Do USB 3.0 hubs suffer from the same problem that the 2.0 ones do?
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 182
I have a macbook pro with only 2 usb ports. One of them I use for an external monitor (with a display link adapter), in the other one I use a USB 2.0 hub for an external mice and keyboard. I need to plug a external DVD drive (since this macbook doesnt have it) but when I plug in the USB 2.0 hub the power is not strong enough. The mice and keyboard will stop working and the DVD drive won't even open (though the green light will be on). I'm wondering, if I buy a USB 3.0 hub, will this problem be fixed?
The macbook port is a 3.0 but my hub is 'downgrading' to 2.0
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 3,596
Sounds like you might need to buy a powered USB hub.
USB3 does, I believe, allow for more power transfer than USB2, but whether that will be the case with your particular combination of MacBook and hub, and whether it will suffice for your external devices, I don't know. If there's no other reason to avoid a powered hub then that's probably your easiest solution.
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,308
