There's some good information that I've come across, but where to start. I've not posted on this Board since February, although I've been busy, and actively trying USB 3.0 hubs, calling AppleCare, etc. This week I'll be visiting the Genius Bar on this hub issue again.
Again, I'm using a Mid-2012 MacBook Pro with Retina Display. I'm upgraded to OSX 10.8.5. My USB 3.0 hubs are all powered. Drives consist of two 3.0 TB Desktop drives and three Portable drives, plus a Thunderbolt drive that can also be used as USB 3.0.
I recently had to return a "HooToo" 7-Port USB 3.0 as unstable. Their webpage on Amazon had the usual cautions about updating the OS, but nothing out of the ordinary. I went ballistic when I read the manual which stated:
"2012 Mac Mini and 2012 MacBook Pro with Retina Display are currently not recommended for use with this product because the unstable performance [sic]". No kidding, this was in the manual and not on the site.
Then, in the next paragraph labeled "Features", the manual stated:
"Via VL812 allows this hub perform [sic] stably and perfectly compatible with your Windows, Mac OS or Linux" Systems."
The reference above to 2012 Macs should be taken to heart when commenting on Apple and the USB 3.0 Hub Issue. Please list your Mac model and year, along with the OS X version so the rest of us can make sense out of what's affected.
HooToo was right, their hub was unstable with my 2012 Retina. After applying for a refund from Amazon and listing the defects with the hub, their support reps contacted me and agreed to add the sentence to the webpage so another Mac owner doesn't walk into that trap.
Needless to say, my 1-Star review wasn't too positive. It largely matched, and expanded on, 1-Star reviews by 3 other Mac Owners. Apparently nobody challenged the vendor and the misleading advertising continued.
This was followed by the below from an executive with a hub vendor after the hub I'd ordered demonstrated similar problems as the others. He stated:
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"In terms of the background issues, the biggest one is that USB 3.0, even though it's in theory been around since 2009, actually really only stabilized last year (2012). Intel released their first USB 3.0 hardware, Windows 8 was Microsoft's first stack, and Apple released the first USB 3.0 systems. Everyone was scrambling to understand and fix subtle compatibility issues of all the combinations. For example, there was an Intel hardware bug that caused a lot of confusion:
http://www.everythingusb.com/intel-haswell-usb-3.0-21812.html
Apple released the 2012 macbooks as a 1st gen attempt in this context. The Retina definitely had special issues.
By the end of last year, everything was getting better. For USB 3.0 hubs, you really want firmware from early 2013. Chipset and firmware version does make a difference.
At this point, we have some reports of lingering problems with 2012 Macbook, but they've become fewer and farther between. Apple (with 10.8.x and SMC/EFI updates) and the industry seems to have worked around most of the large and small problems. So anyone with remaining issues with all up-to-date peripherals might want to consider whether it's a per-unit issue with their system and see if Apple has any advice.
Hope that background helps."
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It really does help. If you're having USB 3.0 Hub problems, take a minute and re-read the above then share it with other Mac owners having USB 3.0 problems. The above is clear about the source of the problems with USB 3.0 hubs. It's coming from Apple. The above comments are coming from a manufacturer, and from a vendor, who have to face angry Mac owners daily. BTW, the second source shall remain anonymous. Anybody that nice, and honest enough to shed some light on Apple's Hub Problem deserves anonynmity. It's what I've come to believe this is what we were facing since my first USB 3.0 hub in June 2012 with my first Retina Display. (I'm now on my 19th hub.)
I've done testing for Uspeed as LaptopMate, and later as Anker. While Uspeed gave me better results than most of the hubs, there was an unacceptably high levels of errors that could, and did, corrupt my data.. (I may be using 3 to 5 USB 3.0 drives and they'd just disappear on their own.) The VIA VL812 chipset was supposed to be the answer. After using several hub with this chipset I've found it not to be the answer, although they work great with Windows as I've been told.
Current drive problems encountered included:
- Failure of drives to mount.
- Spontaneous and unprovoked disconnects of (one or all) drives.
- Spontaneous re-mounting of drives after they sponteneously dismounted. (Infrequently they'd loop and begin dismounting and re-mounting repeatedly on their own.)
- The drives/hub would apparently lockup as USB 1.1 or USB 2.0. (That's 12 MB/sec or 480 Mb/sec., instead of 5 Gb/sec.) The hub would have to be Reset by unplugging all cables to remove any possible source of power feeding back to it.
I've had corrupted files, trashed hard drives, and a corrupted software RAID-1 Set (mirrored) that had to be rebuilt over 14 hours, after backing up the data for insurance. All this because of defective USB 3.0 hub operation on Apples, although Apple has denied that the hub is their problem, they're only responsible up to the port on the Mac. My view is that
If you're having USB 3.0 problems be sure to post reviews with the vendors and online to tell your story. And, comment freely on this community. It's my understanding that Apple follows these comments. It's my impression that USB 3.0 is a low priority, way behind Thunderbolt, iPhones and iPads, and the iOS 7 and the Mavericks OS X. USB 3.0 doesn't seem to be their thing.
I hope this helps. If so, the feedback would be appreciated.