Best USB hub or overall ports expander for 2018 Mini

Question

Level 1

20 points

Best USB hub or overall ports expander for 2018 Mini

Hi, running a late 2018 Mini, and looking for a good all in one powered expansion hub to support a number of peripherals and drives that are USB 2.0. I am currently maxing out all ports. I need at least 4 more 2.0 and also not sure if i get better throughput going usb 2 to the 3.0 port w/ a passive adapter or if it matters. I am assuming there is Something out there sort of tailored for this, and, if it included at least a couple more USB 3 and Tbolt ports, even better.

Looking for something relatively inexpensive but will invest whatever is necessary to get it done- its a professional situation. Right now just using an Amazon Basics powered 4-port USB add on going to the 3,0 adapter but seems to not have enough ‘juice’ to drive a couple of usb connected external TB drive among other essentials.

FWIW The OS is Mojave b/c several apps wont work beyond 32 bit, and writing audio files to HFS+

formatted exterhal SSD,. and a TB audio interface. Mini has a SSD internal, and i generally keep external HDs connected for backup and other file access and they are usb 2., so, trying to be as minimally processor-intensive as possible.

Thanks for any ideas!

Mike

.

Posted on Jun 18, 2022 6:04 AM

Reply

Answer 1

den.thed

Level 10

91,504 points

Jun 18, 2022 8:59 AM in response to MIKEinMICH

I think they you may already have most everything that you need, but just need distribute things a little differently.

I would connect the powered hub directly to one of the USB-A ports and use it for USB 2.0 devices including 1 or 2 external drives. A powered hub, should support as least 2 bus powered external drives. If it doesn’t, then return it or throw it away and get a Sabrent or Belkin self-powered hub.

Then I would get and use 1 or 2 USB- C to USB-C adapters. Plug those in to the Mac Mini’s TB/USB-C ports and connect any additional external drives to them.

This should help distribute the external drive load and make use of those other ports

FWIW I have 3 $10 Philips USB-C to USB-A adapters and they work fine on both my 2018 and 2020 Mac Mini’s.

https://www.target.com/p/philips-6-34-usb-c-to-usb-3-1-female-adapter-black/-/A-53245266

Reply

Answer 2

den.thed

Level 10

91,504 points

Jun 18, 2022 5:01 PM in response to MIKEinMICH

Have a look at > https://www.amazon.com/Satechi-Type-C-Aluminum-Stand-Hub/dp/B07YSWZNNW/ref=asc_df_B08S47KBMC/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=494678877543&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=2329076541772307683&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1014221&hvtargid=pla-1186458057504&psc=1&th=1

or > https://www.bestbuy.com/site/satechi-type-c-aluminum-stand-and-hub-for-apple-mac-mini-2018-usb-c-data-port-micro-sd-card-readers-usb-3-0-headphone-jack/6410331.p?skuId=6410331

Those match the 2018 Mac Min’s space gray finish. Plus they have a slightly more expensive version with a bay that you can put a 2.5” SATA SSD into.

Reply

Answer 3

MIKEinMICH Author

Level 1

20 points

Jun 18, 2022 5:52 PM in response to den.thed

yup, i've been slowly getting around to that : ) Mmost of these backups on older spin drives are redundant stuff

i'll likely never need.. my internal and write-drives on my studio Macs are SSD. These ports are actually more for

older peripherals. Will see if this unit is any improvement on the hub. Thanks!

Reply

Answer 4

den.thed

Level 10

91,504 points

Jun 18, 2022 2:22 PM in response to MIKEinMICH

What happens if you plug the hub directly into one of the Mac Mini’s USB-A ports and move that External HD volume drive to the adapter.

Reply

Answer 5

MIKEinMICH Author

Level 1

20 points

Jun 18, 2022 1:03 PM in response to den.thed

Thanks. Sounds reasonable. Perhaps there is an power issue with the Amazon Basics hub, it's a 4 Port USB to USB 3.0 Hub with 5V/2.5A power adapter. I currently connect my Primary read/write external SSD housed in a case with USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type C so that is going

direct to one of the Mini's USB-C ports... and my audio interface directly in to one of the TB ports. The "Basics" hub is currently going into one of the USB-C ports using a passive adapter on that- i believe the same as the type you suggest--

What I find with the hub-connected devices is that there's sometimes a lag time where the Finder doesn't 'resolve' responsively for an External HD volume connected to the USB hub the way it is now. It does seem unlikely that there would be any significant difference in hubs as far as 'robustness' per se.

Reply

Answer 6

MIKEinMICH Author

Level 1

20 points

Jun 18, 2022 4:39 PM in response to den.thed

I will experiment with that- thanks. Still might want to get one of those larger hubs to stack above rhe Mini just to eliminate some of the cable congestion..: tho i bet most dont offer many uSB-A ports vs newer Connectors..will skim around online - been awhile since i looked ..

Reply

Answer 7

MIKEinMICH Author

Level 1

20 points

Jun 18, 2022 5:18 PM in response to den.thed

Thanks for the links. Now that I've thought about it, since it's mostly older USB stuff I need more ports for, I'm leaning toward something like this... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B085Q2HD97?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_JQ0Z145W2W842YVSABNA

It's a step up in form and # of ports than the "basics" one i have with7 USB 3 ports that'll accommodate the USB-A connectors if i'm not mistaken. I don't much need the "on/off" switches for the ports but appears it would be a little better form factor than the small one i have now...

Reply