you need USB 3 for a card reader? Maybe 2 will be good.
W.P.

Hello mate, thanks for your reply

As I mentioned in the thread above, the USB 3.0 is going to support a pair of USB 3.0 ports in the card reader, while the memory card hubs are going to be connected via USB 2.0. You can check the card reader configuration from this link:
http://www.amazon.com/NZXT-Aperture-Internal-5-25-Inch-AA-APMU3-B1/dp/B008KEPWMY?ie=UTF8&keywords=internal%20card%20reader&qid=1461947556&ref_=sr_1_2&sr=8-2

Regarding your application, I see that you are only using an adapter, while the 20 Pin socket in my case is going to support 4 (2 of the case + 2 of the card reader) USB 3.0 ports instead of 2. So, my question is whether the 20 Pin socket is capable of supporting that number of ports without a significant reduction in speed or not.

Any thoughts ?!

Regards

 

[CountMike]

That 20 Pin socket is nothing more than two separate USB3 ports combined in one interface.

 

[Dark Falz]

Again, I don't see how it works without a built in hub. The 20 pin connector only has enough lanes and wiring for 2 ports. You can't connect 4 ports to it and use all 4 at once without a hub.

 

[CountMike]

A hub (even better, a powered hub) has electronics that lets one port use few USB devices independently but all share same port in the computer and speed may suffer if more devices are connected to it.
Another solution would be to install an USB3, PCI/PCIe card with more USB3 connections.
Something like this https://www.scan.co.uk/products/2-port-silverstone-ec01-p-internal-pci-express-usb-30-card for instance.

 

[Amyrro]

Again, I don't see how it works without a built in hub. The 20 pin connector only has enough lanes and wiring for 2 ports. You can't connect 4 ports to it and use all 4 at once without a hub.

Hello
Thanks for your reply
I got the idea from CountMike's comment, regarding the number of USB ports that can be supported via a single 20 Pin USB 3.0 connector on the MoBo. However, I am not really clear about what you mean regarding the need for a hub for the splitter to work.

 

[Amyrro]

A hub (even better, a powered hub) has electronics that lets one port use few USB devices independently but all share same port in the computer and speed may suffer if more devices are connected to it.
Another solution would be to install an USB3, PCI/PCIe card with more USB3 connections.
Something like this https://www.scan.co.uk/products/2-port-silverstone-ec01-p-internal-pci-express-usb-30-card for instance.

Hello CountMike & Thanks for your reply

Thanks for you suggestions, but regarding the USB hub, just like I mentioned for Dark Falz, are you referring to these external USB hubs ?!

http://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-4-Port-Individual-Switches-HB-UM43/dp/B00JX1ZS5O?ie=UTF8&keywords=usb%203.0%20hub&qid=1462139272&ref_=sr_1_3&sr=8-3

https://cdn0.brack.ch/images/2/4/245995/delock-62440-usb-3-0-hub-inkl-netzeil-001.o.jpg

Thanks again
Regards

Amyrro