External keyboard and mouse plugged into usb hub instead of laptop usb port

So for three years i've been using an external keyboard and mouse for my laptop (samsung r480) and i plug them directly into the laptop's usb port. I have 3 usb 2.0 ports and 1 eSATA + usb 2.0 port so all in all 4 ports. I got a laptop cooler with built in 5 usb hubs attached to one of the laptop's direct usb ports. I wanna save my other usb ports by using these 5 hubs as much as possible for peripherals. My question: will there be a downside in terms of performance for both my mouse and keyboard if I attach them to the hub instead of the remaining direct usb ports?

 

Thanks!

 

Yes.

I can definitely feel it in terms of keyboard and mouse lag. It's not placebo - I go from hurling triumphant insults at 12 year olds to being teabagged. On the other hand I'm guessing you aren't doing response-critical stuff on your notebook.

 

To make sure he's thoroughly confused I guess I'll throw in the maybe? There is a limit to how much power you can draw from one ports Once you approach that limit, wonky things start to happen.

You have to test it yourself under various conditions to be sure. You many also want to invest in a wireless mouse and keyboard. I used one transmitter that covers both.

 

I haven't tested it, but I'd bet a dock à la Thinkpad, Latitude and Elitebook dock wouldn't offer any problems. Unless I'm mistaken, the proprietary docking port connects directly to the chipset, video card, controllers, etc. rather than acting as a hub.

 

This is my exact laptop cooler: NotePal ErgoStand - Cooler Master
It has a usb hub built-in with 4-ports (i said 5, my mistake). It only uses one usb port to connect and that usb port alone powers the cooler's large silent fan and the 4 usb ports built-in. There is no external power connection.

 

When I use a cooler pad I prefer to plug it into an external USB power supply like a charger or something rather than put the load on the laptop's power supply. Somehow i have this idea that a cooler pad's fan is more mechanical and it does uses more power.

 

Your laptop should have no problem with the meager power requirements used to power these fans; and all devices use power, and so much more the faster they go.

Still, if I have a choice, I'd choose the external as well but that not out of any overwhelming concern for the wear and tear on the laptop ports.

 

I suppose you could create lag for a mouse connected to a "cheap" hub (that doesn't use a good controller) by connecting hard drives and simultaneously doing heavy data transfer across all the other ports.

That being said, I run a 7 port hub for my laptop with full size keyboard and mouse and 5 other peripherals, and have never perceived lag in regular use or gaming.