All in all, while computers could connect to a number of devices by themselves, USB hubs come in handy from time to time. Via USB hubs, Windows users should be able to increase the number of devices that their PC could connect to at the same time. At the moment, the market contains a lot of USB hubs but regarding utility, Superspeed USB hub is second to none. Read to the end if you like to pick up a generic Superspeed USB hub and want to learn about its features.
A Summary Of The Hubs
Capabilities
Speed
Perhaps the most notable trait of Superspeed USB hubs is that they feature a very high transfer rate: 5 Gb/s. That is far superior to the 480 Mb/s speed of USB 2.0, earning the hubs their title of Superspeed. For example, transferring a 27 GB HD movie to your media player would take approximately 8 minutes on USB 2.0 but would only take 45 seconds on USB 3.0. That’s a difference of up to ten times in transfer speed!
Power
Naturally, generic Superspeed USB hubs boast a higher power output than their predecessor. In use, they can supply up to 900mA for bus-powering devices as well as high-performance hardware.
Support
USB 3.0 is a direct upgrade to USB 2.0 yet it does not completely make 2.0 obsolete. Now featuring complete inclusivity, the two versions are fully compatible. As a result, you can connect a device with a 3.0 USB cable to a 2.0 USB PC port and vice versa. Of course, doing so will limit the transfer rate to the standard 480 Mb/s speed of USB 2.0.
Bus
Another improvement to the USB 3.0 is that it contains an additional bus, effectively doubling the amount of wires. While this means you have more slots to work with, it also requires more space. The types of connectors used by generic Superspeed USB hubs include the B Male and Micro B Male. Those connectors are bigger than their 2.0 counterparts and cannot fit in 2.0 ports.
How To Get The Most Out Of The Hubs
The generic Superspeed USB hub’s maximum speed of 5 Gb/s is certainly impressive. However, to be able to achieve that speed, you will need the below:
- A USB 3.0 port in the desktop PC or laptop
- A USB 3.0 cable that connected the external USB 3.0 device to the 3.0 port in the PC.
- A device with USB 3.0 compatibility.
- A superspeed USB hub.
As you can see, you need to have these items to take advantage of USB 3.0 speed. If even a single one of them only supports USB 2.0, the transfer rate of the whole setup will not reach 5 Gb/s.
Superspeed USB Hub Not Working: Troubleshooting
Just like any other devices, generic Superspeed USB hubs might act up out of the blue. There are some commonly encountered problems reported by users. Here we will discuss these problems and how to fix them.
Issues
Generic Superspeed USB Hub Won’t Work
The worst offender is usually USB 3.0 has stopped working. As it is a common error found in any software and hardware, it may be hard to pinpoint exactly what is causing it. If you have this error, any device you connect to a USB 3.0 port will not function.
Generic USB Hub Missing Or Not Showing in Device Manager
On occasions, you may look into your Device Manager and notice that the USB Hub is not on the list. Needless to say, the USB hub will not function. This may be caused by certain recent changes to your computer.
Unknown USB Device (Port Reset Failed)
Similar to the second error, when you open Device Manager, you could see “Unknown USB Device(Port Reset Failed)”. And you’ve guessed it, the device won’t function. The culprit for this one is usually a faulty driver or device.
Solutions
Restart
You may be having issues because the device failed to load during Windows boot. In that case, a restart will work wonders in solving the problem.
Think About The Driver
In the majority of cases, the drivers are often the culprit. Try to reinstall using the default and the latest version of your drivers and see how things turn out. To do so:
- Step 1. Go to Search Bar, type Device Manager then hit Enter.
- Step 2. Navigate to “Universal Serial Bus Controller” and expand it.
- Step 3. Right-click “Generic USB Hub” then pick “Uninstall”.
- Step 4. Reboot your pc and check if the issue persists. If it does, go to the next step.
- Step 5. Open Device Manager again, right-click “Generic USB Hub” then pick “Update driver software”. Follow the instructions to complete the update then restart your computer.
If your problem was indeed the result of faulty drivers, the above steps will resolve it. Also, if possible, you should manually download the driver from the manufacturer’s website to update it.
Make Use Of System Restore
Sometimes, changes made to your system that you are unaware of or a Windows update could cause problems for USB hubs. Luckily, Windows OS has a feature called System Restore that can revert your system to a point in the past.
- Step 1. Press Windows + R to open Run.
- Step 2. Type rstrui into the Run box and hit Enter.
- Step 3. In System Restore, hit Next.
- Step 4. Tick the Show more restore points box.
- Step 5. Choose a restore point when everything worked smoothly.
- Step 6. Click Next and then Finish.
Should I Connect Keyboard And Mouse To My PC Via A USB 3.0 Hub?
Mouse and keyboard are essential devices for computers but they don’t transfer a lot of data in use. Even a 1.0 hub is more than enough to accommodate keyboard and mouse. Furthermore, most if not all of mouses and keyboards lack the extra connector for the 3.0 USB hub. Hence, they will be operating as a USB 2.0 hub.
How Do I Tell If My Computer Is Using A USB 3.0 Hub?
There are many ways to verify this. The most convenient way is to just look within Device Manager. Expand “Universal Bus Controller” and look for anything that contains “3.0” or “xHCI” in the name. If you do see them, that confirms your PC is connected to a USB 3.0 hub.
Is Generic Superspeed USB Fast Enough For External SSDs?
Technically, no. Most SSDs are designed to transfer data at a faster rate than the USB 3.0 can provide. Hence, you cannot make use of the best speed of SSDs in theory. However, the differences will be negligible in practice and there should be no problem using the USB 3.0 hub for external SSDs.
Tuan Do is an accomplished author, content provider, and IT specialist with a strong background in computer science. Having studied IT at Hanoi Bach Khoa University, he possesses extensive knowledge in the field and specializes in Microsoft Windows. Tuan plays a vital role as a valued member of 4G Britain magazine, where he provides engaging content, tutorials, and practical fixes for readers. His expertise allows him to simplify complex concepts, making him a reliable source of accurate and insightful tech information. With a deep passion for technology, Tuan is committed to keeping readers informed about the latest advancements in the industry. Through his contributions to 4G Britain, he empowers both tech enthusiasts and professionals by delivering valuable insights and solutions. Tuan’s dedication to providing exceptional content ensures that readers can rely on him as a trustworthy resource in the ever-evolving world of technology.