USB ports intermittently cutting out

mynameiseliot · 06 Sep 2012

For a little while now, completely randomly it would seem, the USB ports on the back of my PC will seemingly cut in and out indefinitely until I do a restart.

If the devices that were plugged into the back USB ports are switched to the USB ports on the front of the case, there isn't a problem at all.

I'm almost certain that the problem is not with my mouse and keyboard as like I said, plugged into the front they work fine.

This is really starting to be a pain!

Has anyone seen anything like this before?

bobafetthotmail · 06 Sep 2012

there is a guy with USB devices dying at random I'm helping here.

Post your full specs (or update the "System Specs" form of your account).

mynameiseliot · 06 Sep 2012

MOBO: Gigabyte Z68A-D3H-B3

CPU: Core i7-2600K @3.40GHz

RAM: 16GB DDR3 (can't remember the other details)

GPU: Radeon HD 6950 2GB

OS: Win 7 64-bit

As far as I'm aware, majority of drivers are up-to-date.

As far as the other thread, I should also add that I have a logitech illuminated keyboard and when the USB is intermittent, it flashes randomly. The same thing happens to the little LCD on my mouse - it flashes randomly.

bobafetthotmail · 07 Sep 2012

Cool, got the manual.

What other USB devices you have? Where are they connected when there are issues?

I'm betting that you are plugging too much "power hungry" stuff in USB ports that share the same header (thus they share the same power supply of 500 mA, for example a single USB HDD needs all that for itself and its controllers are much more convincing than those of other "passive" devices like keyboards or mice, so the other ports of the same header go dead). Seems like miniaturized mobo designers are abusing of this detail.

So if you want to do some troubleshooting while you wait for an answer, try placing the most power hungry devices on the integrated port/s, and then move the others around your other ports until you find a configuration that works and does not look bad.

mynameiseliot · 08 Sep 2012

I don't get why, if they are consuming too much power, they can work without a problem for days on end and then randomly stop working. Again I want to stress that it seems, when they cut out, the power is intermittent to them - at this point though neither the mouse or keyboard actually works.

All I've ever had plugged into the back ports has been my keyboard and mouse. Looking at the keyboard, it needs 300mA and the mouse, 100mA. This surely shouldn't be a problem for the 500mA available?

Currently the only configuration possible is having both my keyboard and mouse stuck into the front, which stops my using any USB flash drive (which is essential in my work).

Another point is, after a restart, the ports usually go back to working fine. And, I updated the Intel Chip set thing the other day mid-way through the flashing attack, and they stopped flashing (leading me to believe that I had fixed the problem), only to start being intermittent again the other day.

bobafetthotmail · 08 Sep 2012

updated "intel chipset thing"? chipset = motherboard and yours is Gigabyte, not Intel. What did you do? If it stopped the flashing even until restart I want to know more about it.

Ok, other than being faulty somehow the keyboard an mouse have no way of saturating USB.

There are USB extension cables you can use to plug USB flash drives, although this is a workaround, not a solution.

mynameiseliot · 08 Sep 2012

I was looking in device manager, and there was something with a little yellow triangle by it. After a Google, I found that it was something outdated and so updated it. I'm sure it was the Intel Chipset (is that not related to the CPU?).

I've considered the whole USB hub thing, but like you say, it's a workaround and I'd really like this sorting!!