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Which USB 3.0 Hub? [MERGED]

MagnusVonMagnum

MagnusVonMagnum

macrumors 603
Jun 18, 2007
5,193
1,442
Neither of these supposedly work properly (even with the latest firmware) with either the Macbook Pro Retina or the 2012 Mac Mini (I have the latter and I could really use a USB 3.0 hub at this point since I'm already out of ports without swapping something out and a USB 2.0 hub defeats the point of USB 3.0).

One site I looked at suggested the problem is now on Apple's side with those two models, but it didn't specify what the problem is (i.e. it suggests the same hubs work fine with all other Macs that have USB 3.0). I guess I'm just lucky that way. :(
 
Fatboy71

Fatboy71

macrumors 65816
Dec 21, 2010
1,491
429
UK
I'm waiting on my 2012 iMac to be delivered and I've just ordered this hub:


http://www.ianker.com/product/68UPHUB-S10U


I have some questions I wondered if any of you's could answer for me please?

1: Is it recommend to disconnect the hub everytime from the iMac before putting the iMac to sleep?

2: If the answer to question 1 is yes, then the hub I've ordered has an on/off switch on it, would I be able to just switch the hub off, rather than disconnecting it from the iMac everytime I put the iMac to sleep?

3: I am planning on having the following things connected to my hub:

Printer (USB 2), 3 external hard drives (all USB 2), USB 3 4TB external hard drive.

If I have all of the above devices connected to the hub. With there been some of the devices been USB 2 and one of the devices been USB 3, will the USB 3 device be transferring at the USB 3 rate or will it be at USB 2 rate, due to there been USB 2 devices connected to the hub?

Thanks in advance :)
 
P

paulrbeers

macrumors 68040
Dec 17, 2009
3,963
123
Crunch said:
Hey everyone!

After an excruciatingly long search for a USB 3.0 hub working at USB 3 speeds for my USB 3-capable 15" MacBook Pro w/ Retina Display, I finally ordered this one from Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009Z9M3DY/ref=ox_ya_os_product

Besides the fact that it has seven USB 3.0 ports, it also has an extra strong (10W output!) "charging port" for anyone with an iPad 3 or 4, which takes a LOT longer to charge on a regular USB port. The power supply also seems to be adequate considering it has to potentially power 7 USB 3.0 devices, plus any device you might have on the charging port. Then there is the 18-month warranty that the newly renamed company (Anker) gives with purchase.

This baby JUST became available again, so it's a brand new revision of the product, which is evidenced by the new company name on the product itself.

It also no longer states that Mac users need not apply, but instead notes that anyone still running OS X 10.7 upgrade to Mountain Lion (10.8.2 or later).

I'll do some benchmarks and write a review when I get it. For now, I shall enjoy the anticipation of its delivery. ;-)
Click to expand...

So what was the final verdict?
 
C

Che Castro

macrumors 603
May 21, 2009
5,878
676
I don't like that all the ports are in the front


I have everything in the same table so I want one that has ports both in front & back
So I can put stuff I'm never going to remove in the back, like mouse,keyboard, & speakers

And in the front ports I can put stuff like flashdrives or when I need to connect my iphone to the computer
 
J

juztalkin

macrumors newbie
Jan 30, 2013
8
0
Hi all, i would like to know if anyone had experience in using/owning any of the 4 brands i have in mind? Any comments will be appreciated

LaCie Hub 4 USB 3.o SuperSpeed Hub
http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/29/lacies-hub4-quadruples-your-usb-3-0-pleasure/

Vantec 4 Port SuperSpeed USB 3.0 Hub
http://www.amazon.com/Vantec-Port-S...815&sr=1-1&keywords=vantec+4+port+usb+3.0+hub

Belkin SuperSpeed USB 3.0 4-Port Hub
http://www.belkin.com/us/F4U058-Belkin/p/P-F4U058

Toshiba Dynadock
http://us.toshiba.com/accessory/PA3927U-1PRP/
 
itsamacthing

itsamacthing

macrumors 6502a
Sep 26, 2011
895
514
Bangkok
Any update here? Been wondering which USB3 hub to get with my late 2012 iMac as well. Worried about which chip set is inside each hub, which one is going to be more mac compatible, and which one is going to give us the best speeds.
 
G

g4cube

macrumors 6502a
Apr 22, 2003
760
13
juztalkin said:
Most of my hard disk are from LaCie, plus i just bought a LaCie blu ray writer so i'm very inclined to buy this http://www.amazon.com/LaCie-Hub4-USB-SuperSpeed-131102KUA/dp/B004EPSLD0

but the reviews so far hasnt been great so was wondering if anyone else have used this before.
Click to expand...

This has been discontinued by LaCie and uses an older VIA VL810 chipset.

Probably better to stick with one of the other, newer designs from other vendors that use the VL812, ASMedia, or TI chipsets.
 
J

juztalkin

macrumors newbie
Jan 30, 2013
8
0
g4cube said:
This has been discontinued by LaCie and uses an older VIA VL810 chipset.

Probably better to stick with one of the other, newer designs from other vendors that use the VL812, ASMedia, or TI chipsets.
Click to expand...

thanks for the advice. Luckily i ve yet click the buy button
 
Botts85

Botts85

macrumors regular
Feb 9, 2007
218
164
I have had experience with 2 different USB hubs.

The D-Link DUB-1340 and the Monoprice PID 9955.

The D-Link was terrible, until I found a Windows computer to upgrade the firmware, which isn't actually from D-Link (they haven't offered the update yet), and isn't supposed to be for end user use. The D-Link, and most USB 3.0 hubs on the market are running the Via Labs 810 chipset. Ergo, you can run the "not for end users" firmware off of Via Labs website. It may not be supported, but it actually runs really well. My only other complaint with the D-Link is that it seems really difficult to get a good connection with the USB cables, a simple bump with a foot can often jar them enough to get a drop.

I actually just set up the Monoprice hub about an hour ago. I've had four drops already. This is running the newer Via Labs 812 chipset, with no firmware updates available. The nice thing about the 812 is that it can power 3.8 amps when plugged into AC. That's enough for 2 iPhones and an iPad.

I'm going to stick with the D-Link and its flaws for now.
 
D

dma550

macrumors 6502
Sep 3, 2009
267
4
CT
wow some sad reviews on that one. It seems like these things die quickly.

I think the Kanex ones are highly regarded, but I'm sitting on the fence until I hear more. I've a growing box of junk peripherals accumulated over the years. I think it's a money pit for sure.

Crunch said:
Hey everyone!

After an excruciatingly long search for a USB 3.0 hub working at USB 3 speeds for my USB 3-capable 15" MacBook Pro w/ Retina Display, I finally ordered this one from Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009Z9M3DY/ref=ox_ya_os_product

Besides the fact that it has seven USB 3.0 ports, it also has an extra strong (10W output!) "charging port" for anyone with an iPad 3 or 4, which takes a LOT longer to charge on a regular USB port. The power supply also seems to be adequate considering it has to potentially power 7 USB 3.0 devices, plus any device you might have on the charging port. Then there is the 18-month warranty that the newly renamed company (Anker) gives with purchase.

This baby JUST became available again, so it's a brand new revision of the product, which is evidenced by the new company name on the product itself.

It also no longer states that Mac users need not apply, but instead notes that anyone still running OS X 10.7 upgrade to Mountain Lion (10.8.2 or later).

I'll do some benchmarks and write a review when I get it. For now, I shall enjoy the anticipation of its delivery. ;-)
Click to expand...


----------
Che Castro said:
I don't like that all the ports are in the front


I have everything in the same table so I want one that has ports both in front & back
So I can put stuff I'm never going to remove in the back, like mouse,keyboard, & speakers

And in the front ports I can put stuff like flashdrives or when I need to connect my iphone to the computer
Click to expand...

I agree, I want the kind with all ports except maybe one or two in the back. Mine is almost like a dock station with all my junk attached.
 
Obsidian6

Obsidian6

macrumors 6502a
Apr 29, 2006
683
3
Laguna Niguel, CA
I too have been looking for a USB 3.0 hub and bought this one from Anker:

http://www.amazon.com/Oct-2012-Upgr...F8&qid=1360428259&sr=8-1&keywords=usb+3.0+hub

It worked great for the first couple days, and now what it does when my computer goes to sleep (or at random) is drop the connection to all the devices. Meaning my hard drives don't get ejected properly while they are actively connected to the computer. That to me screams unreliability and I already requested a return through Amazon.

Back to the hunt. I'd like to have a 10 port hub to be honest, I have this 7 port hub filled on my desk in addition to daisy-chaining to my old USB 2.0 hub which is halfway filled. (Lots of hard drives and peripherals on my desk)
 
AppleDApp

AppleDApp

macrumors 68020
Jun 21, 2011
2,413
45
Obsidian6 said:
I too have been looking for a USB 3.0 hub and bought this one from Anker:

http://www.amazon.com/Oct-2012-Upgr...F8&qid=1360428259&sr=8-1&keywords=usb+3.0+hub

It worked great for the first couple days, and now what it does when my computer goes to sleep (or at random) is drop the connection to all the devices. Meaning my hard drives don't get ejected properly while they are actively connected to the computer. That to me screams unreliability and I already requested a return through Amazon.
Click to expand...

Thanks I was thinking of getting that hub.
 
Spink10

Spink10

Suspended
Nov 3, 2011
4,261
1,020
Oklahoma
This thread is discouraging :(

I need a 4 port USB 3.0 powered hub for my Time Capsule so I can have several external harddrives connected and possibly a printer if it cannot connect by ethernet.
 
J

juztalkin

macrumors newbie
Jan 30, 2013
8
0
Hi i just bought Vantec 4-port SuperSpeed USB 3.0 Hub. Review once my 27" iMac arrives. Thanks for all the advice
 
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