Question USB Hub suggestions, please

Sailor R Thomas

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Aug 17, 2016
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Greetings everyone,

For my PC gaming system, I plan on plugging up a USB headset with microphone, USB keyboard that is equipted with a USB Passthrough, USB Racing Wheel, and a PC controller.

Do you think a USB 3.0 Hub will be able to provide adequate power for all of those devices or should I consider a USB-C Hub?

By the way, the reason why I'm not plugging all of these devices directly into the computer inputs is because I need a really long cord (at least 7 or 8 feet) and will need to operate these devices from a distance due to a physical disability.

Specs:
Case: Phanteks G500A
Motherboard - Asrock X670e Taichi
CPU - AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D
Memory - 64GB Kingston Fury Beast DDR5
GPU - NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090
PSU: MSI 1000W PCIE5
OS - Windows 11 Home (64bit)
 
By the way, the reason why I'm not plugging all of these devices directly into the computer inputs is because I need a really long cord (at least 7 or 8 feet) and will need to operate these devices from a distance due to a physical disability.
You sure you don't want to plug in through the rear of your case or perhaps just get a wireless controller? Instead of a hub, look at USB extension cables?
 
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By the way, the reason why I'm not plugging all of these devices directly into the computer inputs is because I need a really long cord (at least 7 or 8 feet) and will need to operate these devices from a distance due to a physical disability.
You sure you don't want to plug in through the rear of your case or perhaps just get a wireless controller? Instead of a hub, look at USB extension cables?

Thank you for your reply. As of now, I have about three devices plugged into the computer, and they look very cluttered. Very easy to trip over.
 
I use slightly different labels for things. But first, an update on labels for USB3 devices. They have changed several times, and the result is that many descriptions you see are out of date and incomplete. Right now, all these things are named as USB 3.2 Genn devices, and the n part specifies the maximum speed the unit can communicate data. That speed normally is actually much faster than the real performance of the device. There are three speed ratings common now.

Gen1 can move data up to 5 Gb/s, and works just fine with either Type A or newer Type C connectors. Often you will see items sold as "USB3" or "USB 3.0", and that normally means this Gen1 variant.
Gen2 can move data up to 10 Gb/s. It can work with Type A connectors, but may NOT achieve that max speed this way. It should be fully able to get that max speed with Type C connectors. SOMETIMES items like this may be called "USB 3.1".
Gen2x2 can move data up to 20 Gb/s, but you MUST use Type C connectors to get that.

The latest developments in the USB field are the introduction of USB4 systems, now in two Versions. These use exclusively Type C connections and intend to achieve even faster max rates of data transfer, but there are not a lot of devices on the market for this yet. From your post, OP, you do not have any and do not need to worry about them. However, your mobo says it HAS two USB4 Type C sockets on its back panel. Your only concern at this point MIGHT be NOT to use them now and save them for POSSIBLE use in future.

What you call a "USB 3.0 Hub" is what I consider a USB 3.2 Hub that does NOT have its own power supply module, and relies entirely on the host mobo port for power to be shared to all its connected devices. That power is at 5 VDC and limited to not more than 0.9 A total load. Many devices such as those you cite use little power so you can connect three of four to ONE USB 3.2 port via such a Hub. The caution is that we do not really know the max power consumed by ALL of your devices. Further, there is the POSSIBILITY you might add something else to the load, maybe even by using the pass-though port on your keyboard. So the cautious answer to your query is: get the OTHER type of hub. That is what you call a "USB-C Hub", but I would call a POWERED USB 3.2 Hub. That is, it DOES come with its own power supply module you MUST use to give the Hub enough power for multiple devices, and it does NOT get power from the limited ability of the host mobo port. A good example of this type is this from Atolla

https://www.amazon.com/Splitter-Charging-Individual-Switches-Extension/dp/B07G8CMR18/ref=sr_1_13?crid=3OFABDXW0HUP9&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.ZV_fdTCOagW4UYPuP2Zyc-7R_GJ3JFH1GVllk-7sJY2iIxPvA063CGmDdCJ4o0Fm4j0u4z-aF23HR_mi2WYhH6LLTCqwdlL38fsJXH5sqf2GYjM6_H8tf1aB3WEmnLy6uV_52bK9uWH4Kp0WFV1suKi8CjZw7uJRps_tjqfLDJ0HSM-fMI-8XCAEP-r_aKf2NOBT1yLFeB_WOVww4liZ-FFfpGdtPx89_LbWZ6_0ZYk.zJUHUsthdEhtjVTuhtEqquxhJ73ALQyfyHOo63Ad3y0&dib_tag=se&keywords=usb+3.2+hub+powered&qid=1708638801&sprefix=USB+3.2+Hub,aps,106&sr=8-13&th=1

This is a USB 3.2 Gen1 device only - max data rate 5 Gb/s, and that rate must be shared by all devices connected to it. All its ports are Type A suited to this speed limit. Each port has its own on / off switch and indicator light, so you CAN turn off a device at the Hub without disconnecting it. Now, 7 standard USB 3.2 ports EACH should be able to supply power at up to 0.9 A, and that totals 6.3 A. This unit comes with a power supply module that can provide 5 VDC power up to 4.0 A total load, and that's 63% of the theoretical max power needed by those ports. BUT this "under-rating" is NORMAL because you almost NEVER try to use ALL of your devices, ALL of them a high power users, at the SAME time. In your case, OP, you don't plan on seven devices, and most of yours are LOW power devices. So this is NOT a problem for you. NOTE also that most of the devices you are using also are LOW data-rate devices, so having them share one data channel at 5 Gb/s max is NOT a limit for you.

That Hub also has a dedicated "Smart Charging Port" used to charge devices quickly. Normally this is NOT used for any device that involves data transfers. It CAN use a LOT more power than the common 0.9 A max data port so IF you use it, that MAY impact how many other devices you can use on its normal ports. But for now you have NOT said you have any need to use this charging port.

So my cautious advice would be to get a powered USB 3.2 Hub like that. You are very UNlikely to exceed its power ability, even if you add a couple new devices later. This particular one has the basic Gen1 data transfer max of 5 B/s, entirely adquate for the devices you cite. It uses only Type A connectors for such devices. IF you do expect to aquire some much faster devices you might consider a Hub rated for Gen2 uses, and that SHOULD use Type C connectors on its cable to the host computer port and for at least some of its output ports.

Where to connect? See the manual for your mobo, p. 9, for the back panel of sockets. There are Type A ports of the Gen1 and Gen2 versions, and two Type C ports both of the USB4 new system you need not try to use. For the Gen1 speed Hub and devices you plan, any USB 3.2 Gen1 Type A port is just fine to plug in your Hub. That would be key items 5 (a pair on the top of 4 ports), and 7 (one above a Type C port).
 
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