USB 3.0 hub Archives - Rick's Daily Tips

Q&A: Will a USB 3.0 external hard drive work with a USB 2.0 hub?

Posted on August 21, 2020

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Question from Melissa S.: Hi Rick. I just bought this 4TB external hard drive to back up the hard drive in my new Dell desktop PC (which only has USB 3.0 ports).

I really like this drive because it will store a LOT of photos (I’m a photographer).

Due to the arrangement of my cramped desk, the external hard drive will have to sit on a nearby shelf and connect to the computer through a USB hub.

My question is can I use the hub I already have or will I need to buy a new one?

The one I have is several years old but it still works great. The thing is it’s a USB 2.0 model.

I’m afraid to plug either the computer or the hard drive into this hub until I hear from you because I don’t want to burn something up.

Rick’s answer: [Read more…]

Q&A: How can I manage all the cords that are plugged into my computer?

Posted on February 12, 2018

Question from Judy C.: Rick, how do you manage so many cords on these stupid contraptions? They are confusing and they are dust collectors.

I’m wanting to rearrange the locations of all the parts of my computer setup, but I don’t even know where to begin. Right now, as I try to sort this out, I am using my mouse with my left hand.

I fear that if I start disconnecting things, I will never be able to put them together again. (Phone, hard drive, screen, scanner, router, some other boxes of some dang stuff.)

What do you recommend? Also, is there a way to shorten the cables?

Rick’s answer: [Read more…]

Review: Truffol Station 7 Aluminum Desktop USB 3.0 Hub and Charger

Posted on August 21, 2016

truffol-station-7-port-usb-hub-and-charger-1 Now that virtually all new external USB hard drives and USB flash drives can connect at blazing USB 3.0 speeds, a quality USB 3.0 hub is now pretty much a necessity.

And if you own an ultrabook or other small device that has just a single USB 3.0 port, it’s virtually impossible to get along without one.

And since we all seem to have multiple mobile devices these days, we also need a handy way to keep them all charged up and ready for use.

In an effort to simplify things and keep my desk from becoming cluttered with a dozen boxes of various types, I’ve been on the lookout for a high-quality USB 3.0 hub and charger combo unit. Well, I recently found exactly what I’ve been looking for, and more. [Read more…]