[SOLVED] Peripherals can be connected to USB ports on the back of a computer vs. powered USB hub.

[bamajon1974]

I would like to know what peripherals can be connected to USB ports on the back of a computer vs. a powered USB hub.

Motherboard: Asus Rog Strix 390-E . Has two USB 2.0, two USB 3.1 Gen1, three USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type A and one USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type C.

I have a POWERED USB 3.1 Gen 1 Hub (meaning it plugs into a USB port on the computer and also has a power cord to plug into an outlet).

Peripherals: Quantity 2 Acer Predator XB271HU monitors each with one USB 3.1 Gen 1 (blue) upstream connector (the ones with the squareish connector at the end)
Logitech Brio 4K webcam (USB 3.1 Gen 1 connection)
Razer Black Widow Elite Keyboard (2 USB 2.0 connectors)
Razer Naga Trinity Mouse (1 USB 2.0 connector)
Razer Seiren Elite Microphone (USB 2.0 connector)
Epson V600 Perfection Photo Scanner (USB 2.0 connector)
Dell C2660dn color laser printer (USB 2.0 connector)
USB 2.0 connector to charge headphones
USB 2.0 connector to charge bluetooth/wireless gamepad

Razer said that the Keyboard and Mouse must plug into the back of the computer. The microphone can be plugged into a hub. Logitech said the webcam must be plugged into the back of the computer.

So I have a lot of peripherals. Questions are below:

1. Is it ok to plug USB 3.1 Gen 1 blue plugs into the red Gen 2 plugs? I know I will only get Gen 1 transfer speeds but are there other issues?

2. I understand that mass storage devices like external hard drives, thumbdrives, SD card devices, etc. should be plugged into the back of the computer, correct?

3. I also understand the USB upstream connectors in the monitors are really hubs. Should these be connected to the back of the computer or can they connect to a powered hub?

3. The printer can be connected to a network via ethernet cable so I can lose that USB cable. Can the scanner plug into the hub or does it need to go to the back of the computer?

4. If you have USB cables just for charging (gamepad and headphones) and not data transfer, is it ok to plug those into the hub?

Thanks!

 

[CountMike]

I would like to know what peripherals can be connected to USB ports on the back of a computer vs. a powered USB hub.

Motherboard: Asus Rog Strix 390-E . Has two USB 2.0, two USB 3.1 Gen1, three USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type A and one USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type C.

I have a POWERED USB 3.1 Gen 1 Hub (meaning it plugs into a USB port on the computer and also has a power cord to plug into an outlet).

Peripherals: Quantity 2 Acer Predator XB271HU monitors each with one USB 3.1 Gen 1 (blue) upstream connector (the ones with the squareish connector at the end)
Logitech Brio 4K webcam (USB 3.1 Gen 1 connection)
Razer Black Widow Elite Keyboard (2 USB 2.0 connectors)
Razer Naga Trinity Mouse (1 USB 2.0 connector)
Razer Seiren Elite Microphone (USB 2.0 connector)
Epson V600 Perfection Photo Scanner (USB 2.0 connector)
Dell C2660dn color laser printer (USB 2.0 connector)
USB 2.0 connector to charge headphones
USB 2.0 connector to charge bluetooth/wireless gamepad

Razer said that the Keyboard and Mouse must plug into the back of the computer. The microphone can be plugged into a hub. Logitech said the webcam must be plugged into the back of the computer.

So I have a lot of peripherals. Questions are below:

1. Is it ok to plug USB 3.1 Gen 1 blue plugs into the red Gen 2 plugs? I know I will only get Gen 1 transfer speeds but are there other issues?

2. I understand that mass storage devices like external hard drives, thumbdrives, SD card devices, etc. should be plugged into the back of the computer, correct?

3. I also understand the USB upstream connectors in the monitors are really hubs. Should these be connected to the back of the computer or can they connect to a powered hub?

3. The printer can be connected to a network via ethernet cable so I can lose that USB cable. Can the scanner plug into the hub or does it need to go to the back of the computer?

4. If you have USB cables just for charging (gamepad and headphones) and not data transfer, is it ok to plug those into the hub?

Thanks!

1. Not necessarily, a good hub should have as good transfer rate.
2. Yes, it's more complicated but you save on USB ports. Same with a scanner if it has network capability.
3. Yes, powered hubs have more power than USB ports, should charge faster and with longer cable.

Don't forget that all plugs in a hub share one USB port so they also share same bandwidth, plugging in 2 or more can lower data transfer speed.

 

[bamajon1974]

I'm sorry, I forgot to edit the numbers of my questions. Fixed below. Can you please reply again? Thanks!

So I have a lot of peripherals. Questions are below:

1. Is it ok to plug USB 3.1 Gen 1 blue plugs into the red Gen 2 plugs? I know I will only get Gen 1 transfer speeds but are there other issues?

2. I understand that mass storage devices like external hard drives, thumbdrives, SD card devices, etc. should be plugged into the back of the computer, correct?

3. I also understand the USB upstream connectors in the monitors are really hubs. Should these be connected to the back of the computer or can they connect to a powered hub?

4. The printer can be connected to a network via ethernet cable so I can lose that USB cable. Can the scanner plug into the hub or does it need to go to the back of the computer?

5. If you have USB cables just for charging (gamepad and headphones) and not data transfer, is it ok to plug those into the hub?

1. Not necessarily, a good hub should have as good transfer rate.
2. Yes, it's more complicated but you save on USB ports. Same with a scanner if it has network capability.
3. Yes, powered hubs have more power than USB ports, should charge faster and with longer cable.

Don't forget that all plugs in a hub share one USB port so they also share same bandwidth, plugging in 2 or more can lower data transfer speed.

 

[CountMike]

I'm sorry, I forgot to edit the numbers of my questions. Fixed below. Can you please reply again? Thanks!

So I have a lot of peripherals. Questions are below:

1. Is it ok to plug USB 3.1 Gen 1 blue plugs into the red Gen 2 plugs? I know I will only get Gen 1 transfer speeds but are there other issues?

2. I understand that mass storage devices like external hard drives, thumbdrives, SD card devices, etc. should be plugged into the back of the computer, correct?

3. I also understand the USB upstream connectors in the monitors are really hubs. Should these be connected to the back of the computer or can they connect to a powered hub?

4. The printer can be connected to a network via ethernet cable so I can lose that USB cable. Can the scanner plug into the hub or does it need to go to the back of the computer?

5. If you have USB cables just for charging (gamepad and headphones) and not data transfer, is it ok to plug those into the hub?

1. Yes, no other issues.
2. Partly yes, front ones are OK too, it's exactly same thing.
3. I would connect monitor's hub to the back of MB, going thru another hub can result in loss of signal and power and than you have too many things going thru only one USB port, not so much because of power but because of speed as they all share same bandwidth. There's also matter of too many connectors.
4. Same as above.
5. Yes.

 

[bamajon1974]

Great. I don't use the USB ports on the side of my monitors connected to the USB upstream ports so I can lose those connections and just have a couple of devices plugged into a powered hub, rest go into the back of the computer with the addition of a USB expansion card.

Thank you for your help.

 

[CountMike]

Great. I don't use the USB ports on the side of my monitors connected to the USB upstream ports so I can lose those connections and just have a couple of devices plugged into a powered hub, rest go into the back of the computer with the addition of a USB expansion card.

Thank you for your help.

Does your case have any front USB ports ? Those are useful for plugging in temporary devices instead of having to go around the case. Everything that applies to rear plugs applies to front ones too.

 

[bamajon1974]

Yes. The case has a couple of USB 2.0 and a couple of USB 3.0 ports in front of the case. They are used for temporary connection of thumb drives and portable drives. I believe these front USB ports are connected to the power supply or motherboard and are thus powered and can be used with mass storage devices without performance issues.

I would up purchasing and installing the expansion USB 3.1 Gen 1 card below from Amazon and installed it in a PCIex1 slot and connected the SATA cable to the power supply. Because of all of the peripheral devices, I don't have sufficient number of USB ports in the back of my case so this expansion card will work perfectly to handle the extra devices.

https://www.amazon.com/Tiergrade-Su...=usb+expansion+card+3.0&qid=1589312454&sr=8-3

I moved the USB 3.0 cables from the upstream USB ports on the two monitors to the expansion USB card in the back of the computer and moved the microphone and scanner to the expansion card as well. I left a bluetooth USB key to a game controller and two USB power charging cables on the hub.

Last question...the USB ports on the sides of the monitors (that connect to the USB upstream port on the back) are empty but still connected to the expansion card on the back of the computer. I don't anticipate using these ports on the sides of the monitors often. If nothing is connected to the monitor USB ports, would there be any expected USB speed reduction in the expansion card since 2 of the upstream cables are connected to the expansion card as well as a microphone and scanner?

Thanks!

 

[CountMike]

Yes. The case has a couple of USB 2.0 and a couple of USB 3.0 ports in front of the case. They are used for temporary connection of thumb drives and portable drives. I believe these front USB ports are connected to the power supply or motherboard and are thus powered and can be used with mass storage devices without performance issues.

I would up purchasing and installing the expansion USB 3.1 Gen 1 card below from Amazon and installed it in a PCIex1 slot and connected the SATA cable to the power supply. Because of all of the peripheral devices, I don't have sufficient number of USB ports in the back of my case so this expansion card will work perfectly to handle the extra devices.

https://www.amazon.com/Tiergrade-Su...=usb+expansion+card+3.0&qid=1589312454&sr=8-3

I moved the USB 3.0 cables from the upstream USB ports on the two monitors to the expansion USB card in the back of the computer and moved the microphone and scanner to the expansion card as well. I left a bluetooth USB key to a game controller and two USB power charging cables on the hub.

Last question...the USB ports on the sides of the monitors (that connect to the USB upstream port on the back) are empty but still connected to the expansion card on the back of the computer. I don't anticipate using these ports on the sides of the monitors often. If nothing is connected to the monitor USB ports, would there be any expected USB speed reduction in the expansion card since 2 of the upstream cables are connected to the expansion card as well as a microphone and scanner?

Thanks!

USB ports in the monitor are likely to be USB2, should work of USB3ports (back, front or card) but only at USB2 speeds.

 

[bamajon1974]

Got it. So if I have the upstream USB ports on the back of the monitor (the monitor hub, I suppose) connected to the expansion card in the back of the computer, but nothing is permanently connected to the USB ports on the monitor, would I expect any performance hit on the expansion card? I would expect "no" but not sure. Does that make sense?

Thanks!

USB ports in the monitor are likely to be USB2, should work of USB3ports (back, front or card) but only at USB2 speeds.

 

[Karadjgne]

If it's not used, there's no hit. The only reason to even have the upstream USB ports is as a bridge for the downstream use. So you could run 1 cable from pc to monitor and have an end-line access to USB, not requiring you to have to use an extension. I have my USB mouse plugged into the keyboard, simply for that reason. Takes up 1 port on the pc, but 2 components, neither of which has any need for anything more than USB 2.0 and the mouse cord is kinda short.

Razer wants a direct input to avoid possible lag with bandwidth restrictions and because of the possibility that you'll use the keyboard USB as a bridge with something like a external drive.

I setup USB according to demand. If it's going to move a Lot of data, it needs the higher speed, less branched inputs. So external drive is direct access, cell phone charger is hub. Kb, mouse is USB2 port, as is scanner/printer, camera/web cam is USB3 port. Nothing to the monitor, since I never use it, that's what the hub is for, hub on USB3. BT is in the front because it's higher and more visible, which extends the range and clarity, and frees up a rear port..

If you have no real need for monitor USB function, I'd not even bother adding it, video/audio will be hdmi or dp although I guess the BT dongle could be used there if needed.

 

[bamajon1974]

Understood. The only reason I want to connect the monitor upstream USB ports to the computer USB plugs is to be able to temporarily use the monitor USB ports for thumbdrive data transfer, just for convenience. I was able to re-route all USB connections to the PC or hub as appropriate (plugging all hardware into the PC, chargers into the hub).

Thank you for your help!