Like a lot of people here I have been searching for a reliable USB 3 hub to use with a MacBook Pro Retina 15".
I found one today - StarTech 4 Port USB 3 hub:
http://ca.startech.com/Cards-Adapters/USB-3.0/Hubs/4-Port-Black-SuperSpeed-USB-3-Hub~ST4300USB3
Retails at $53 Canadian but I was able to get it from Amazon Canada for $43.
It is also qualified for OSX 10.8 according to StarTech's website which is more than can be said for the majority of hubs out there.
Granted its only 4 x ports - I'd prefer 7 like a lot of people - I can say its working.
I hooked up one USB3 drive (bus powered) and two USB2 drives (mains powered) plus an iLok dongle and all are recognised and working.
I did some quick drive speed tests using Blackmagic Speed Drive Test to see if there was any slow down in when the drives were plugged in to the hub.
Test Machine:
Mac Book Pro Retina 15" 2.7/16GB/768SSD
Drive speeds (approx)
Without USB 3 hub plugged in:
MBPr 768GB SSD read = 436MB/s, write = 448.5MB/s (internal)
LaCie 1TB USB2 read = 37MB/s, write = 39MB/s (mains powered)
Western Digital 3TB USB2 read = 30MB/s, write = 32MB/s (mains powered)
Western Digital MyPassport 2TB USB3 read = 99MB/s, write = 102MB/s (bus powered)
With USB 3 hub plugged in:
MBPr 768GB SSD read = 432MB/s, write = 450MB/s (internal)
LaCie 1TB USB2 read = 40MB/s, write = 42MB/s (mains powered)
Western Digital 3TB USB2 read = 32MB/s, write = 36MB/s (mains powered)
Western Digital MyPassport 2TB USB3 read = 95MB/s, write = 101MB/s (bus powered)
These are not totally scientific tests - just quick runs.
What it shows is that the hub does not slow down the USB3 drive connected and the USB2 drives are just fine. Obviously the WD MyPassport is not a top end fast USB3 drive but its a real world example.
Below are screen shots of the drive speeds when plugged into the hub (obviously MBPr is internal but just FYI) and not all tests were completed - that USB2 is SLOOOOOW!!!!
I found one today - StarTech 4 Port USB 3 hub:
http://ca.startech.com/Cards-Adapters/USB-3.0/Hubs/4-Port-Black-SuperSpeed-USB-3-Hub~ST4300USB3
Retails at $53 Canadian but I was able to get it from Amazon Canada for $43.
It is also qualified for OSX 10.8 according to StarTech's website which is more than can be said for the majority of hubs out there.
Granted its only 4 x ports - I'd prefer 7 like a lot of people - I can say its working.
I hooked up one USB3 drive (bus powered) and two USB2 drives (mains powered) plus an iLok dongle and all are recognised and working.
I did some quick drive speed tests using Blackmagic Speed Drive Test to see if there was any slow down in when the drives were plugged in to the hub.
Test Machine:
Mac Book Pro Retina 15" 2.7/16GB/768SSD
Drive speeds (approx)
Without USB 3 hub plugged in:
MBPr 768GB SSD read = 436MB/s, write = 448.5MB/s (internal)
LaCie 1TB USB2 read = 37MB/s, write = 39MB/s (mains powered)
Western Digital 3TB USB2 read = 30MB/s, write = 32MB/s (mains powered)
Western Digital MyPassport 2TB USB3 read = 99MB/s, write = 102MB/s (bus powered)
With USB 3 hub plugged in:
MBPr 768GB SSD read = 432MB/s, write = 450MB/s (internal)
LaCie 1TB USB2 read = 40MB/s, write = 42MB/s (mains powered)
Western Digital 3TB USB2 read = 32MB/s, write = 36MB/s (mains powered)
Western Digital MyPassport 2TB USB3 read = 95MB/s, write = 101MB/s (bus powered)
These are not totally scientific tests - just quick runs.
What it shows is that the hub does not slow down the USB3 drive connected and the USB2 drives are just fine. Obviously the WD MyPassport is not a top end fast USB3 drive but its a real world example.
Below are screen shots of the drive speeds when plugged into the hub (obviously MBPr is internal but just FYI) and not all tests were completed - that USB2 is SLOOOOOW!!!!
I found TWO 7 Port that seams to also of been upgraded. They both use the new VIA VL812 Chipset And say that they are compatible with Mac. Check these out: