Maximum PC

I have been using Belkin F5U307-WHT 7-port USB hubs (see below) for several years. This doesn't mean I've been using the same ones. I keep changing them out because they melt down.
In my world, a 7-port USB hub permits the simultaneous and continuous use of all seven ports, powered and otherwise. If I plug three devices into a hub (no more than two of them powered), the other ports refuse to function. If I plug more than two powered devices into these ports, they will overheat, and within a week or two, brick on me. Belkin has been gracious about replacing them under warranty, for which I am grateful. However, I'd happily pay for a multi-port hub that would perform the way it is advertised.
By the way, both hubs are plugged in to a Belkin power supply, and I have swapped out the power supplies for new ones each time they are replaced, just in case the power supply is the culprit. I have a drawer full of apparently functional Belkin power supplies.
Are there any N-port USB hubs out there that will do what they are advertised to do, e.g. operate up to N devices simultaneously?

Look for one that has a power adapter included. I have a belkin 7 port and have no problem using all the ports.

The model in question does have a power adapter included. I mentioned in my original post that I've been changing out the adapters with each new hub, just in case the adapter was faulty. I get the same result.

Can you list all the devices you are wanting to plug into it for me? Might be a compatibility issue with a certain usb chip.

Okay...

1. Dymo Labelwriter 400 Turbo
2. Livescribe Pulse pen (cradle)
3. iPod 2G sync cradle
4. USB keyboard
5. Logitech TrackMan Wheel
6. Stamps.com postal scale
7. ioSafe external drive (1TB)
8. Brother MFC-7420 Multifunction printer
9. iPhone4 sync cable

Items #1-6 are plugged into one of the two hubs I have. Items7 & 8 are plugged into rear USB ports on the CPU. Item 9, when in use, is plugged into a front USB port.

The machine is a CyberPower running an Intel Corei7-920 2.66 GHz with 6GB DDR3/1600 MHz Triple Channel RAM in three 2GB chips. The mobo is an MSI X58 Pro-E Intel X58 Chipset SLI/Crossfire DDR3 mainboard. Graphics card is a NVIDIA GeForce GTS 250 1 GB 16X PCI Express. It has an 850W ThermalTake power supply. There is a 64GB Kingston SSD as the main drive, with a 1TB WD Caviar Green drive for data.

Where is the hub being plugged into? Might try switch ports.

There are two hubs. They are plugged in to the rear ports on the case (there are four in back, two in front). I have switched the plugs to every port on the computer at one time or another, and the result is the same. The hubs overheat if there are more than two devices plugged into them.
The hubs are actually designed to be stacked to save desk space. I tried that at first, and it just aggravated the problem, as the heat was more concentrated.
I have also spoken with Belkin tech support on this. Their advice is always a variation of "unplug some of the devices," but they can't tell me why a seven-port hub won't support seven devices.

I've had this 7-Port Belkin for about 8 years now - and when I sync thumb drives and external Hard drives, all ports are in use.

I have the same one as superchip. Let me look tomorrow at the devices more closely to see if I can find anything.