Requesting info on Powered USB cables & Hubs...

If I have a powered USB hard drive, would I need a powered USB cable for it to work? Would it not work with a standard USB cable?

Also do powered hubs also only work if you have a powered device and powered cable?

I know should know this but I'm not too sure........

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Comments

Ricka182

D-boy wrote:

If I have a powered USB hard drive, would I need a powered USB cable for it to work? Would it not work with a standard USB cable?

Yes, you would a special cable that carry the current required......

D-boy wrote:

Also do powered hubs also only work if you have a powered device and powered cable?

Yes, it should come with it's own power supply to plug in to.

D-boy

Thank you for your reply that clears up alot...

RussS

Usually an external USB drive can run without an additional power source from a standard PC. However if there is any other USB devices attached it may not work correctly unless there is sufficient power available on the USB bus. Older motherboards and power supplies usually have a problem sustaining external USB drives, but anything less than about 3/4 years old should be able to cope as long as it has a decent rated power supply.
For laptops and older machines a power source for the hard drive is necessary.

jmc724

Excellent answer, I could not have said it any better...