USB 3 hub recognized as USB 2.

Question

USB 3 hub recognized as USB 2.

I have an AmazonBasics USB 3 hub (B00E6GX4BG) and my iMac (late 2015 27") only recognizes it as USB 2.

Why?

How can I fix this?

I'm using the USB 3 cable supplied by Amazon.

I'm using the power supply, not just bus power.

I've already tried disconnecting everything from the hub and resetting the SMC.

I've tried every USB 3 port on the iMac.

The hub is always seen as USB 2.

Did Amazon just sell me a USB 2 hub with wrong packaging?

Anybody have any ideas?

Or do I just need to buy a newer hub?

Posted on Feb 20, 2021 7:31 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Feb 20, 2021 9:42 AM in response to Joey Goldstein

How did you tell it only recognizes as USB 2? I have a similar iMac with powered USB 3 hub. Using System Report > USB it shows:

USB 3.0 Bus:

Host Controller Driver: AppleUSBXHCISPT

PCI Device ID: 0xa12f

PCI Revision ID: 0x0031

PCI Vendor ID: 0x8086

USB3.0 Hub :

Product ID: 0x8110

Vendor ID: 0x2109 (VIA Labs, Inc.)

Version: 90.41

Speed: Up to 5 Gb/s

Manufacturer: VIA Labs, Inc.

Location ID: 0x14a00000 / 2

Current Available (mA): 900

Current Required (mA): 0

Extra Operating Current (mA): 0

My suspicion is that it is the cable, but this is the end of my 'expertise'.

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Answer 2

Feb 20, 2021 10:22 AM in response to Bruce Michel

Apple Menu > About This Mac > System Report > USB

That's where it shows up as a USB 2.0 hub.

I've tried several other cables.

I'm using the cable now that came with the hub.

It's not the cable.

I think amazon sent me a older 2.0 hub.

There's no marking on the hub itself.

But the box and the manual and all the ads when I bought it all say USB 3.0.

How it took me so long to notice this makes me feel like a bit of a fool.

I've had it for about 3 years now.

D'Oh.

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Answer 3

Feb 20, 2021 12:24 PM in response to Joey Goldstein

My guess is that something either was initially wrong or failed and it fell back to USB 2.0.

May be less aggravation to get a replacement. I have had good experiences with bhphotovideo.com, perhaps slightly more expensive but good service.

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Answer 4

Feb 20, 2021 12:29 PM in response to Bruce Michel

But in any case in the system report you should see "USB 3.0 Bus".

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Answer 5

Feb 20, 2021 6:57 PM in response to Meg The Dog

Yes it does.

Still USB2 with nothing else plugged into it.

I think it's just a POS.

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Answer 6

Feb 20, 2021 10:35 AM in response to Joey Goldstein

The entry actually looks like there is a USB 2.0 hub within a USB 2.0 hub.

So that's a little weird.

I can't copy from the upper section of the Report, so I've written it out by hand.

USB2.0 Hub

Portable Super Multi Drive (DVD Drive)

iPhone (plugged in at the moment)

USB2.0 Hub

H2N (My Zoom mic/interface for online stuff.)

Babyface (My audio interface)

USB Receiver (for my Logitech mouse)

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Answer 7

Feb 20, 2021 10:38 AM in response to Joey Goldstein

Actually...

I take that back.

It IS clearly stamped on the bottom that it is a USB3.0 hub.

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Answer 8

Feb 20, 2021 11:23 AM in response to Joey Goldstein

And I've double checked that my cables are USB 3.0.

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Answer 9

Meg The Dog

Level 6

13,886 points

Feb 20, 2021 1:06 PM in response to Bruce Michel

If you pull out all the devices connected to it, does it still indicate that it is a USB 2 device?

MtD

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Answer 10

Feb 20, 2021 6:56 PM in response to Bruce Michel

Yes, of course I do see that.

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Answer 11

Feb 21, 2021 11:21 AM in response to Joey Goldstein

FYI

I just ordered a new hub yesaterday and it arrived today. (Thanks Jeff Bezos!)

I assume it will work properly.

I'll be back if it doesn't. lol

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USB 3 hub recognized as USB 2.

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