How can I add an additional USB-C port?


E

Ed McCauley

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My Dell Precision 3541 Laptop has only one USB-C port. I'd like to add at least one more USB-C port so I can copy directly from one External HDD to another. I don't need any additional USB-A ports, HDMI, microcard, etc.

Can anyone recommend a specific option to accomplish this?
 

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You could buy a powered usb hub but unless the main port is a thunderbolt port, do not expect very fast speeds.
 

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Ed McCauley said:
My Dell Precision 3541 Laptop has only one USB-C port. I'd like to add at least one more USB-C port so I can copy directly from one External HDD to another. I don't need any additional USB-A ports, HDMI, microcard, etc.

Can anyone recommend a specific option to accomplish this?
Click to expand...
There's not much one can do with a Notebook/Laptop in adding features, just no room. And not much one can do with ports without having to design a new case. I have Notebooks with and without the USB-C port, usually only one and the USB-A port/s may be USB 2, USB 3 or a combination of both. I use a Self-powered USB-C Hub on the workbench when needing more but also keep USB-A to USB-C adapters with me when calling on clients.
 

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cereberus said:
You could buy a powered usb hub but unless the main port is a thunderbolt port, do not expect very fast speeds.
Click to expand...
Even a 5G (USB 3.0 port) is fast enough for copying from one HDD to another.
 

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I keep a bag of these around, and one on my keyring.

IMG_3491.webp


USB C to USB A Adapter Type A Male to C Female Adaptor Fast Charge and Data Transfer​

 

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    Windows 11 Pro 25H2 Build 26200.8894 (Wifes)13th Generation Intel® Core™ i5-1340P Process...16GB LPDDR5-52001x Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics
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    LENOVO Yoga 7 14IRL8 - Type 82YL
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    Wireless Network: Wi-Fi 6E 2x2 AX; Bluetooth® 5.1 or above
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Anibor_11 said:
Even a 5G (USB 3.0 port) is fast enough for copying from one HDD to another.
Click to expand...
That is opinion - with only one port, the port has to read and write at same time and usb 3.0 will struggle to copy files from one usb drive to another, especially if a lot of data, with small files.

However, as a laptop (as stated by others) not much else that can be done.
 

My Computer My Computer

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Windows 11 Pro + Win11 Canary VM.I9 13th gen i9-13900H 2.60 GHZ16 GB solderedIntegrated Intel Iris XE
OS
Windows 11 Pro + Win11 Canary VM.
Computer type
Laptop
Manufacturer/Model
ASUS Zenbook 14
CPU
I9 13th gen i9-13900H 2.60 GHZ
Motherboard
Yep, Laptop has one.
Memory
16 GB soldered
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Integrated Intel Iris XE
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Realtek built in
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laptop OLED screen
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2880x1800 touchscreen
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1 TB NVME SSD (only weakness is only one slot)
PSU
Internal + 65W thunderbolt USB4 charger
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Yep, got one
Cooling
Stella Artois (UK pint cans - 568 ml) - extra cost.
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Built in UK keybd
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Bluetooth , wireless dongled, wired
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900 mbs (ethernet), wifi 6 typical 350-450 mb/s both up and down
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Edge
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Defender
Other Info
TPM 2.0, 2xUSB4 thunderbolt, 1xUsb3 (usb a), 1xUsb-c, hdmi out, 3.5 mm audio out/in combo, ASUS backlit trackpad (inc. switchable number pad)

Macrium Reflect Home V8
Office 365 Family (6 users each 1TB onedrive space)
Hyper-V (a vm runs almost as fast as my older laptop)
cereberus said:
You could buy a powered usb hub but unless the main port is a thunderbolt port, do not expect very fast speeds.
Click to expand...
A quick perusal online tells me that Thunderbolt is "fast", but not much else. Given my Laptop specs:
Dell Precision 3541 Laptop
Device Manager --> System Devices --> Thunderbolt(TM) 15D9
Installed Apps: Thunderbolt(TM) Control Center

would a "powered USB hub" allow me to connect two USB-C HDDs for data transfer at "high speeds"?
 

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    Windows 11 Pro 25H2Intel i7 2.60Ghz16GBNvidia Quadro P620 + Intel UHD Graphics 630
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    Dell/Precision 3541
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    Intel i7 2.60Ghz
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Ed McCauley said:
A quick perusal online tells me that Thunderbolt is "fast", but not much else. Given my Laptop specs:
Dell Precision 3541 Laptop
Device Manager --> System Devices --> Thunderbolt(TM) 15D9
Installed Apps: Thunderbolt(TM) Control Center

would a "powered USB hub" allow me to connect two USB-C HDDs for data transfer at "high speeds"?
Click to expand...
According to our friends at Google, that's a Thunderbolt 3 controller. Spec'd at about 40Gbps (5GBps).

You might want a hub that can exploit that.

For comparison: USB 3.X is rated at 5Gbps. USB 3.2 Gen2 does 10Gbps. USB 3.2 Gen2X2, 20Gbps. What do you regard as "high speeds"?
 

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Ed McCauley said:
would a "powered USB hub" allow me to connect two USB-C HDDs for data transfer at "high speeds
Click to expand...

There was a long discussion on hubs, powered or otherwise. I can’t find it.
Firstly, it really should be powered, you’re trying to transfer between two SSD Externals. Power will be needed.
I can tell you that not all USB hubs will take two SSD’s. I don’t care what anyone else says, I know for a fact from my personal experience. It matters which hub you buy.
Having said that, I can’t advise you on which one to buy.

I ended up getting a pack of 6 USB-C to USB-3 Adapters (as pictured above)
Transfer speeds were fine, my opinion. But I don’t sit at my laptop or PC counting the seconds it takes to transfer files. There are people here way to concerned with that stuff, I’ll never know why.

You have 2 USB3 ports from what I can tell. Would cost you under $8 for 3 (possibly more) adapters
 
Last edited:

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    Windows 11 Pro 25H2 Build 26200.8894Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4770K CPU @ 3.50GHz32.0 GB of I forget and the box is in storage.Gigabyte nVidia GeForce GTX 1660 Super OC 6GB
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    Sin-built 2013
    CPU
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4770K CPU @ 3.50GHz
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    ASUS ROG Maximus VI Formula
    Memory
    32.0 GB of I forget and the box is in storage.
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    Gigabyte nVidia GeForce GTX 1660 Super OC 6GB
    Sound Card
    ROG SupremeFX Formula 8-Channel High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    5 x LG 25MS500-B - 1 x 24MK430H-B - 1 x Wacom Pro 22" Touch Screen Tablet
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    All over the place
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    Too many to list. OS on Samsung 1TB 870 QVO SATA
    PSU
    Silverstone 1500
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    NZXT Phantom 820 Full-Tower Case
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    Noctua NH-D15 Elite Class Dual Tower CPU Cooler / 6 x EziDIY 120mm / 2 x Corsair 140mm somethings / 1 x 140mm Thermaltake something / 2 x 200mm Corsair.
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    Corsair K95 / Logitech diNovo Edge Wireless
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    TP-Link BE9300 WiFi 7 Bluetooth 5.4 (Archer TBE550E)
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    Grandstream HT812 - VoIP
    ASUS DSL-AX82U - Mesh
    ASUS RT-AC68U - Mesh
    ASUS RT-BE88U Router

    Brother MFC-L2880DW Printer

    I’m on a horse.

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Pro 25H2 Build 26200.8894 (Wifes)13th Generation Intel® Core™ i5-1340P Process...16GB LPDDR5-52001x Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics
    Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 25H2 Build 26200.8894 (Wifes)
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    LENOVO Yoga 7 14IRL8 - Type 82YL
    CPU
    13th Generation Intel® Core™ i5-1340P Processor(Core™ i5-1340P)
    Memory
    16GB LPDDR5-5200
    Graphics card(s)
    1x Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics
    Sound Card
    Optimized with Dolby Atmos®
    Screen Resolution
    QHD 2880 x 1800 OLED
    Hard Drives
    M.2 512 GB SSD PCIe
    Mouse
    Logiteck MX Master 3S
    Internet Speed
    2000/500
    Antivirus
    Defender / Malwarebytes
    Other Info
    …still on a horse.


    Wireless Network: Wi-Fi 6E 2x2 AX; Bluetooth® 5.1 or above
    Ports: 1x 1 Novo button; 2 in 1 Audio Combo jack; Micro SD Card Reader; HDMI 1.4b; 2 x USB Type-C (TBT4)
    USB 3.2 Gen 2 DP 1.4a
    PD 3.0); 1 x USB 3.2 Gen1 Type A
    Camera
    1x 1080P FHD IR/RGB Hybrid with Privacy Shutter and Dual Array Microphone
    Graphics
    1x Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics
    Monitor
    14" WUXGA
    Form Factor
    Convertible Notebook
  • Windows 11 Pro 25H2 Build 26200.8894 (Wifes)

    Yoga 7 2-in-1 14IML9 - Type 83DJ

    Processor: Intel® Core™ Ultra 7 155H Processor(Core™ Ultra 7 155H)

    Memory: 32GB LPD5X-7467

    Hard Drive: 1 TB SSD PCIe

    Wireless Network: 1x Wi-Fi 6E 2x2 AX; Bluetooth® 5.1 or above

    Ports: 1 x HDMI 2.1 TMDS; 1 x Novo Button; 1 x Combo Audio Jack
    2 x USB-C (USB 4.0)
    1 x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1

    Camera: 1080P FHD IR Hybrid with Dual Microphone

    Graphics: Intel® Arc™ Graphics

    Monitor: 14" 2.8K

    ...Where's my horse?
Ed McCauley said:


would a "powered USB hub" allow me to connect two USB-C HDDs for data transfer at "high speeds
Click to expand...
I make no comment on the "high speeds" part but my Desktop has a Self-powered USB 3 Hub with switches for the 4 USB-A ports to turn On or Off without unplugging. I have 2 x 4TB WD HDDs, 1 x 1TB WD MyPassport plugged in plus a 2-bay drive dock, don't have any issue transferring or just accessing data on them. Using USB-A to USB-C adapters doesn't cause an issue. If anything, the number of files and their sizes can affect the speeds.
 

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    Dell Vostro 5890
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    Intel Core i5 10th Gen. 2.90GHz
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    24" Dell
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    512GB SSD NVMe, 4TB Seagate HDD
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    Windows Defender/Microsoft Security
Problem with those hubs, powered or not, is all of it's ports share bandwidth of the port they are plugged in and each active device slows speeds of others by that much.
 

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W11 Pro and Insider Dev
Computer type
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Manufacturer/Model
Home brewed
CPU
AMD Ryzen 9 7900x
Motherboard
ASROCK b650 PRO RS
Memory
2x16GB Kingston 6000MHz, Cl 32 @ 6200MHz Cl30
Graphics Card(s)
Gigabyte Rx 6600XT Gaming OC 8G Pro
Sound Card
MB, Realtek Ac1220p
Monitor(s) Displays
3 x 27"
Screen Resolution
1080p
Hard Drives
Kingston KC3000. 1TBSamsung 970 evo Plus 500GB, Crucial P1 NVMe 1TB, Lexar NVMe 2 TB, Silicon Power M.2 SATA 500GB
PSU
Seasonic 750W
Case
Custom Raidmax
Cooling
Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360mm
Internet Speed
20/19 mbps
antspants said:
I keep a bag of these around, and one on my keyring.

View attachment 129763


USB C to USB A Adapter Type A Male to C Female Adaptor Fast Charge and Data Transfer​

Click to expand...

And there's also the opposite


ugreen.webp

UGREEN USB C to USB Adapter (2 Pack), USB C Adapter USB C Male to USB 3.0 Female Adapter​

 

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System One System Two

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Pro 25H2 build: (26200.7623)32GB
    OS
    Windows 11 Pro 25H2 build: (26200.7623)
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Microsoft Surface Pro
    Memory
    32GB

  • At a glance

    Microsoft 25H2 ProIntel Core Ultra 764GBIntel Integrated Graphics
    Operating System
    Microsoft 25H2 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Pro 14 - PC14250
    CPU
    Intel Core Ultra 7
    Memory
    64GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel Integrated Graphics
    Hard Drives
    Micron 1TB SSD
bobkn said:
According to our friends at Google, that's a Thunderbolt 3 controller. Spec'd at about 40Gbps (5GBps).

You might want a hub that can exploit that.

For comparison: USB 3.X is rated at 5Gbps. USB 3.2 Gen2 does 10Gbps. USB 3.2 Gen2X2, 20Gbps. What do you regard as "high speeds"?
Click to expand...
Dell Precision 3541 Laptop
Device Manager --> System Devices --> Thunderbolt(TM) 15D9
Installed Apps: Thunderbolt(TM) Control Center
Device Manager: USB 3.1 eXtensible Host Controller 1.10 Microsoft
computer case: 2 inputs are marked with the USB-SS symbol
1 inputs is marked with the USB-SS symbol followed by what looks like a battery

Q1: Do I have USB 3.1 capability, or is this using the revised naming scheme and I actually have only 3.0?
Q2: What does the above USB-SS with the battery(?) symbol port indicate?
 

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Pro 25H2Intel i7 2.60Ghz16GBNvidia Quadro P620 + Intel UHD Graphics 630
    OS
    Windows 11 Pro 25H2
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell/Precision 3541
    CPU
    Intel i7 2.60Ghz
    Motherboard
    Dell 0y8h01
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia Quadro P620 + Intel UHD Graphics 630
    Sound Card
    Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Laptop screen only
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080p
    Hard Drives
    1TB
    Mouse
    Logitech Gaming Mouse G600
    Browser
    DuckDuckGo
    Antivirus
    BitDefender

  • At a glance

    Win 11AMD Ryzen 9950X3DCorsair Dominator DDR5 32GBnVidia RTX 5080
    Operating System
    Win 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 9950X3D
    Motherboard
    Asus ROG Crosshair X870E
    Memory
    Corsair Dominator DDR5 32GB
    Graphics card(s)
    nVidia RTX 5080
    Hard Drives
    2 Samsung NVMe M.2 SSD 9100 4TB
    PSU
    Seasonic GX-1200W
    Case
    LanCool 216
    Keyboard
    Steelseries Apex Pro Gen 3

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two Other systems

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Pro 25H2 Build 26200.8894Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4770K CPU @ 3.50GHz32.0 GB of I forget and the box is in storage.Gigabyte nVidia GeForce GTX 1660 Super OC 6GB
    OS
    Windows 11 Pro 25H2 Build 26200.8894
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Sin-built 2013
    CPU
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4770K CPU @ 3.50GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus VI Formula
    Memory
    32.0 GB of I forget and the box is in storage.
    Graphics Card(s)
    Gigabyte nVidia GeForce GTX 1660 Super OC 6GB
    Sound Card
    ROG SupremeFX Formula 8-Channel High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    5 x LG 25MS500-B - 1 x 24MK430H-B - 1 x Wacom Pro 22" Touch Screen Tablet
    Screen Resolution
    All over the place
    Hard Drives
    Too many to list. OS on Samsung 1TB 870 QVO SATA
    PSU
    Silverstone 1500
    Case
    NZXT Phantom 820 Full-Tower Case
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-D15 Elite Class Dual Tower CPU Cooler / 6 x EziDIY 120mm / 2 x Corsair 140mm somethings / 1 x 140mm Thermaltake something / 2 x 200mm Corsair.
    Keyboard
    Corsair K95 / Logitech diNovo Edge Wireless
    Mouse
    Logitech: G402 / G502 / Mx Masters / Mx Air Cordless
    Internet Speed
    2000/500Mbps
    Browser
    All sorts
    Antivirus
    Kaspersky Premium
    Other Info
    ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
    TP-Link BE9300 WiFi 7 Bluetooth 5.4 (Archer TBE550E)
    TP-Link TX201 V1 2.5GB Lan

    Grandstream HT812 - VoIP
    ASUS DSL-AX82U - Mesh
    ASUS RT-AC68U - Mesh
    ASUS RT-BE88U Router

    Brother MFC-L2880DW Printer

    I’m on a horse.

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Pro 25H2 Build 26200.8894 (Wifes)13th Generation Intel® Core™ i5-1340P Process...16GB LPDDR5-52001x Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics
    Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 25H2 Build 26200.8894 (Wifes)
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    LENOVO Yoga 7 14IRL8 - Type 82YL
    CPU
    13th Generation Intel® Core™ i5-1340P Processor(Core™ i5-1340P)
    Memory
    16GB LPDDR5-5200
    Graphics card(s)
    1x Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics
    Sound Card
    Optimized with Dolby Atmos®
    Screen Resolution
    QHD 2880 x 1800 OLED
    Hard Drives
    M.2 512 GB SSD PCIe
    Mouse
    Logiteck MX Master 3S
    Internet Speed
    2000/500
    Antivirus
    Defender / Malwarebytes
    Other Info
    …still on a horse.


    Wireless Network: Wi-Fi 6E 2x2 AX; Bluetooth® 5.1 or above
    Ports: 1x 1 Novo button; 2 in 1 Audio Combo jack; Micro SD Card Reader; HDMI 1.4b; 2 x USB Type-C (TBT4)
    USB 3.2 Gen 2 DP 1.4a
    PD 3.0); 1 x USB 3.2 Gen1 Type A
    Camera
    1x 1080P FHD IR/RGB Hybrid with Privacy Shutter and Dual Array Microphone
    Graphics
    1x Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics
    Monitor
    14" WUXGA
    Form Factor
    Convertible Notebook
  • Windows 11 Pro 25H2 Build 26200.8894 (Wifes)

    Yoga 7 2-in-1 14IML9 - Type 83DJ

    Processor: Intel® Core™ Ultra 7 155H Processor(Core™ Ultra 7 155H)

    Memory: 32GB LPD5X-7467

    Hard Drive: 1 TB SSD PCIe

    Wireless Network: 1x Wi-Fi 6E 2x2 AX; Bluetooth® 5.1 or above

    Ports: 1 x HDMI 2.1 TMDS; 1 x Novo Button; 1 x Combo Audio Jack
    2 x USB-C (USB 4.0)
    1 x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1

    Camera: 1080P FHD IR Hybrid with Dual Microphone

    Graphics: Intel® Arc™ Graphics

    Monitor: 14" 2.8K

    ...Where's my horse?

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Pro 25H2Intel i7 2.60Ghz16GBNvidia Quadro P620 + Intel UHD Graphics 630
    OS
    Windows 11 Pro 25H2
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell/Precision 3541
    CPU
    Intel i7 2.60Ghz
    Motherboard
    Dell 0y8h01
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia Quadro P620 + Intel UHD Graphics 630
    Sound Card
    Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Laptop screen only
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080p
    Hard Drives
    1TB
    Mouse
    Logitech Gaming Mouse G600
    Browser
    DuckDuckGo
    Antivirus
    BitDefender

  • At a glance

    Win 11AMD Ryzen 9950X3DCorsair Dominator DDR5 32GBnVidia RTX 5080
    Operating System
    Win 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 9950X3D
    Motherboard
    Asus ROG Crosshair X870E
    Memory
    Corsair Dominator DDR5 32GB
    Graphics card(s)
    nVidia RTX 5080
    Hard Drives
    2 Samsung NVMe M.2 SSD 9100 4TB
    PSU
    Seasonic GX-1200W
    Case
    LanCool 216
    Keyboard
    Steelseries Apex Pro Gen 3
bobkn said:
According to our friends at Google, that's a Thunderbolt 3 controller. Spec'd at about 40Gbps (5GBps).

You might want a hub that can exploit that.

For comparison: USB 3.X is rated at 5Gbps. USB 3.2 Gen2 does 10Gbps. USB 3.2 Gen2X2, 20Gbps. What do you regard as "high speeds"?
Click to expand...
It seems I have 1 USB3.1 Gen2 port w/ Thunderbolt 3, and a USB-C connector; and 3 USB3.1 Gen1 ports w/USB-A connectors. Per your reply, I have 1 10Gbps port, and 3 5 Gbps ports.

Q1. My options appear to be:
1. plug the first USB-C drive into the C connector (10Gbps), and the 2nd drive into one of the USB-A connectors using an adapter
2. purchase a powered USB-C Hub with 2 USB-C connectors (assuming such a thing exists), and plug both External Drives into the Hub
Q2: Presumably, plugging 2 USB-C drives into the Hub would reduce the xfer speed in comparison to only a single drive?

In this particular instance, "High Speed" is the option with the fastest xfer speed possible, compared to an option that what will work, but at a reduced speed. That is to say, whichever of the 2 options stated above results in the fastest transfer speed.

Q3: Is there a software program that will reveal the USB version of an external HDD labelled as USB3?
 
Last edited:

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Pro 25H2Intel i7 2.60Ghz16GBNvidia Quadro P620 + Intel UHD Graphics 630
    OS
    Windows 11 Pro 25H2
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell/Precision 3541
    CPU
    Intel i7 2.60Ghz
    Motherboard
    Dell 0y8h01
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia Quadro P620 + Intel UHD Graphics 630
    Sound Card
    Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Laptop screen only
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080p
    Hard Drives
    1TB
    Mouse
    Logitech Gaming Mouse G600
    Browser
    DuckDuckGo
    Antivirus
    BitDefender

  • At a glance

    Win 11AMD Ryzen 9950X3DCorsair Dominator DDR5 32GBnVidia RTX 5080
    Operating System
    Win 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 9950X3D
    Motherboard
    Asus ROG Crosshair X870E
    Memory
    Corsair Dominator DDR5 32GB
    Graphics card(s)
    nVidia RTX 5080
    Hard Drives
    2 Samsung NVMe M.2 SSD 9100 4TB
    PSU
    Seasonic GX-1200W
    Case
    LanCool 216
    Keyboard
    Steelseries Apex Pro Gen 3
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