Yes, a powered hub is what you want.
The USB bus should only supply 100mA per port. Connecting a port to a non-powered hub would mean that the 100mA supplied by the computer has to be split between all the devices plugged into the hub.
A USB controller or hub is required to power one unit load (100 mA, a low power load). It can optionally power up to 5 unit loads (500 mA, a high power load)
A non-powered hub is only really any use when all (or most) of the devices plugged into it are self-powered (have their own power supply).