I can very much appreciate rounding your IDE ribbon cables to save space and make them look cooler, also removing the faceplate of your floppy to make it look geeky, but totally can't figure out just who would I show my case thumbscrews to... can't lure anybody close enough for some reason.
For me this review is quite useful. Over the years I have bought and used several USB hubs that have different problems. Some don't work with different motherboards, some just will not power up a 2,5" external HDD even when powered directly.
I buy and recommend many computer related products at work (and to friends) so knowing that there is a hub that WORKS with many peripheries connected is useful knowledge. Besides it's boring to focus only on mobos, CPUs etc.
I don't know, good motherboards come with at least 6, most have 8, and if you have bought one lately it could have 10. I don't see any need for a hub, but then I don't have more than 10 USB devices that "need" connecting all at once.
Printer,
gamepad 1,
gamepad 2,
gamepad 3,
gamepad 4,
External HDD,
Music Player,
USB stick 1,
USB Stick 2.
I suppose I could use a USB keyboard/mouse, or an internal SD reader (or my external SD reader).
In reality if I have many gamepads connected, they will go through a $10 unpowered hub just fine, so all of the USB input devices are only using one. But with the current problem of games supporting multiple players (as in: not supporting multiple players, ask me how a PC is not set up for 4 players, their are high-resolution displays, tons of interfaces, multiple displays. Often the Same game is available on a similar platform, AKA X-Box, and has 4 player support, this is BS)
To sum up, I don't know of any reason to own a USB hub personally, due to all of my motherboards having 8 ports, a $2 USB port bracket to bring some of the USB header pins to a rear panel, or front panel, is worthwhile in my view, simply because it makes more sense. Most of the people who "need" these smack their forehead and cry "d'oh" when they realize that there are more front panel ports, and a set of unused header pins internally besides.
I like Rosewill "brand", but I just think USB hubs are stupid (read: inelegant, ugly, redundant, expensive).
It's surprising how quickly the devices can add up:
Keyboard
Mouse
Gamepad
Printer
Scanner
Modem
UPS communication
Camera cable (not needed all the time but convenient to leave plugged in the PC)
TV-tuner stick
Memory-stick for Vista ReadyBoost
That would be all ten of my ATX mobo USB ports used up (six on the back of the mobo, and two on the front of the case plus another two in a 3.5" drive slot adapter which came with the mobo). And as the TV-tuner stick blocks access to either of the neighbouring front connectors (and it needs to be at the front to receive the IR remote control signal) I would actually need 11 USB sockets.
In reality I connect my keyboard and mouse using PS/2 sockets, my modem by ethernet, and I don't use Vista so no memory-stick for ReadyBoost, but that still comes to six USB devices. Also my monitor has a 2-port hub so that adds one extra socket in total, though I don't use it).
Some budget PCs don't have six USB sockets, and I suspect many laptops have less than six, so there is a market for hubs.
I'm guessing you don't own a laptop, or don't connect much stuff to it. USB hubs are very useful there since laptops don't have many ports, and a hub also makes a cheap docking station in that you can connect a bunch of devices with one plug instead of several, even if the laptop has USB ports to support them.
It's no longer fun waiting almost 2 months for the additional results from the testing of the Western Digital 640GB which would be "coming soon"... Nor for the comparison of the AMD 780G motherboards coming in "the near future" 2 weeks ago now :-(
Could you guys please concentrate on what you have begun?
Did I just read a front-page article on Anandtech reviewing a USB hub????
I understand that I (and many other old-time regular readers) are not the target demographic for such things, but I'm having a hard time seeing who is.
My mom would be an example of someone who may need a USB hub, but wouldn't have a clue about what one is or really does, but she also wouldn't care about how many seconds it took to transfer what file, what the real (vs. theoretical) maximum throughput is etc. etc.
And besides, it's a moot point because she would never visit this site in the first place.
I'm not annoyed by this, I'm just very very curious as to your reasoning: is there a new direction Anandtech is heading towards with articles like this?
i.e. more frequent, short and simple reviews of every day devices that might appeal to a broader casual audience? (ala CNET, for example)
It was short and sweet and got to the point. It Let us know about a new product that some one might use. Not everyone has a new system. I have been a member since this site started and I come back to it all the time. It was because of this site that I was able to learn and build my first computer(way back when). This site use to have articles for every level. I for one think this site needs to have a few more articles for the newbies so that they can learn and become advanced.
1) Test it with a bus powered scanner (like a Canon lide). That's the only problem I had when hooking up my mother's USB hub, was that her scanner wouldn't do full scans (previews were fine) via her D-link USB hub I just bought for her - even when powered.
2) A picture/description of the power brick. Smaller is definitely better here, and it seems that they're all out of control in size taking up 2-3 outlets if you use a UPS or surge protector.
Cool review, I just bought another hub with fewer ports and no power source for just as much money. My bad...impulse buy.
Most important about the review is getting a little attention to the Rosewill brand. I have bought serveral of their products and have always been amazed at the value. These guys seem to launch one good product after another. I have several external disk enclosures that work, are well built of high quality materials, are beautiful as objects, and were releativly cheap compared to other lesser products. Even the least exspensive of their product range has always impressed me with high perceived value.
You don't see this brand marketed widely, if you do find something they make give them a chance I think you might be pleased.
I purchased one Rosewill external enclosure for personal use, it has been fine. I purchased another for the lab, and two Samsung hard drives have died in it. Suppose the drives could have issues, but seems a big coincidence.
My assumption is that Gary needed a USB hub at the lab, and that since companies send AT hardware all the time, he decided to do a three-page write-up on the hub he selected. I don't object to that, so long as the next great GPU or CPU review isn't delayed.
How about test with multiple ports used at once? Like two drives, a drive and something low-bandwidth, or even all 7 ports used at once?
Also I'd like to see results not in seconds, but in kbps, just to show how close to the theoretical 480kbps the thing gets. Well yeah, I can recalculate it myself, but... you could too.
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20 Comments
Back to Article
Blain - Saturday, May 17, 2008 - link
I can't imagine what would follow a USB hub review.Maybe an IDE cable "Round-Up"?
Case thumbscrew "Show Down"?
Floppy drive "Face Off"?
Visual - Thursday, May 22, 2008 - link
I could use some articles about those topics.I can very much appreciate rounding your IDE ribbon cables to save space and make them look cooler, also removing the faceplate of your floppy to make it look geeky, but totally can't figure out just who would I show my case thumbscrews to... can't lure anybody close enough for some reason.
cesmadj - Thursday, May 15, 2008 - link
For me this review is quite useful. Over the years I have bought and used several USB hubs that have different problems. Some don't work with different motherboards, some just will not power up a 2,5" external HDD even when powered directly.I buy and recommend many computer related products at work (and to friends) so knowing that there is a hub that WORKS with many peripheries connected is useful knowledge. Besides it's boring to focus only on mobos, CPUs etc.
nubie - Wednesday, May 14, 2008 - link
I don't know, good motherboards come with at least 6, most have 8, and if you have bought one lately it could have 10. I don't see any need for a hub, but then I don't have more than 10 USB devices that "need" connecting all at once.Printer,
gamepad 1,
gamepad 2,
gamepad 3,
gamepad 4,
External HDD,
Music Player,
USB stick 1,
USB Stick 2.
I suppose I could use a USB keyboard/mouse, or an internal SD reader (or my external SD reader).
In reality if I have many gamepads connected, they will go through a $10 unpowered hub just fine, so all of the USB input devices are only using one. But with the current problem of games supporting multiple players (as in: not supporting multiple players, ask me how a PC is not set up for 4 players, their are high-resolution displays, tons of interfaces, multiple displays. Often the Same game is available on a similar platform, AKA X-Box, and has 4 player support, this is BS)
To sum up, I don't know of any reason to own a USB hub personally, due to all of my motherboards having 8 ports, a $2 USB port bracket to bring some of the USB header pins to a rear panel, or front panel, is worthwhile in my view, simply because it makes more sense. Most of the people who "need" these smack their forehead and cry "d'oh" when they realize that there are more front panel ports, and a set of unused header pins internally besides.
I like Rosewill "brand", but I just think USB hubs are stupid (read: inelegant, ugly, redundant, expensive).
In realit
PrinceGaz - Wednesday, May 14, 2008 - link
It's surprising how quickly the devices can add up:Keyboard
Mouse
Gamepad
Printer
Scanner
Modem
UPS communication
Camera cable (not needed all the time but convenient to leave plugged in the PC)
TV-tuner stick
Memory-stick for Vista ReadyBoost
That would be all ten of my ATX mobo USB ports used up (six on the back of the mobo, and two on the front of the case plus another two in a 3.5" drive slot adapter which came with the mobo). And as the TV-tuner stick blocks access to either of the neighbouring front connectors (and it needs to be at the front to receive the IR remote control signal) I would actually need 11 USB sockets.
In reality I connect my keyboard and mouse using PS/2 sockets, my modem by ethernet, and I don't use Vista so no memory-stick for ReadyBoost, but that still comes to six USB devices. Also my monitor has a 2-port hub so that adds one extra socket in total, though I don't use it).
Some budget PCs don't have six USB sockets, and I suspect many laptops have less than six, so there is a market for hubs.
strikeback03 - Wednesday, May 14, 2008 - link
I'm guessing you don't own a laptop, or don't connect much stuff to it. USB hubs are very useful there since laptops don't have many ports, and a hub also makes a cheap docking station in that you can connect a bunch of devices with one plug instead of several, even if the laptop has USB ports to support them.eyeman - Tuesday, May 13, 2008 - link
It's no longer fun waiting almost 2 months for the additional results from the testing of the Western Digital 640GB which would be "coming soon"... Nor for the comparison of the AMD 780G motherboards coming in "the near future" 2 weeks ago now :-(Could you guys please concentrate on what you have begun?
cghebert - Tuesday, May 13, 2008 - link
I very much second that notion.ninjit - Tuesday, May 13, 2008 - link
Did I just read a front-page article on Anandtech reviewing a USB hub????I understand that I (and many other old-time regular readers) are not the target demographic for such things, but I'm having a hard time seeing who is.
My mom would be an example of someone who may need a USB hub, but wouldn't have a clue about what one is or really does, but she also wouldn't care about how many seconds it took to transfer what file, what the real (vs. theoretical) maximum throughput is etc. etc.
And besides, it's a moot point because she would never visit this site in the first place.
I'm not annoyed by this, I'm just very very curious as to your reasoning: is there a new direction Anandtech is heading towards with articles like this?
i.e. more frequent, short and simple reviews of every day devices that might appeal to a broader casual audience? (ala CNET, for example)
DigitalFreak - Tuesday, May 13, 2008 - link
It's interesting in the fact that now I know that this hub will allow me to plug in multiple USB devices and not have them run like crap.plonk420 - Tuesday, May 13, 2008 - link
google. are YOU lazy?possible query: "usb devices running slow (on) hub" or "why is [device x] slow (on) usb hub"
ninjit - Wednesday, May 14, 2008 - link
Reply to wrong post much?crashem - Tuesday, May 13, 2008 - link
It was short and sweet and got to the point. It Let us know about a new product that some one might use. Not everyone has a new system. I have been a member since this site started and I come back to it all the time. It was because of this site that I was able to learn and build my first computer(way back when). This site use to have articles for every level. I for one think this site needs to have a few more articles for the newbies so that they can learn and become advanced.bakerzdosen - Tuesday, May 13, 2008 - link
Well, I personally would have liked two things:1) Test it with a bus powered scanner (like a Canon lide). That's the only problem I had when hooking up my mother's USB hub, was that her scanner wouldn't do full scans (previews were fine) via her D-link USB hub I just bought for her - even when powered.
2) A picture/description of the power brick. Smaller is definitely better here, and it seems that they're all out of control in size taking up 2-3 outlets if you use a UPS or surge protector.
mars2k - Tuesday, May 13, 2008 - link
Cool review, I just bought another hub with fewer ports and no power source for just as much money. My bad...impulse buy.Most important about the review is getting a little attention to the Rosewill brand. I have bought serveral of their products and have always been amazed at the value. These guys seem to launch one good product after another. I have several external disk enclosures that work, are well built of high quality materials, are beautiful as objects, and were releativly cheap compared to other lesser products. Even the least exspensive of their product range has always impressed me with high perceived value.
You don't see this brand marketed widely, if you do find something they make give them a chance I think you might be pleased.
strikeback03 - Tuesday, May 13, 2008 - link
I purchased one Rosewill external enclosure for personal use, it has been fine. I purchased another for the lab, and two Samsung hard drives have died in it. Suppose the drives could have issues, but seems a big coincidence.RamarC - Tuesday, May 13, 2008 - link
a usb hub? i could understand a wireless usb hub since they're somewhat leading edge, but a run-of-the-mill wired usb hub?there are already plenty of sites that do 'reviews' of mundane components. stick with hardware reviews for the enthusiast and the IT community.
Sunrise089 - Tuesday, May 13, 2008 - link
My assumption is that Gary needed a USB hub at the lab, and that since companies send AT hardware all the time, he decided to do a three-page write-up on the hub he selected. I don't object to that, so long as the next great GPU or CPU review isn't delayed.Visual - Tuesday, May 13, 2008 - link
How about test with multiple ports used at once? Like two drives, a drive and something low-bandwidth, or even all 7 ports used at once?Also I'd like to see results not in seconds, but in kbps, just to show how close to the theoretical 480kbps the thing gets. Well yeah, I can recalculate it myself, but... you could too.
DigitalFreak - Tuesday, May 13, 2008 - link
u r lazy