If you're currently in the market for USB hubs, you should know that there are two primary types: self-powered and bus-powered. The type of hub you purchase will ultimately be determined by the types of USB devices you own, as well as the number of components you wish to run. By learning the various differences between self-powered and bus-powered hubs, you will be able to make an educated decision when the times comes to select a suitable hub for your personal computer.
Bus-Powered USB Hubs
Bus-powered USB hubs, as their name implies, receive their power from your personal computer's internal power supply, also known as its "bus." So on the plus side, you will not have to plug them into electrical outlets, as your computer will supply them with all the power they require. Bus-powered hubs are recommended primarily for people who intend to run no more than a few USB devices at once. Connecting too many devices to a bus-powered hub is liable to put a strain on your computer's power supply and result in a lackluster performance from both your USB devices and your PC. Gaming devices like controllers and joysticks, as well as USB devices that don't require very much power, tend to work well with bus-powered hubs. However, USB devices that require a good deal of power to function, such as external hard drives, external disc drives, printers and scanners, may not perform to their full potential when connected to a bus-powered hub. In addition, bus-powered hubs tend to be very poor devices out of which to run wireless keyboards or wireless mice. If one hub is not enough to accommodate all of your USB components, keep in mind that running a bus-powered hub out of another bus-powered hub is an absolute no-no, as it would require more power than most internal power supplies are capable of putting forth. Still, if you're only interested in running a few small-scale USB devices, a bus-powered hub may be right up your alley.
Self-Powered USB Hubs
Unlike their bus-powered counterparts, self-powered hubs rely on AC adapters to supply them with power. After you've connected the adapter and securely plugged your self-powered hub in an electrical outlet, the hub will be able to generate its own power. Because of this, self-powered hubs are generally able to run more USB devices than bus-powered hubs. Additionally, self-powered hubs won't slow down your computer's performance, even if you're running multiple USB devices at once. Self-powered hubs are also better equipped to handle heavy-duty devices like printers, scanners, external hard drives and external disc drives. Self-powered hubs are also ideal for running wireless mice and wireless keyboards. Most PC manufacturers recommend that you purchase a self-powered hub in order to get the best performance from your PC and USB components. Apple, in particular, highly encourages iMac owners to look into self-powered hubs if they're interested in running USB devices.
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