does splitting a usb connection hurt performance

[her34]

if you connect multiple devices to 1 usb port on motherboard through a hub, is performance expected to be worse than if those devices were each directly connected to the motherboard? i.e. does each usb port get its own dedicated bandwidth?

 

[XRdirtHead]

I doubt it.

 

[her34]

anyone know?

 

[alteredNate]

I've always wondered this too. In theory, no, I think what's more important is the total bus load of the entire usb bus. Running everything through one port shouldn't affect the performance of one connected device's bandwidth.

Any experts?

 

[Zepper]

A USB channel is a shared resource. Each device trying to operate simultaneously on the channel will take a piece of the total bandwidth. Put several kbds, mice etc on the same channel and you won't notice much difference. Add an external HD to the same channel and you will notice...
.bh.

 

[WiseOldDude]

a USB port has to share the total bandwidth with all devices connected, and in use. if only one device in use it should have the full speed of the port

 

[her34]

Originally posted by: Zepper
A USB channel is a shared resource. Each device trying to operate simultaneously on the channel will take a piece of the total bandwidth. Put several kbds, mice etc on the same channel and you won't notice much difference. Add an external HD to the same channel and you will notice...
.bh.

but what if you have 2 external hd. will you notice difference if they are shared through hub or each hooked up directly to motherboard

 

[airfoil]

With a USB 2.0 interface allowing speeds up to 480 mbps, a hub that splits one USB port into 4 will have to share the 480 mbps bandwidth among the devices connected to it.

Using multiple HDDs on a single hub is a no-no, since you end up with the possibility of a bandwidth limitation. It couldnt hurt to try it yourself though.

 

[aatf510]

Originally posted by: Zepper
A USB channel is a shared resource. Each device trying to operate simultaneously on the channel will take a piece of the total bandwidth. Put several kbds, mice etc on the same channel and you won't notice much difference. Add an external HD to the same channel and you will notice...
.bh.

According to him, all devices are sharing the same USB channel whether you plug it though a hub or directly on the mobo. In fact, I think there is a USB hub on the mobo to give you the "several" usb port on the mobo.

 

[Zepper]

A hub is sharing one channel. If you plug them directly into the mobo (root ports) then each will be on its own channel. The ports directly off the mobo should all be root ports on separate channels.
.bh.

 

[her34]

A USB channel is a shared resource

Originally posted by: Zepper
A hub is sharing one channel. If you plug them directly into the mobo (root ports) then each will be on its own channel. The ports directly off the mobo should all be root ports on separate channels.
.bh.

so does each usb port get its own dedicated bandwidth?

 

[SonicIce]

does this work the same with firewire?