New Mac Pro USB Hub recommendations

In terms of USB3 it is not just only about "it's just a HUB". The nMP supports the UASP protocoll with USB3. If a device (i.e. drive enclosure chip set) supports that protocoll as well you can reach much higher transfer rates compared to devices not supporting UASP. If the USB3 HUB "kills" the UASP protocol when a device with UASP is connected, you loose much of its possible performance. Unfortunately not every HUB manufacturer communicates this feature, but from my experience the HUB the TE suggested works fine with UASP, because I have it myself and I tested it.
Regards

Short note: a SSD in a USB3 enclosure with UASP connected via SATA-3 is much(!) faster than a SSD in a Thunderbold enclosure where the SSD is connected via SATA-2.

I bought this one, does an excellent job and looks cool too:


http://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B00EYXZI4M/ref=oh_details_o04_s00_i01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

firstofnine said:

the HUB the TE suggested works fine

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Who or what is "the TE"?

firstofnine said:

In terms of USB3 it is not just only about "it's just a HUB". The nMP supports the UASP protocoll with USB3. If a device (i.e. drive enclosure chip set) supports that protocoll as well you can reach much higher transfer rates compared to devices not supporting UASP. If the USB3 HUB "kills" the UASP protocol when a device with UASP is connected, you loose much of its possible performance. Unfortunately not every HUB manufacturer communicates this feature, but from my experience the HUB the TE suggested works fine with UASP, because I have it myself and I tested it.
Regards

Short note: a SSD in a USB3 enclosure with UASP connected via SATA-3 is much(!) faster than a SSD in a Thunderbold enclosure where the SSD is connected via SATA-2.

Click to expand...

Same question, which hub were you using that had uasp support? I don't know what the TE is either.

Thanks.

I use this one with my nMP. It works great!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00E1GI9Y8/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

AppMann said:

Hi,

I am a graphic designer, I ordered my Mac Pro but wont be here till February. But I am looking for a USB Hub to keep my desk free of cables. I have two or three drives connected to the Hub.
I have thinking off this one:
http://www.amazon.com/Anker®-7-Port...669&sr=1-2&keywords=Anker®+USB+3.0+7-Port+Hub

But I am not fully sure will it be compatible with OS X Mavericks, any recommendations will be grateful.

Thanks in advance.

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I am using the 7 port version (slightly different chipset), it is working well with Mavericks and Mountain Lion. For Lion, I used hacked LaCie drivers.

Interestingly ....

Until now, I would have said, "ANY USB hub should work just fine.... Shop based on price and number of ports, plus power output."

But I had an odd experience with my new Mac Pro the other day. When I first set it up, I just re-used the hub I've had on my 2008 Mac Pro since it was new; an Inland branded powered hub with 4 USB ports and 2 Firewire 400 ports. I started experiencing an issue where the hub would disconnect momentarily and reconnect again, every 10 or 15 seconds. Shuffling around which devices were attached to it didn't seem to make any difference. (And I didn't have anything attached to the Firewire 400 portion of the hub either.)

I tried a spare 4 port no-name brand hub I had lying around, next, and it's working perfectly.

So unless I had the freaky bad luck of this hub going bad right when I decided to use it on the new Mac Pro? I think I may have just found one that's incompatible with it.

kingtj said:

Until now, I would have said, "ANY USB hub should work just fine.... Shop based on price and number of ports, plus power output."

I tried a spare 4 port no-name brand hub I had lying around, next, and it's working perfectly.

Click to expand...

You may want to rethink that. USB 3.0 is so much faster than USB 2.0. Look at the number of folks with the oMP (me included) scurrying around to find USB 3.0 solutions (PCIe Cards and Powered Hubs) and our experiences with USB 3.0. Just some food for thought.

Lou

re: older hubs

No, I realize that and that's a valid point. But in my case, the devices attached to the hub don't need the speed of USB 3.0 in the first place. I've got a Fujitsu ScanSnap S1500m scanner, for example, and a cable to charge/sync a Lytro camera.

flowrider said:

You may want to rethink that. USB 3.0 is so much faster than USB 2.0. Look at the number of folks with the oMP (me included) scurrying around to find USB 3.0 solutions (PCIe Cards and Powered Hubs) and our experiences with USB 3.0. Just some food for thought.

Lou

Click to expand...

Totd

Einz said:

Just make sure what ever hub you are getting has the "VIA VL812 Rev B2 Chipset and updated firmware v9081". Otherwise your nMP will only sees it as a USB 2 hub.

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Tip of the day. Thanks!

I use this hub hooked up to an Inateck 4004 for USB 3.0:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00D7P6176/

Decent price, has the latest chipset as mentioned earlier. Ports are a little finicky but it's never failed me. Also has a decent power supply and if the firmware ever needs an update the vendor has great tech support and download links to current firmware.