Input peripherals in a USB hub?

RipGroove

RipGroove

RipGroove

Associate
Joined
15 Apr 2016
Posts
1,173
Looking for a new motherboard and noticed that a lot them that I'm looking at don't have many USB ports so wondering if I can stuff a load of input peripherals into a hub with the PC getting all confused about it? What I currently have is:

Mouse
Keyboard
Razer Keypad
Foot switches
Joystick
Xbox/Windows control pad
ModMic (no background noise if you use a little USB sound adapter rather than the 3.5mm jack)

So that's 7 USB slots taken up already with just input devices and of course I have a printer as well and I'd lik some spare.

I've just always had it in the back of my mind that having a load in a hub would cause compatibility havoc as some of these peripherals are temperamental at the best of times.
 
There are two main issues with hubs, in my experience.

One is that they have a limited power output, so mains hubs are usually superior if you plan to run anything with a big draw, like hard drives, chargers, etc.

The second is about drivers. Most devices are pretty simple, flash drives, keyboards, etc, but if you have something which uses complex software, then weird glitches are more common when it's connected to a hub.

I've seen plenty of motherboards with 7 USB, but 8 and up is quite rare outside of the high-end ones. When I've had 4 ports, I added 2 with a 2 port extension, using the board's internal header. The headers I've found are less problematic with power and driver issues.
 
Tetras said:
There are two main issues with hubs, in my experience.

One is that they have a limited power output, so mains hubs are usually superior if you plan to run anything with a big draw, like hard drives, chargers, etc.

The second is about drivers. Most devices are pretty simple, flash drives, keyboards, etc, but if you have something which uses complex software, then weird glitches are more common when it's connected to a hub.

I've seen plenty of motherboards with 7 USB, but 8 and up is quite rare outside of the high-end ones. When I've had 4 ports, I added 2 with a 2 port extension, using the board's internal header. The headers I've found are less problematic with power and driver issues.
Click to expand...
Maybe I'll buy a hub and try it on my current setup before deciding on a specific motherboard.
 
RipGroove said:
Maybe I'll buy a hub and try it on my current setup before deciding on a specific motherboard.
Click to expand...
Personally I'd rather pay the extra for the motherboard, because it's just simpler that way, less clutter and no glitchy stuff, but I've also used hubs a lot and they're usually fine.
 
Tetras said:
Personally I'd rather pay the extra for the motherboard, because it's just simpler that way, less clutter and no glitchy stuff, but I've also used hubs a lot and they're usually fine.
Click to expand...
Same, I'm looking at £300 boards but even they don't have that many ports it seems.
 
RipGroove said:
Same, I'm looking at £300 boards but even they don't have that many ports it seems.
Click to expand...
From what I've seen, the price or chipset doesn't seem to guarantee anything.

The Gigabyte B550 Aorus Pro V2 and Aorus Pro-P have a lot on the rear I/O (10 and 9, I think), but the X570 Gaming X only has 6
 
Tetras said:
From what I've seen, the price or chipset doesn't seem to guarantee anything.

The Gigabyte B550 Aorus Pro V2 and Aorus Pro-P have a lot on the rear I/O (10 and 9, I think), but the X570 Gaming X only has 6
Click to expand...
Of course but I was just making a point that I'm not looking at super cheapo boards. I'll count up what I need and do a bit of searching to see which boards come with what.
 
Motherboards with 2 x USB 3 onboard headers can be useful. One header can go to two USB 3 case ports, and the other can be filled with a USB 3 to PCI slot adapter with two more USB 3 ports, for example. Or a 5.25" bay if case has one.

And that's without using onboard USB 2.
 
Last edited:
RipGroove said:
if I can stuff a load of input peripherals into a hub with the PC getting all confused about it?
Click to expand...

No problems here. I have two powered hubs (USB 2 and USB 3) and everything is plugged into them. I have plugged in:

1x UPS
1x keyboard
1x trackball
2x camera
1x HOTAS
1x BT adapter
1x wireless mouse adapter
1x iPad
1x headset
1x colour meter
1x video capture
1x phone
1x microphone
1x SD card reader

I could add a steering wheel and graphics pad.

Only the hubs are plugged directly into the PC.
 
From what I can see it's ASUS that are lacking in ports, the £300-400 boards have 7 useable ports on the rear I/O where the equivalent MSI boards have 8 or 9. I've had MSI and ASUS boards in the past and I prefer ASUS, plus ASUS boards look nicer imo. I like plain black and that's it, no shiny bits or RGB and I don't like messy looking drive bays or USB PCIE expensions either.

Looks like if I stick with an ASUS z590 board then I'll have to make do with just 7 ports so I'll have to try to hub some of my peripherals, I should probably be OK with the Printer, Mouse, Keyboard and Razer Keypad in a hub (unless I get any kind of input lag) so that'll free up a few ports on the rear I/O.
 
Quartz said:
No problems here. I have two powered hubs (USB 2 and USB 3) and everything is plugged into them. I have plugged in:

1x UPS
1x keyboard
1x trackball
2x camera
1x HOTAS
1x BT adapter
1x wireless mouse adapter
1x iPad
1x headset
1x colour meter
1x video capture
1x phone
1x microphone
1x SD card reader

I could add a steering wheel and graphics pad.

Only the hubs are plugged directly into the PC.
Click to expand...
Christ, no noticeable input lag from the mouse or keyboard?
 
Asus has always been penny pinching in USB headers, so that board in your signature has only one USB3 header for two ports.
But you could add four USB2 ports.
There are connectors for both PCIe slot covers and 5.25" bays.
Also if you can't find USB2 models there are adapters for fitting USB3 port's header cable into USB2 header.
(though obviously port will work only at USB2 speed)


If you play FPS games would keep keybaord and mouse connected to motherboard.
Separate USB hubs could add input lag.
 
Well I've just ordered the ASUS ROG STRIX GAMING Z590-E which has 7 ports which I believe is the same as what I have now so I should be able to make it work, I'll keep a few important things in their own slots and get a hub for the other stuff. Cheers.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom