Question on USB power

[Ramelec]

Is there a possibility that over a period of time, the USB voltage will starts to drop due to the PC PSU Starts to aging? The reason is if I am not wrong, when the first time I purchased this computer - I am able to charge my devices using a 4-1 USB hub which is connected to my PC USB port. But these days I am not able to do that (on different USB hubs), what I have to do is to direct connect my devices to my PC USB port to charge.

I am not a techie, but please let me know and what to look for.
So far my PC is still operating fine but the USB power is something I think need rectification.
Thanks.

 

[Koenig168]

Each USB port provides 0.5A, which is barely enough for a single device. I suggest you charge from the wall socket rather than computer.

 

[86technie]

Please take note that USB hub usually operates at a lower
voltage as the voltage is spread among 4 ports
hence lower voltage.

For best charging, get a AC-USB charger to charge it.
Or charge it directly to the USB port not through a hub.
Hub is only used if you wish to connect more devices not
to charge.

 

[wwenze]

USB standard is 0.5A, however nowadays most motherboards can output higher than that.

Quality of connection - rusty connectors - more likely the cause. Also, just as you may suspect the issue to be your computer, it can be your cable and hubs too.

Also, your hub needs to be able to accept >0.5A too.

 

[jtjt00]

Most probably is your PSU give less current now than when it was new. TS, which PSU are you using?

 

[Entry Level PC]

Is there a possibility that over a period of time, the USB voltage will starts to drop due to the PC PSU Starts to aging? The reason is if I am not wrong, when the first time I purchased this computer - I am able to charge my devices using a 4-1 USB hub which is connected to my PC USB port. But these days I am not able to do that (on different USB hubs), what I have to do is to direct connect my devices to my PC USB port to charge.

I am not a techie, but please let me know and what to look for.
So far my PC is still operating fine but the USB power is something I think need rectification.
Thanks.

TS ah.
You fail to mention USB2 or USB3.
And you got UPGRADE to Windows 10 boh.

My KNS NEC USB3, after upgrade to Windows 10, boh power liao.
I have to use a USB3 Powered HUB to get it to work.

 

[Ramelec]

I have both USB2 and USB3. I already encountered this problem when using Windows 7 and recently upgraded to Windows 10.

One thing is that the USB Hub seems to operate at a slower speed - I mean very very slow when I move files from PC to SD Card.

By the way, what / how does it look like for a USB3 Powered HUB

 

[jtjt00]

I have both USB2 and USB3. I already encountered this problem when using Windows 7 and recently upgraded to Windows 10.

One thing is that the USB Hub seems to operate at a slower speed - I mean very very slow when I move files from PC to SD Card.

By the way, what / how does it look like for a USB3 Powered HUB

Your usb hub is usb2.0 or usb3.0? Even for usb3.0, speed is slow if host and client usb chipset different.

 

[Entry Level PC]

I have both USB2 and USB3. I already encountered this problem when using Windows 7 and recently upgraded to Windows 10.

One thing is that the USB Hub seems to operate at a slower speed - I mean very very slow when I move files from PC to SD Card.

By the way, what / how does it look like for a USB3 Powered HUB

They are just USB Hubs with Power Adapter.

 

[widman01]

USB 3 by right has lower voltage than USB 2

 

[86technie]

I have both USB2 and USB3. I already encountered this problem when using Windows 7 and recently upgraded to Windows 10.

One thing is that the USB Hub seems to operate at a slower speed - I mean very very slow when I move files from PC to SD Card.

By the way, what / how does it look like for a USB3 Powered HUB

If you want fast speed, get a internal PCI Express USB 3.0
card.

 

[Entry Level PC]

USB 3 by right has lower voltage than USB 2

wrong.
USB3 has more power than USB2.

If not enough POWER, USB3 devices will run as a USB2 device in a USB3 port.

 

[commach]

Is there a possibility that over a period of time, the USB voltage will starts to drop due to the PC PSU Starts to aging? The reason is if I am not wrong, when the first time I purchased this computer - I am able to charge my devices using a 4-1 USB hub which is connected to my PC USB port. But these days I am not able to do that (on different USB hubs), what I have to do is to direct connect my devices to my PC USB port to charge.

First of all, you need to understand the technical specification of USB1.1/2.0 ports.

USB 1.1/2.0 ports can only supply one unit of power which is 100ma without configured by driver of software. To get maximum 5 units (500ma) of power, the port need to be properly configured via software and driver, else it can only provide 100ma.

USB3.0 is also providing 1 unit of power at 150ma which is higher than USB1.1/2.0 without driver or software configuration. 6 units (900ma) of maximum power with proper driver or software configuration.

Beside the power (wattage), there will be a voltage drop if more USB devices connected to the USB hub which could potentially render the entire chain of connected devices fail to operate correctly.

USB cable or ports with stained/contaminated contact pins will result in voltages and current drop which could result in all the problem you encountered.

I am not a techie, but please let me know and what to look for.
So far my PC is still operating fine but the USB power is something I think need rectification.
Thanks.

You can change the front USB port assembly if technically possible, else use the rear USB ports in future.

 

[Ramelec]

Many thanks for the information on the USBs!
The irony is that when I plug anything on my USB hub - it takes some time to detect it!

As a follow up here's my PC rig configuration:

OS Name Microsoft Windows 10 Home
Version 10.0.10586 Build 10586
Other OS Description Not Available
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
System Manufacturer Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd.
System Model X58A-UD3R
System Type x64-based PC
System SKU
Processor Intel(R) Core(TM) i7 CPU 930 @ 2.80GHz, 2794 Mhz, 4 Core(s), 8 Logical Processor(s)
BIOS Version/Date Award Software International, Inc. FH, 06-Jan-12
SMBIOS Version 2.4
Embedded Controller Version 255.255
BIOS Mode Legacy
BaseBoard Manufacturer Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd.
BaseBoard Model Not Available
BaseBoard Name Base Board
Platform Role Desktop
Secure Boot State Unsupported
PCR7 Configuration Binding Not Possible
Windows Directory C:\WINDOWS
System Directory C:\WINDOWS\system32
Boot Device \Device\HarddiskVolume1
Locale United States
Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "10.0.10586.0"

 

[commach]

Go to Device Manager, right click on all the USB Hub and uncheck "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power" under the Power Management's tab.

Also check the Power tab whether any of the hub are running near maximum 500mA with connected devices. If problem persist, Reset the hub under the Advanced tab for all the hub, wish you luck.

 

[Ramelec]

Go to Device Manager, right click on all the USB Hub and uncheck "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power" under the Power Management's tab.

Also check the Power tab whether any of the hub are running near maximum 500mA with connected devices. If problem persist, Reset the hub under the Advanced tab for all the hub, wish you luck.

How do you Reset the hub under the Advanced tab for all hub? Thanks a lot.

 

[Alphas]

Usb3.0 can supply up to 1.5A, 3.1 even higher.